RUTKIN, Joseph Keith
| Service Number: | QX25812 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 December 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Bombardier |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/3rd Field Regiment |
| Born: | Gympie, Queensland, Australia, 31 October 1920 |
| Home Town: | Toowoomba, Toowoomba, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Christian Brothers College, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Packer |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Bribie Island, Queensland, Australia, 28 January 1998, aged 77 years |
| Cemetery: |
Bribie Island Memorial Gardens Columbarium Wall - Banksia / O1 / 0005 |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 19 Dec 1941: | Involvement QX25812 | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Dec 1941: | Enlisted | |
| 19 Dec 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Bombardier, QX25812, 2nd/3rd Field Regiment | |
| 19 Nov 1944: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Bombardier, QX25812, 2nd/3rd Field Regiment, On the troopship 'Bontikoe' from Townsville. Arrived at Aitape, New Guinea on 26 November 1944. | |
| 26 Nov 1944: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Bombardier, QX25812, 2nd/3rd Field Regiment, Aitape - Wewak, New Guinea, Served in the Aitape - Wewak campaign in New Guinea with the 2nd/3rd Field Regiment and the 2nd/1st Anti Tank /Tank Attack Regiment until returning to Australia in December 1945 following the end of the war. | |
| 9 Oct 1945: | Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Bombardier, 2nd/1st Anti Tank / Tank Attack Regiment, Transferred to unit while serving in New Guinea. | |
| 12 Dec 1945: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Bombardier, QX25812, 2nd/1st Anti Tank / Tank Attack Regiment, On the HMS 'Implacable' which departed Wewak, New Guinea 12 December 1945. Arrived Sydney, Australia 18 December 1945. | |
| 2 May 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Bombardier, QX25812, 2nd/3rd Field Regiment | |
| 2 May 1946: | Discharged |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Matthew Rutkin
Joseph Keith Rutkin was the eldest of two sons born to Archibald Roy Rutkin and his wife Anne Williams.
Joseph was named after his grandfather Joseph Rutkin Snr (1856-1924) as was his uncle Joe Rutkin Jnr (1886-1935), which effectively made him Joseph Rutkin III. However he was mostly known by his middle name Keith.
Keith's family moved to Toowoomba where his father worked for a time as a Milk Vendor. Keith went to school at Christian Brothers College, Toowoomba. Keith played Rugby Union for Toowoomba in the Queensland competition.
Keith was 21 when he enlisted in the Australian Army at Toowoomba during WW2. He became a Bombadier and served in the Aitape - Wewak campain in New Guinea, one of the final campains of the war.
Following his return to Australia and discharge from the Army, Keith played Rugby Union for the Brisbane team known as Brothers. His usual position was winger.
Rutkin State Hope
Former Toowoomba winger, Keith Rutkin, just out of the army, showed form which makes him a definite State prospect. He beat all opposition with two long runs to the line, but was allowed only one try. On the other occasion he took the ball after a hurried throw-in and ran 50 yards to touch down. The throw-in was "ruled out" however, and play came back to half way.
Sunday Mail (Brisbane Qld) Sunday 7 April 1946, pg 11
Brothers' winger, Keith Rutkin, will be watched as a State hope. Rutkin, formerly of Toowoomba, played League in the Army with the 17th Field Regiment team.
The Courier-Mail (Brisbane Qld) Friday 12 April 1946, pg 2.
Brothers Score Late Win
BROTHERS scored 10 points in two minutes during ... extra playing time to win the Rugby Union Keith Horsley trophy at the Exhibition oval yesterday. They defeated University, 19-9. ...
In the extra time session ... Keith Rutkin raced through from his wing as the bounce favoured him to score under the posts.
Sunday Mail (Brisbane Qld) Sunday 21 July 1946, pg 11.
On 15 June 1946 Keith played for the Queensland Rugby state team in the first interstate competition match after the war, against New South Wales.
In 1949 Keith married Betty Tomlinson, and they raised a family together. Keith worked in Crows Nest, Queensland as a Hotel Manager, and later as an Insurance Inspector.
He retired to Bribie Island where he died in 1998 at the age of 77.
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