Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Gordon, as I remember, was a lovely man, very kind. He lived with us for several years, from the mid to late 60’s until he re-married in 1972. 

Gordon was the eldest of four children, and always very close to his sisters and his mother.

When Gordon was 16, 1940, the 2nd World War was in full swing. He wanted to enlist, and tried several times. Of course he was too young, so he was rejected each time. A Captain from the Army came to visit his parents and advised them to allow Gordon Jr. To join, as he was of the opinion that Gordon would just enlist using an alias, and his parents would never know what had happened to him, had he not returned. The Captain persuaded them to let him join, and assured them that he would not leave the country, unbeknownst to Gordon. Gordon did lie about his age though, and on his War Record it's stated as 2 May, 1924, when in fact it's 8th of December, 1924.

Whilst in the Army, Gordon volunteered for Medical Research, where experimental drugs were used to assist soldiers in combat.

Gordon served his time in the army in Australia. He volunteered for Medical Research, and received a Citation for his contribution to the war effort.  He was submitted to new experimental drugs, which would help with the war effort. He enlisted with sandy coloured hair, but when he came home his hair was very dark, and it never returned to the sandy colour. His mother always lamented the colour change.

He returned home when the war ended, and married a former girlfriend in 1948. Two children were to follow. Gordon was a very caring man, devoted to his family. He was working 2 jobs to try and get ahead. He was devastated when his wife told him she was having an affair. He left the house, only taking a suitcase with his clothing and a few personal belongings. He left everything to his wife and the children, and continued to work to pay off the house.

He came to live with my family (he was Mum's brother). He lived in the spare room and shared most evening meals with my family. A couple of years down the track, he met his future wife Margaret. Margaret worked as the Receptionist, and had been widowed a few years earlier. She was a delightful lady, with a good sense of humour, and they got on like a house on fire. Gordon and Margaret married in 1972. He was 48 and she was 38. 

Margaret had no children from her previous marriage, and Gordon’s children from his first marriage were estranged. Sadly, they wanted no contact with him. So Gordon and Margaret were totally devoted to each other.

Margaret and Gordon lived very happily together for many years. However, Margaret became ill, she suffered from alopecia, so she wouldn’t leave the house. She had been ill for some time and eventually passed away in 1995, from cancer; she had been a heavy smoker. Gordon cared for her in her illness and rarely left her side. After her death, he continued to live in Bulleen, but was reclusive. He never really got over losing Margaret.

He passed away in 2003, also from cancer. A sad and lonely man.