Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Andrew Wardlaw was my Great Uncle and to me he was known as “Uncle Andy”.  It is my honour to briefly share the story of his life and war service.

Andrew Muir Wardlaw was born on the 17th April 1900 in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland, the 8th child of 10 children born to his parents Andrew and Marion Wardlaw.  Andy had 5 sisters and 4 brothers and when he was 11 years old, the family migrated to Australia aboard the SS Perthshire, arriving in Brisbane just in time for Christmas on the 16th December 1911. 

The family settled in Brisbane and attended the local Presbyterian Church.  When WW1 broke out Andy’s older brothers, Robert and John, both enlisted and served in France.  John, my grandfather, and Bob were both returned to Australia, however Bob was invalided after being gassed.  After the war the 1919 Electoral Roll has the family listed as living at North Arm, Qld.  Sadly, Andy’s father passed away in October 1921 aged 60.  Andy was a keen sportsman playing football and tennis and along with Bob and John, they represented North Arm playing soccer.  In the mid 1920’s, Andy and Bob shared the mail run for Yandina.  In early 1929 after 10 years living at North Arm, the family interstate to Moree NSW to a sheep property called “Baalgammon.”  John was married with 3 children by now so he joined Andy and Bob running the farm.  Their mother and 2 sisters were also living there so it was a real family affair.  Just 12 months later their mother passed away after a short illness in January 1930 aged 63. 

Prior to WW2 Andy served with the Senior Cadets then, aged 39, he enlisted with the CMF, Citizen Military Force, on the 2nd September 1939.  His service number N21094, his rank was Private and his Unit the 35th Infantry Battalion A Company.  Andy was 5ft 6 inches tall with grey eyes, fair complexion and fair hair.  At the time of his enlistment he was still living at “Baalgammon” at Moree.  In mid March 1941 transferred to the 33rd Infantry Battalion and in May was detached for 10 days to the NCO School at Bonegilla VIC.  Andy served full time with the CMF from October 1941 to the 30th July 1942 when he transferred to the AIF at Charlestown NSW and was allotted the service number NX166878.  He remained with the 33rd Infantry Battalion and did his initial training at Camp Rutherford in NSW but was then detached to the 1st Australian Infantry Training Brigade at Charlestown.  The Defence Act precluded Militia units from being sent outside Australian territory to fight so the battalion remained in Australia undertaking garrison duties.  Initially it served as part of the 1st Brigade, but in February 1942, following Japan's entry into the war, the 33rd Battalion was transferred to the 32nd Brigade, which formed part of the Newcastle Covering Force that had been tasked to defend against a possible Japanese invasion.  At the end of August 1942 the Unit was designated to the 103 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment at Charlestown.  Later that year in October the Unit was designated to the 5th Australian Infantry Battalion based at Bathurst NSW.

In January 1943, Andy married Clara Elsie Mackinnon at the Randwick Presbyterian Church.  Their first home was at Challis House, Martin Place, Sydney NSW. 

Andy spent the better part of 1943 at NCO training schools in NSW including Sydney and Wallgrove.  In September he spent a week in hospital with a ruptured cyst on his right eyelid.  He finished out the year being detached to the Short Term Course Instructors Wing.  In April the following year his home address changed to Crows Nest NSW and a month later he was transferred to the 21st Australian Infantry Battalion.  He remained with this unit until August when he transferred to General Reinforcements and was detached to the Queensland Command, based in Toowoomba, to serve with the 31st Works Company.  He remained with this unit for a year then was transferred to the 15th Works Company in October 1945.  Two months later on the 3rd November 1945, he was discharged.

Three of Andy’s brothers also served in WW2…Robert (Bob) and John in the Australian Army and William (Bill) in the Australian Navy. 

Andy and Clara had no children and from 1949 till 1968 they lived at Mosman NSW.  It was while they were living here that my Dad visited them while he was in Sydney for a time attending a course with National Cash Registers.  In 1977 they moved to Long Jetty NSW where they remained until Andy’s death on the 29th November 1981.  He was 81.  Clara died in March 1984 aged 84.  Their grave memorial is found at Palmdale Lawn Cemetery and Memorial Park NSW.  Andrew’s name appears on the WW2 Honour Roll at the Moree Memorial Hall.

Andrew Muir Wardlaw was awarded for service in WW2 the Australia Service Medal, Australia Defence Medal and the War Medal 1939-1945.

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith October 2020