Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Gladys was the second of three children of Christian Frederick Carl Runge (born 1876 in Ipswich, QLD) and Emma Esther Farrar (born 1878 in Yorkshire, England). Emma immigrated with her mother and siblings in 1891, arriving in Brisbane, QLD on board the Dorunda. Her mother and younger siblings joined their father in Castlemaine, Victoria and Emma and older sister Sarah Ellen remained in Ipswich, QLD. Christian was a Labourer in 1899 in Ipswich, QLD when he enlisted in the QLD Mounted Infantry in October 1899 and served as a Private (Service No:104) in the Boer War. In February 1901 Christian and Emma married in Ipswich, QLD and then moved to Castlemaine, Victoria where their first two children were born. Returning to Ipswich, QLD Christian worked as a Labourer and later became a Garage Proprietor.

Gladys had worked as a Confectioner in Melbourne, Victoria and a Storekeeper in Brisbane, QLD before she enlisted in the RAAF in June 1944. She was an Aircraftwoman (Service No:174269) attached to 1 Central Recovery Depot when she was Discharged in November 1945.

Returning to Brisbane, QLD Gladys worked at Toowong as a Librarian before marrying John Francis Barron (born 1919 in Brisbane, QLD) in the mid 1950s. John had served as a Private (Service No:QX20351) with 25th Infantry Battalion in WWII. He was living in Toowong and working as a Labourer when he and Gladys married. They settled in Torwood, Brisbane, QLD where John worked as a Linesman. John died in 1987 and Gladys in 1994.