LETTER FROM AWM.

PHOTOS

SYDNEY ANZAC MARCH EARLY 2000s

JAMES GEORGE WATSON

RECEIVED ON NING

Hello Lynne,
I am new to this type of thing, so will start with an e-mail, as I have never created a blog before. First things first.
My name is Simone Wood and I have a twin sister – Nicole Dorward. We are grandaughters of James (Bluey) George Watson of the 2/3 Pioneers. He was also part of several other battalions as his brother kept calling him. James passed away last year, and there are only two member of this Battalion left in the Melbourne group. That is Stan Owler and Frank. We will be meeting the Sydney Pioneer members and families on Monday, are you part of this group? If so, will you be attending this meeing/gathering?
Nik and I went to Canberra War Memorial to find out more information about our Pa only two weeks ago, but they will be posting that information to us as they have it filed in Archieves. We had hoped to have this information prior to this gathering, SayLaVe?

If anyone knows anything of Bluey, do let us know and we will pass it on to Simone and her sister or post it on her Ning Page.

NETWORK FOR 2/3PIONEER BATTALION

2/3 PIONEER BATTALION SOCIAL NETWORK

For those who would like to update info on their Pioneer or create a page of their own. follow this link.

http://secondthirdpioneerbattalion.ning.com/

2/3PIONEER BATTALION FROM AWM

FROM AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL SITE

2/3rd Pioneer Battalion

The 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion was raised in May 1940 at Glenfield, near Liverpool, with men mainly from the Sydney area. The battalion did its initial training at Glenfield, before moving to Cowra in September for further training. In March 1941 the 2/3rd moved to Darwin, where it became attached to elements of the 7th Division. In September the pioneers returned to Sydney and in November left Sydney as part of a convey going to the Middle East. The 2/3rd sailed on the Queen Mary, the same ship that brought them home 14 months later.

The battalion arrived in Egypt in the third week of November and travelled by train through Palestine, spending Christmas in Qastina. In January 1942 units from the 7th Division began returning to Australia. However, the 2/3rd moved to Syria and became attached to the 9th Division. The 2/3rd fought alongside the 9th Division for the rest of the war.

By July 1942 the battle in North Africa became critical for the British Eighth Army, with German and Italian forces reaching El Alamein in Egypt, about seventy miles from Alexandria. The 9th Division was rushed from Syria to the Alamein area and held the northern sector for almost four months as the Eighth Army reinforced for an offensive under new a commander.

The 2/3rd moved to Bir Abu Shinena, part of the “Alamein box”, at the start of August and became attached to the 24th Brigade. The pioneers replaced the 2/28th Infantry Battalion, which had suffered heavy casualties, and went into reserve. They helped defend the area and improve the defences before the Allied counter-attack in October.

The battalion played a prominent role in the heavy fighting around areas known as the “Saucer” and the “Blockhouse”. The operation was carried out at the end of October by two battalions from the 26th Brigade, a battalion from the 24th Brigade, three companies from the 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion, and a number of British tanks. The 2/3rd was directed to attack 3,000 yards directly north from the Saucer and take up a blocking position in the dunes near the coast. In the early hours of 30 October the pioneers had travelled only halfway when they were blocked by supporting artillery bombardment. Forced to leave their heavy weapons and ammunition behind in trucks, the pioneers continued on. At the break of dawn, however, they found themselves in another saucer, subject to enemy fire from three sides. But they had achieved their goal and virtually sealed-off the enemy in the coastal salient.

For the next two days the Australians defended their exposed positions. Many of their front positions were either captured or ground down by repeated German attacks. In the main Saucer, however, the Germans had less success, even though the eastern part of the Australian defence was pushed back south of the railway line. Fighting continued for the next couple of days and German forces were worn down. By 5 November Axis forces were falling back.

Between August and November the battalion suffered 28 men killed and 46 captured. Alamein was a vital, although bloody, success for the Allies and one of the war’s turning points. The 9th Division, however, was recalled to Australia to face a new enemy – the Japanese. The 2/3rd returned to Australia in early 1943.

After leave, the battalion underwent jungle training on the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland but would soon return to action. As part of the move to capture the Japanese base at Lae the 9th Division landed at Red Beach, north-west of the area, in September. Following Lae’s capture, the Australians made another landing at Scarlet Beach, near Finschhafen. The 2/3rd rejoined the division and in October participated in the successful defence of Scarlet Beach when the Japanese counter-attacked. When the fighting was over, the pioneer’s reverted to their engineering role, working on the Satelburg Road and other locations on New Guinea’s northern coast supporting the Huon Peninsula campaign.

The 2/3rd returned to Australia in March 1944, disembarking in Brisbane. After leave, the battalion reformed at Ravenshoe in May and did not go into action again until the final months of the war.

Devised towards the end of the war, the OBOE operations were designed to reoccupy areas of the Netherlands East Indies with the 9th and 7th Divisions making amphibious landings on Borneo. The 9th Division landed on Tarakan in May and on Labuan Island and Brunei Bay in June. The 7th Division land at Balikpapan in July.

In order to support the landing at Tarakan, Australian troops first landed on Sadau. A detachment from the 2/3rd worked as gun crews on the landing craft that took the men ashore. When the 26th Brigade landed on Tarakan, the pioneers were assigned to the 2nd Beach Group. On 4 May the battalion relieved the 2/23rd Infantry Battalion and began patrolling the Tarakan township and around the Pamoesian oilfield. The next day they began clearing the Japanese from high ground to the east of the town.

On 5 May two companies from the 2/3rd advanced eastward along John’s Track and found two Japanese positions – called the “Helen” and the “Sadie” – on each side. The positions were overcome with persistent attacks from the pioneers supported by heavy artillery, naval concentrations, and napalm air strikes. They were finally occupied on 14 May. At the same time elements of the pioneers reached the coast and captured the Japanese defences. Corporal John Bernard Mackey was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his involvement in the fight for the Helen.

By the end of June the fighting was over on Tarakan and Japan surrendered in August. The 2/3rd gradually thinned, as men were discharged or transferred. In January 1946 the remaining troops returned to Australia and the battalion was disbanded shortly after.

George Eric KENNEDY NX46815

My Grandfather George Eric KENNEDY NX46815 joined the 2/3rd Pioneers in Newcastle in 1940. He was attached to B Company as a Corporal and travelled to the Middle East with the Battalion on the Queen Mary. Prior to this the boys built military camps in Cowra as well as the top end. Pop served in Syria before being transferred to El Alamein where he performed tasks such as the removal of mines with some of the British Engineers prior to the major battles. I am led to believe that he was seriously wounded in the early stages of the El Alamein offensive (October 1942) after the vehicle in which he was travelling hit a landmine. Pop survived with serious injuries for 3 days before help arrived, keeping alive a British engineer who had lost his arm during the explosion. All others on board were killed. I am led to believe that the area in which they had been blown up sustained some serious artillery fire for the 3 days prior to being found. Pop suffered a fractured spine and was subsequently placed in a plaster cast for 3 months and was discharged in 1943 medically unfit, having to learn to walk again. He returned to Australia on the Hospital Ship WONGANELLA.
.
Due to his injuries Pop found it hard to maintain a full time job, however worked after the War in the Agricultural Department. He lived on the North Coast of New South Wales at Bangalow where both he and his wife Ruth raised two son’s. Pop passed away in 2005 aged 88 and was always proud of his Army Days. I now have his medals and a lot of other small momento’s including his discharge papers and a very rare copy of the first edition of the 2/3rd Pioneer magazine which lists all the original members. I would be happy for anyone who is a decendant of these men to contact me for the little information that I have. Pop never spoke much about his experiences but I am very proud that he served overseas and I miss him terribly. He was the President of the local RSL Club for over 40 years and was immensely Proud of his position.
.
Lest We Forget
.
Peter KENNEDY (Grandson)

MEN OF THE 2/3 PIONEER BATTALION. LAST POST : Noel Eldershaw MacDougall

Hi
I have been trying to reach the 2/3 Pioneer Battalion Association but have been unable to find a contact.  My father-in law Noel Eldershaw MacDougall passed away on 7th July at the age of 92.  He fought bravely with the 2/3 Battalion after enlisting in Armidale with the Light Horse with Mr Peter Tindal, Mr Brian Hughes, Mr Mac McKenzie and Mr. Fitzgerald all of Grafton and was later transferred to Cowra.  These men remained closest friends all their lives.
Mr MacDougall lived at "Marengo Ebor", the property held by his family for over a century. He was a wonderful stockman and a gentleman – true legend in the area.  No one knew the Chalundi bush like he did. He loved his land, his cattle and his horses (both work horses and racehorses) but unfortunately had to live in the Dorrigo Community Health Centre for the last years of his life. He was well looked after there but he always yearned for his bush and his dogs. 
Mr MacDougall was married to Lesley Shannon (deceased) of Mackey and had three sons, Alister, Angus (deceased) and Graham and ten grandchildren.  Kirsty, Peta, Henry and Stuart (Graham’s children), Minnie, Tim, Sarah and Harry (Angus’s children) and Scott and Ryan (Alister’s children)
A funeral will be held at the Anglican Cathedral in Grafton at 10am Tuesday July 21st.
If you would like more information please contact me.
Regards
Robyn MacDougall

His funeral will be held at the Anglican cathedral in Grafton on 21st July at 10am. 

Hello Robyn, I shall try to find the phone numbers for the men who write the PIONEER Newsletter. I am sure they would like to know of your father-in-law’s passing. I knew Brian Hughes well when I was growing up and I am frequently in Ebor, Dorrigo and now live near Grafton. I would like to attend the funeral as a representative of My Dad and will do what I can to let the official Pioneers know. My condolences to you and the family. Yrs Lynne. P.S Thank you for the story. This is what my father was hoping we could gradually put together so that none of them is forgotten and so that their stories do not begin when the war began nor end when it ended. Yrs.

ASSISTANCE REQUIRED

MARK GLEASE (grandson of A.K. BYRNE) is planning a trip to Egypt and would appreciate info on sites to visit and areas of interest to 2/3 Pioneers.

PIONEERS IN MELBOURNE – 2009

Hi There,
A group of us that are descendant of 2/3 Pioneer battalion diggers here in Melbourne march on behalf of the unit every Anzac day. There is a fir tree dedicated to the unit on the main walk to the shrine and we also every 12th of May hold a service there and at the eternal flame to commemorate the life and death of Bluey Mackey VC. We only have a couple of original serving diggers from the unit left and have been trying to build a network of decendants down here.
In September we will be making a pilgramidge to Cowra to try to find the last survivors of the unit and their descendants in the hope that we can keep maintain and preserve the well known passion of the group.
Any help or contact would be much appreciated.
Darryl Wilson, 2/3 Pioneer Battalion Association – Melbourne Branch (or remnants there of).

 

MEN OF THE 2/3 PIONEER BATTALION: GORDON SCHOMBERG

GDay
My dad Gordon Schomberg was in the 2/3 pioneers and is still alive and living on the central coast N.S.W. I would be very interested in helping in any way I can. As the youngest child and dads girl I was the only one to follow in his footsteps, becoming a corp in signals corp at the old Kelvin Grounds Barracks. Please if I can help don’t hesitate to contact me.
Yours faithfully
J Schomberg
Daughter

MEN OF THE 2/3 PIONEER BATTALION: A.K. BYRNE

My grandfathers name was Alfred Keith Byrne, went by the name of Keith Byrne.
Joined the battalion from Paddington in 41, travelled to the middle east and was wounded in the Left heel. After returning to Australia, he rejoined the 2/3 PNR’s for the trip to PNG, however was injured loosing a finger and subsequently separated from the PNR’s after arriving in PNG. He was attached to a field hospital in Port Moresby, and became a stretcher bearer for the rest of the action.
He lived in Dundas near Parramatta with his wife and daughter until he died in the 60’s. Was a member of the Parramatta RSL.
This is all the info i have unfortunately.
regards,
Mark

(Mark Glease)

ROLL OF 2/3 PIONEER BATTALION. ANDREWS- AYRTON

AS COMPILED BY BRUCE SANDERS BEGINNING ANZAC DAY 2000 AND CONCLUDING WITH HIS DEATH IN JUNE 2005.

JOIN THE 2/3 PIONEER FAMILY AND FRIENDS COMMUNITY.

FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR EXPLANATION OF TERMS USED IN THE ROLL.

ASI TAP	AGE DEC’D YR OF DEATH	SURNAME BIRTH AWARDS	GIVEN NAME ’NICK’	NX OR ? RANK COYS POST	ENLIST OCCP’N	CAMPS	SHIPS	ACTIONS	DIS CHAR OCCP’N	POST DISCHARGE	WIFE DAUGH SONS ETC
		ANDREWS	JOE	D				TA Wd
		ANGEL	A.E.	D		CO
	1989	ANNERSELY	REG C	NX 50993	MERRYLANDS	L G CO DA M K	Q1 Q2 AN	AL NG		SPRINGFIELD TOONGABBIE	WIFE DAPHNE
		ANNIG	GEO
		APPLEDORFF	BERT P	90716	CREMORNE	M B K R	Q2 AN SC	AL NG TA		BROOKVALE
		ARANDALE	J.J.	42048		M	Q1
	1997	ARCHIBALD	JOHN A	82423 D. A.	BONDI	B	Q2 AN SC	AL NG TA		PENSHURST
		ARCHIBALD	B.P	82432		K R		NG TA
		ARKLEY	A. V. ’BLUE’	33909		L G CO DA M K	Q1 Q2 AN	AL NG		NEW LAMPTON
		ARMOUR	N
		ARMSTRONG	JOE	HQ	MEREWETHER BUTCHER
		ARMSTRONG	N.F.	177710 COL. G.	MANLY			TA		CARLINGFORD. MANLY
		ARMSTRONG	R.G.	94820 D		K R	AN SC	NC	KIA
		ARMSTRONG	REG. M.	45827	WARATAH	L G CO DA M K R	Q1 Q2 AN KL SC	AL NG TA		NEW LAMPTON
		ARMSTRONG	T.S.	D		CO
		ARMSTRONG	V.J.	VX54383 D		M K R	Q1 Q2 AN	NG
		ARNOLD	C		DOCTOR	M K R	Q1 Q2 AN	NG		CONDOBLIN
		ARNOLD	A.W.P	B		CO
		ARTHUR	W.E.	SX7346		M	Q2
	89	ASHCROFT	ARTHUR E	88804 SIG	HURSTVILLE	M ’B’	Q2 AN KL SC	AL NG TA		HURSTVILLE
	73	ASHLEY	CHAS ’CHIC’	80147 CPL	HARRIS PARK	M ’B’ K R	Q2 AN KL SC	AL NG TA	PARRA COUNCIL	PARRAMATTA
		ASHTON	KEN			DAR
		ASHTON	ROLEY J	125716 HQ	YOUNG	R	SC	TA		BURRAWA?
		ASHTON	R.K.	D		CO
		ASPINALL	EVAN	54728 SGT A	GUNDAGAI	L G CO DA M K R	QQ1 Q2 AN KL SC	AL NG TA
		ASPINALL	L	178622 A	BONDI	R		TA
		ASTLE 10.1.22	DEVON G	VX87260 L/CPL G	15-12-41 MOTHER V PENGULLA	R		TA		RINGWOOD VIC
	81	ATKIN	RICHARD L	31989 D. SIG	WILLOUGHBY	CO DA M K R	Q1 Q2 AN KL SC	AL NG TA		ARTARMON	NANCY
		ATKINS	T.O.	D		CO
	79	ATKINSON	F.A.	30640 CPL		CO DA M K R	Q1 Q2 AN	AL NG WD
		ATKINSON	L.G.	75217 SIG		R		TA
	1984	ATKISNON	ROBERT	43951	NORTHMEAD	L G CO DA M K R	Q1 Q2 AN KL SC	AL NG TA. WD.		PARRAMATTA	PHYLLIS
		ATKINSON	W.F.	57766 A		CO DA M	Q1	AL
A4		AUBERSON	J.F.	31755 5 PL		L G CO DA M		Q1 Q2 KL SC	AL NG TA
A4		AULD	H	32723		L G CO DA M K	Q1 Q2 AN KL	AL NG
	1988	AURISCH M.I.D	G. BEN	32963 WO2 C	LEICHARDT	L G CO DA M K R	Q1 Q2 AN KL SC	AL NG TA Wd	COUNCIL SUPERVISOR	LEICHARDT
		AUSTIN	W.T.	QX 24452
	1995 aged 73	AVARD 6-12-1922 ROTARY AWARD	LEN J	127628 C	31-10-41 LUGARNO	K	AN KL	NG	3-8-44 SYDNEY BUILDER	RIVERWOOD	JEAN
	1989 aged 72	AVARD 20-9-12	WM G	33136 C	WIFE INVERELL	M ’B’ K		AL NG WD		LUGARNO	J
		AVARD	W. G	88745 C		M ’B’	Q2 Q1 AN	NG
	1989	AXON	KEN H	65308 CPL C	MOSMAN	L G CO DA M K R	Q1 Q2 AN KL SC	AL NG TA	FORESTRY	GUNDEROO	MAVIS
	1991	AYERS	JOHN K	SX9088 CAPT A A/A	MILLSWOOD SA	L G CO DA M K R	Q1 Q2 AN KL SC	AL NG TA	LAND	ADELAIDE	PEG
	1996	AYERS	K R	28203		M K R	Q1 Q2	AL NG TA
		AYRES	E.J.	A		CO
	1991	AYRTON	ERN C.	40376 TRAN SPORT	NARRABRI	L G CO DA M K R	Q1 Q2 AN SC	AL NG TA	S.C.C	BANKSTOWN	MARY

FOR EXPLANATION OF TERMS USED AND CODE GO TO THIS LINK.   http://brucesanders.wordpress.com/a-s-i-t-a-p-the-roll-of-the-23-pioneer-battalion-aif/

 

http://secondthirdpioneerbattalion.ning.com/

ROLL OF 2/3 PIONEER BATTALION. ADAMSON TO ANDREWS

AS COMPILED BY BRUCE SANDERS BEGINNING ANZAC DAY 2000 AND CONCLUDING WITH HIS DEATH IN JUNE 2005.

ASI TAP	AGE DEC’D YR OF DEATH	SURNAME BIRTH AWARDS	GIVEN NAME ’NICK’	NX OR ? RANK COYS POST	ENLIST OCCP’N	CAMPS	SHIPS	ACTIONS	DIS CHAR OCCP’N	POST DISCHARGE	WIFE DAUGH SONS ETC
		ADAMSON	C.F.	NX27929		M	Q1 Q2
	1990	ADLINGTON	ROBT C	VX 121171 HQ	WAGGA	R	SC	TA		COROWA
	2001	AINSWORTH	R.R.	154980 A	BEXLEY	R		TA		BEXLEY
	1979	AITKEN	EDW J	26961		L G CO DA. M	Q1	AL		CHARLES TOWN
		AKERSTON	W.J.	WX 22060 B		R		TA	to 53AA
		ALBURY	E.H.	134302 C	RYDE	R		TA
		ALEXANDER	A	WX 52928 A
		ALEXANDER	C.E.	VX 53734		M	Q1
		ALEXANDER	J.F.	1775			AN	NG
		ALEXANDER	GEO P	33601 B		L G CO DA M	Q1 Q2	AL		NEWTOWN
	1988	ALEXANDER	RON P	VX 130701 LT A	MELBOURNE ENGINEER	K R	KL SC	NG TA		BLACKTOWN	WIFE ADA
		ALLBON	A	VX 79605 D		M K	Q2
		ALLEN	H.H.	46386 LT		R
		ALLEN	H.R.	VX 52766 L/CPL A		M K R	Q1 Q2 AN SC	AL NG Wd TA		PASCOE VALE VIC
	1971	ALLEN	JACK	53188 CPL 6PL	NEWTOWN	L G CO DA M K R	Q1 Q2 AN KL SC	AL NG TA		GREENACRE
	1986	ALLEN	RON C	VX 118531 A SIG		R	KL SC	TA		PASCOE VALE VIC	SON. RON
		ALLISON	A.J.	79605		R		TA
	78 1998	ALLSOPP 8-11-1920	ALBERT C	NX 53827 C	14-10-1941 FATHER. TAMWORTH	R		TA
		ALLWORK	H.C.	59263 5 PL		CO DA M	Q1
	1965	ALMOND	S ’SCORCHY’	50659 6PL	BONDI	DA M K R	Q1 Q2 AN KL SC	AL NG TA
		ALSOP MID 1995	A.K.	SX 33118 BHQ		R		TA
		AMEDE	VINCE W	111587		DA M K R	AL NG TA			CROWS NEST
		AMPHLETT	K.W.	VX 131217 HQ		R	SC	TA
A2	84 1998	ANDERSON	ARCH	54750 SGT C	27-6-1940 F. MO FIVEDOCK TELEGRAPH POINT	G CO DA M K R	Q1 Q2 AN KL SC	AL Wd NG TA Wd		CREMORNE WAMBAD	WIFE ELIZA BETH
		ANDERSON	A. FRED	56784 MG		DA M K	Q1 Q2 AN	AL NG		GRANVILLE NEWTOWN
		ANDERSON	C.F.	WX 22242 L’CPL B		R		TA
		ANDERSON	CHRIS N	55631 SGT BAND	WIFE. WEST RYDE	L G CO DA M K R	Q1 Q2 AN KL SC	AL NG TA		WEST RYDE
A2		ANDERSON 1916	DAVE B	54751 SGT C. SIG	27-6-40 FATHER FIVE DOCK ACCOUNTANT	G CO DA M K R	Q1 Q2 AN KL SC	AL NG TA		NEWPORT	DAU. HAZEL D.1 S.1
		ANDERSON 3-10-1913	DOUG K	SX 20445 C	23-1-1942 FATHER SA EDINBURGH	R	SC	TA
A1	78 1983	ANDERSON 4-3-1905 E.D. M.I.D.(3)	JOHN A ’ANDY’ ’MOLLY’	35033 C.O. LT COL B 21C	WIFE. MAROUBRA ACCOUNTANT	SH L G CO DA M KL SC	Q1 Q2 AN KL SC	AL NG TA		WAMBERAL	WIFE PEG SON ALEX
	1965	ANDERSON	KEITH W	32438 C		L G CO DA M K	Q1 Q2 AN	AL NG	MP NSW	BONDI	KATH
		ANDERSON	W. S.J.	QX 53879 HQ		R	SC	TA
		ANDREWS	HAROLD J	81393 COOK C. B.	BALLINA	M B K R	Q1 Q2 AN KL SC	AL NG Wd TA
		ANDREWS	J.E	34120 5 PL BAND		CO DA M K R	Q1 Q2 AN KL SC	AL NG

ACTIONS

AL=ALAMEIN

NG=NEWGUINEA

TA=TARAKAN

CAMPS

DA=DAMASCUS

L-LIVERPOOL

G=GLENFIELD

CA=CAMPBELLTOWN

CO=COWRA

R=RAVENSHOE

MILITARY TERMS

CPL=CORPORAL

COY=COMPANY. NAMELY –A. B. C. D. COMPANIES. 

HQ =HEADQUARTERS

PL=PLATOON

Wd=WOUNDED

SHIPS

Q1=QUEEN MARY FIRST VOYAGE

Q2=QUEEN MARY SECOND VOYAGE

ROLL OF 2/3 PIONEER BATTALION. ABBOTT-ADAMS.

AS COMPILED BY BRUCE SANDERS BEGINNING ANZAC DAY 2000 AND CONCLUDING WITH HIS DEATH IN JUNE 2005.

ASI TAP	AGE DEC’D YR OF DEATH	SURNAME BIRTH AWARDS	GIVEN NAME ’NICK’	NZ OR ? RANK COYS POST	ENLIST OCCP’N	CAMPS	SHIPS	ACTIONS	DIS CHAR OCCP’N	POST DIS CHAR	WIFE DAUGH SONS ETC
	39 1943	ABBOTT	ERIC C .04	NX10246		L. G. CA DA. M. K	Q1 Q2	AL DIED FROM TYPHUS			SISTER IRENE
A2	61 1983	ABBOTT	HAROLD R 101222	QX38083 C	4-11-41 MOTHER GOODNA			TA
		ABBOTT	L	CPL.		CA
	58	ABERCROMBIE	W.T.	50367 6 PL		L G CA DA M	Q1	AL P W
		ABROOK	H.C.	C		L. G.CA
A3		ABSOLUM	Wm E SHORTY	35298 C	GRONG GRONG	L. G. CA DA. M. K. R.	Q1. Q2.	AL NG	RAIL WAYS	TOCUMWAL
A3		ACCIDENTAL	J.G.			M. B.
A3	47 1966	ACLAND	ALBERT E	60380 CAPT R.Q.M.B	BN JOCKEY	L. G.CA. DA. M. K.R.	Q1. Q2. AN	AL NG		NEW LAMPTON
A3		ADAIR 5-2-24	DES E.	88810 A	16-2-42 WAR OONGAH	M. B K. R.	Q2 AN. KL.	AL NG TA	7-5-46 CARPENTER	TURRA MURRA SUMMER	W.JOYCE D. KAREN ROBYN JAN S. IAN
		ADAM	H.T	146779 CPL HQ	MAITLAND	R	SC	TA
A3	96	ADAM	J.R. ’SAUB’	35022	EN. WALK I MILE BROKEN HILL ENGINEER CO	G. L. G. CO. DA. M. K. R.	Q1 Q2 AN KL	AL NG TA	7-5-46	ENGINEER MINING	TOORAK GARDENS SA
		ADAMS	A.H.	A		CO
		ADAMS	CON	C
A3		ADAMS 14-2-25	FRANK	42729 S.B.D.	MARRICKVILLE	DA. M. K. R.	Q1 Q2 AN KL	AL NG TA	SOLICITOR	SEAFORTH BENSISTE
	1984	ADAMS	NOEL B	35963 C		L G CO DA M K R	Q1 Q2	AL Wd NG TA	MINING	BROKEN HILL
	1991	ADAMS	Wm J ’RINGER’	24965 D.M.CO		L.G.CO DA.M K. R.	Q1 Q2 AN KL	AL NG. Wd. TA	FARMING	ADELONG
		ADAMS	N.C.	C		CO

ACTIONS

AL=ALAMEIN

TA=TARAKAN

CAMPS

L-LIVERPOOL

G=GLENFIELD

CA=CAMPBELLTOWN

CO=COWRA

MILITARY TERMS

CPL=CORPORAL

COY=COMPANY. NAMELY –A. B. C. D. COMPANIES.  HQ =HEADQUARTERS

PL=PLATOON

Wd=WOUNDED

SHIPS

Q1=QUEEN MARY FIRST VOYAGE

Q2=QUEEN AMRY SECOND VOYAGE

TRANSITION

Due to re-location from Tweed to Clarence, there will be a break between posts. The Clarence residence incorporates a study area of considerable dimensions and a fine view over Big River Country. Bear with me till I am settled in. Many Thanks.

DIARY: PERSONAL INFORMATION.

BRUCE SANDERS NX27395

BORN	DULWICH HILL	19 JUNE 1920
ENLIST	MOORE PARK	19 JUNE 1940
DISCHARGE	SHOWGROUND	19 NOVEMBER 1945

 

Before enlisting, home, Ham and Beef Shop. 584 New Canterbury Road, Hurlstone Park.

Proprietor: FATHER. JOHN GEORGE SANDERS.

		BORN	PLACE	DIED	PLACE
FATHER.	JOHN GEORGE SANDERS.	10-4-1881	KINCHELA	10-11-1950.	SYDNEY
MOTHER.	ELIZABETH SANDERS. nee CRAIG	1880	KINCHELA	28-12-1943.	SYDNEY
	MARRIED 28-8-1905.		KINCHELA
DAUGHTER	DORIS	1907	KINCHELA	21-1-1932
SON	CLYDE	1909	KINCHELA	19-2-1979
DAUGHTER	MAY	1911	KINCHELA	5-6-1991
DAUGHTER	VERA	1913	KINCHELA	21-6-1967
SON	BRUCE	1920	SYDNEY	5-6-2005	BELLINGEN
DAUGHTER	BETTY	1927	SYDNEY

 

SCHOOLS

KINDERGARTEN	HURLSTONE PARK	1925-28
PRIMARY	CANTERBURY	1928-32
INTERMEDIATE HIGH	PETERSHAM	1933-35
TECHNICAL	ULTIMO	3 NIGHTS PER WEEK 7-9pm CARPENTRY & JOINERY APPRENTICE 4th YEAR COMPLETE.

 

B.S. Married JOYCE BELL. Born 29-11-1926, Died 28-8-2001. from ROSEBERY at MASCOT. 23-10-1948.

B.S. lived

1940	2 ROSLYN ST ASHBURY
1941	HURLSTONE PARK
B & J lived
1953	27 PAXTON AVE BELMORE
1974	42 MORGO ST URUNGA
1975	7/25 MORGO ST URUNGA
1984	35 BELLINGEN ST URUNGA

 

CHILDREN.

DAUGHTER	LYNNE	B 19-10-1949
DAUGHTER	SUSAN	B 26-5-1952
SON	JON	B 17-12-1955

 

“SUPREMA PETO” = AIM FOR THE HIGHEST.

Motto – PETERSHAM INTERMEDIATE BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

DIARY: EX PAY BOOKS.

DATE	RANK	PAY RATE
19-6-1940	PRIVATE	5/-  DAY
19-7-1940	TO CORPORAL	9/- DAY
19-12-1940		+2/- DEFERRED
28-7-41	ACTING SERGEANT	10/- A DAY + 2/-
1-11-41	EMBARK	11/- + 2/-
7-11-41	INCREASE	12/- + 2/-
19-1-42	CONFIRM
14-8-42	INCREASE	12/6 +2/-
1-3-43	DISEMBARK	11/6 +2/-
8-9-42	EMBARK	11/6 +2/-
20-2-45	A/WOII	12/6 +3/-
22-3-45	REVERT	11/6 +2/-
3-4-45	EMBARK	12/6 +2/-
13-7-45	A/WOII	13/7 +3/-
12-9-45	CONFIRM
20-11-45	DISEMBARK	12/6 +3/-

 

CARPENTER AND JOINER 5’6” tall. 1677mm.	4th YEAR APPRENTICE
1940	129lbs. 9 stone 3lbs. 59kgs.
1945	63 kgs
1997	83 kgs
2000	74 kgs
2001	89 kgs
2002

2/3 PIONEER BATTALION ASSOCIATION.

FORMED 1945	PRESIDENT KEITH WHITFIELD ?
BRUCE SANDERS
ASSISTANT SEC	1957-1957
SECRETARY	1958-1968
EDITOR	1958-1970

 

MAY 1940.

BORN ne’er soldier to be

Then Dunkirk thunder’d o’er the sea.

Britons fighting that all be free.

To join them, comes the call to me.

B.S.

WHY ?

“ Peace for the kids, our brothers freed,

A kinder world, a cleaner breed.” Anon. Soldier of the 8th Army.

Quoted at the unveiling of Alamein Memorial. 24 October 1954.

ENLISTMENT DAY.

BRUCE WITH HIS FATHER JOHN  GEORGE SANDERS ON ENLISTMENT DAY.

DIARY ENTRIES.

This diary started 23 March 2002 Saturday from 1982 diary donated by Russell Green who BS (BRUCE SANDERS) worked for from 1967 to 1992 for NEETA HOMES and war diaries , notes , memories.

Russell Green owes B.S. $11567.

1992 to 1999 for IMPALA HOMES.

_______________________________________________ 

2/3 PIONEER BN 2^nd A.I.F.  

“PIONEER BATTALION”- trained to fight as infantry or to carry out comparatively simple engineering work. WWII – Corps troops, not of a Brigade.

 

Hence triangular colour patch.

PURPLE = engineering.

 

“PIONEER” – to open or prepare a way.

“PIONEER” – one of a body of foot soldiers detailed to make roads, entrenchments etc in advance of the main body.

“PIONEER” – one who clears the way for others.

_______________________________

FORMED – GLENFIELD NSW JULY 1940

FIRST complete battalion overland to Darwin. 1941.

LAST complete battalion by ship to Middle East. 1941.

ATTACHED 6 Div Syria, 7 Div Syria, 8 Div Darwin, 9 Div Syria, Palestine, Egypt, New Guinea (NEW GUINEA), Tarakan, Australia.

 

Colour patch = Purple – engineering. White – infantry. Grey – A.I.F. -2^nd Australian Imperial Force.

 

Volunteered to serve anywhere for duration of war and 12 months thereafter.

 

 

 

EDITORIAL COMMENT

That puts the skeleton of the letters in place. I shall now begin searching for any missing details and attempting to determine a way of arranging them which makes more sense. I shall close with this image of a XMAS card which I have just found on a floppy. I think the original was sent to the AWM with Dad’s other papers. As far as I recall, it was the card sent on the Xmas of his mother’s death and arrived, perhaps after she had passed away. I shall check for verification.