AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER'S LETTERS TO HIS FAMILY AT HOME IN SYDNEY IN WWII.
MEN OF THE 2/3 PIONEER BATTALION: A.K. BYRNE
Posted by nellibell49 on June 29, 2009
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)
Peter Kennedy said
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.
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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.
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Lest We Forget
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Peter KENNEDY (Grandson)
Peter Kennedy said
Lynne,
I have just gone through “THE PIONEER” Magazine that my Grandfather handed down. I see that your father Bruce SANDERS was also a Corporal in B Coy which is the same company as my Pop George KENNEDY NX46815(L/Corporal). Your Dad was in No 11 Platoon of B Coy. I would imagine that they would have known each other quite well. If you wish to contact me please do so at my email address. This is a great site.
Cheers
Pete Kennedy