AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER'S LETTERS TO HIS FAMILY AT HOME IN SYDNEY IN WWII.

IF ANY MISTAKES HAVE BEEN MADE OR DATA ENTERED INCORRECTLY, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL TAKE STEPS TO AMEND IT.

N.B. The most recent letters are shown last. Earliest Letters i.e.1941 are published first.

My father who was a man of loyalty and strong family ties throughout his life wrote home to Sydney for the 5 years of World War 2. He enlisted on his 20th birthday in 1940 and did not return till the War ended in 1945 during which time many things changed and many things changed him. These are the letters of a young Sydney boy written as he faces war and life in the Middle East , North Queensland and New Guinea and Borneo. The attitudes and thoughts of the time are reflected in them and I shall leave the story behind them for the reader to interpret. Bruce also kept a diary which he carried from 1940-45 ( and in fact he kept journalling till a series of strokes and the loss of his wife,Joyce, finally defeated him ) . I shall endeavour to incorporate the diary in this blog as I am able. Dad had wanted his story told and he and I had looked for a way to publish it but while he was alive and on limited funds we were unable to do so and he passed on in 2005. Now that the internet is available for me to put his story online, I do so. All his work was handwritten and detailed so bear with me as I transcribe. R.I.P. Bruce and Joyce Sanders. LEST WE FORGET. Yrs. Lynne Sanders.

BRUCE SPENT THE LAST FEW YEARS OF HIS LIFE COMPILING THE ROLL OF THE PIONEERS. STROKES AND ILLNESS OVERTOOK HIM BEFORE HE COULD COMPLETE THE MAMMOTH JOB HE HAD SET HIMSELF. BRUCE WAS PASSIONATELY INTERESTED IN THE PIONEERS AND THEIR FAMILIES - BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE WAR. WE WOULD BE VERY PLEASED TO RECEIVE ANY INFORMATION YOU HAVE TO OFFER AND TO POST YOUR STORY AND THAT OF YOUR PIONEER. WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS.

LOOKING FOR STORIES, ANECDOTES, PHOTOGRAPHS AND OTHER IMAGES RELEVANT TO THE 2/3 PIONEERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. nellibell49@gmail.com LET US KNOW THE STORIES OF THE MEN AND OF THEIR DESCENDANTS AND LOVED ONES.

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).

Mark is planning a trip to Egypt and would like some feedback on sites to see and points of interest to Pioneers.