Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

A note from one of Ken’s nine children, all of whom lived to be adults…..

This will sound familiar to many. Ken was a private person who never talked of his service and experiences in WWII to his family. He was a kind and gentle man who was probably traumatised by his time in New Guinea but never let it show for the rest of his life.

Prior to enlisting for war service in the Australian Military Forces on 3rd January 1940 at age 20, Ken worked as a woodcutter, a labourer in the Goulburn area. His army training in 1940 and 41 was at Glenfield and Ingleburn before being required for full time duty on 9th October 1941. Ken was assigned to 34 Battalion at Ingleburn and in September 1942 he transferred to the 2nd AIF as part of the 34 Battalion.

On 16th November he was transferred to the New Guinea forces, Brisbane, for transport to Port Moresby via the “Egbert Benson” arriving on 4th December 1942. By the 24th December 1942 he was in the Gona area, joining the 2/27 Battalion as a replacement.
On 14th January 1943 Ken returned to Cairns aboard “Taroona” and by 6th August 1943 he was sent back to New Guinea aboard “Duntroon” arriving on 8th August. On 2nd December 1943 he was evacuated to 111CCS (a Field Hospital?) with malaria. Ken returned to active duty on 18th December 1943 with the 2/27 Battalion. On 30th January 1944 he was again evacuated to 2/5 AGC (Field Hospital?) with malaria, returning again to the 2/27 Battalion on 16th February 1944.

He left New Guinea on 25th February 1944 aboard “Lewis Dyche” arriving in Brisbane on 1st March 1944 and making his way to Woonona, NSW where he married Annie Florence Christiansen on 18th March 1944. On 12th April, whilst on leave, he was evacuated to 113 ACH (Hospital?) then to 16 ACH with malaria until 17th May 1944. From 25th May 1944 till 20th January 1945 he was on leave without pay on the ‘X’ list and was discharged on 25th January 1945. Ken spent 946 days in service, of which 475 days were on active service in Australia, and 276 days in New Guinea.

His Active service Badge Number is A58496.

After he served Australia, Ken had a full life with Annie raising their 9 children, living in their home at Corrimal and working mostly as a truck driver. He passed away on 8th March 1988, aged 68 and is buried in the Corrimal Catholic Cemetery alongside Annie who was well supported by The Department of Veterans' Affairs for many years following Ken’s death. Ken has a memorial plaque in the Australian War Graves, NSW Garden of Remembrance at Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney (located on Wall 31, Panel E).

Thanks and vale Ken!