PersonalFamily – Journey to Sustainability

Let me tell you about John O’Connor

Let me tell you about

John Francis O’Connor

30/7/1960
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Army Number A325347
Enlisted 10/9/1986
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Discharged –/–/—-

John Francis O’Connor

John was born on 30th July 1960, the last of the children to Mr and Mrs Joe O’Connor of 37 Mair St, Wagga Wagga. John enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF ) on 10th September 1986 and was assigned the service number of A325347.

After his basic military skills and trade training, he was sent to various states across Australia before his second last position located at RAAF Townsville. After attaining the rank of sergeant, he was then sent to RAAF Richmond, NSW to undergo air movement and section operations training, which included weight and balance, cargo positioning of various aircraft operated by the RAAF and section leader and then returned to Townsville as the Duty Air Movements Officer. After the outbreak of tensions between the Indonesion and civilians of East Timor in 1999, John was sent for a 2 month deployment to East Timor as part of the International Force East Timor ( INTERFET) and returned in December of the same the same year. Then in January of 2000, he again was deployed to East Timor as part of United Nations Transitional Administration East Timor ( UNTAET) as a section leader in aircraft loading of various aircraft of the RAAF and the United Nations and returned in June of that same year.

After discharge from the RAAF, he now resides in Townsville as a widower and enjoys spending his time with the extended O’Connor and his children and grandchildren. John also enjoys the occasional trip aboard ocean going cruise ships.66

Let me tell you about Peter Crane

Let me tell you about

Peter Alfred Crane

14/10/1925
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Enlisted RAAF Oct1943
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Discharged Feb 1946

Peter Alfred Crane

Peter had significant health problems growing up from Scarlet fever, meazles & diptheria and by age 9 had 4 major operations some of which prevented Peter following his dreams of being a pilot in the RAAF. Not to be denied Peter joined the RAAF as a radio operator learning the new equipment of VHF equipment for wartime use.

Once again we do not have service records but will follow up what records the War Memorial has that will allow us to complete his involvement.

From Peter’s own information he joined when he turned 18 in October 1943 and had been stationed at Forest Hill Wagga Wagga on 2 ocassions as well as Queensland & South Australia

As a final training exercise Peter was stationed on Morotai island in the final two weeks of his VHF equipment training when the Atom Bombs were dropped on Japan bringing an early end to hostilities

He was discharged in February 1946

Let me tell you about Alfred

Let me tell you about

Alfred Bruce Edward Crane

9th April 1901
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9th June 1945

Army number NX52023
Enlisted 22nd July 1940

Killed as a POW 9th June 1945

Alfred Bruce Edward Crane

Initially posted to AASC.
During August & September 1940 spent some time in a Hospital for Influenza.
On 15/11/1940 Tfr’d to 8th Div AASC and transported to Dubbo for training.
In May 1941 underwent further training in Bathurst NSW which included another stay in Hospital.
On 10/7/1941 he indicated he would be coming home for a short stay then on 27th July he said it had been cancelled and he was to go “a long way away”.
On 24/7/1941 was assigned to 27th Brigade Company AASC
He was sent to Northam, Western Australia for further training before being sent to Singapore on 15th August 1941.
Whilst in Singapore he was assigned to No 2 Company AASC on 22/11/1941 where he remained until the fall of Singapore on 15th February 1942.

Following the surrender Alfred would have been initially held in Changi POW Camp before being moved to Sandakan POW Camp.

By January 1945, with Allied forces advancing, the Japanese decided to send the 1900 prisoners on marches inland to Ranau, (a distance of 261 kilometres (160mi)) away from the coast in 3 sets of marches known as the Sandakan Death Marches. In total 2434 lives were lost as a result of the Death Marches with only 6 surviving – all of who had escaped. Alfred was known to have been sent on the second death march and we were advised by Lynette Silver that he had been shot and killed near the Mile 62 marker either from lack of health or attempting escape on the 9th June 1945.

From historical documents on the Fall of Singapore The Japanese offensive on Malaysia commenced in early December 1941 and the Allied troops suffered heavy losses and were retreating down the Peninsular. The 8th Divi were defending the Malay peninsular. During this offensive the Japanese took no prisoners, killing all who were wounded or surrendered. It appears that the 27th Brigade were utilised in the defense of Singapore itself from February 8th until the surrender on February 15th. Following the surrender Alfred would have been initially held in Changi POW Camp before being moved to Sandakan POW Camp.

This report has been reconstructed based on the digitised service records, his letters back to his family from enlistment until the fall of Singapore, public reports and the efforts of Lynette Ramsay Silver AM on the last days at Sandaken POW camp and the death marches all of which have been uploaded to his page – Letters to Home & Correspondence Lynette Silver

As a footnote, following the death of his eldest daughter Elizabeth in 2011, the family attended the commemorative service in Sandakan and her ashes were spread at the site of the POW camp as health prevented her from visiting the area whilst alive.

Let’s start with Joe Snr

Let's start with Joseph Patrick O'Connor

20th July 1885
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12th February 1969

Regiment Number 77
Enlisted 18th September 1914
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Discharged 18th April 2016

Joseph O'Connor

Joseph O’Connor who was born on 20th July 1885 in Horsham, Victoria. Not much is known of his life prior to enlisting in the Army except his enlistment form lists him as an apprentice carpenter in his parents business which was in Kilmore, Victoria

Joe enlisted on the 18th September 1914 at the age of 26 & 4 months in Sydney NSW. (as noted on the enlistment)
On the 21st December 1914 he was assigned to “A” Company.

He was assigned Regiment number 77 which were used prior to the army numbers that was introduced in 1921.

The 13th Battalion left Albany WA in December 1914 to arrive in Egypt in February 1915 refer Article prior to participating in their first conflict the landing at Anzac Cove on the evening of April 25th 1915 refer article

A week later on 2nd May 1915, whilst in conflict, he was shot in the chest and lungs and evacuated on the 3rd May on board HS Gascon back to No 15 General Hospital Alexandria. On May 13th he was transferred back to England to the Hospital in Manchester on board HS Nevasa. He was later moved to the Woodcote Park Military Convalescent Hospital in Epsom Surrey. He remained in England until the 7th November 1915. He was returned to Melbourne, Australia on board HT Runic on or about 10th February 1916.

He was declared medically unfit to return to duty and discharged on 18th April 19

Photos taken from the convalescent stay in England

On his return to Australia he made his final journey to Wagga Wagga NSW where he married Martha Lillian Doolan in 1923 and together they had a family of 5 Joe, Frank, Les, Marie & Merv.

Joe also made a significant contribution to the community of Wagga Wagga, improving the City for the current inhabitants and the generations that were to follow. His achievements included:

Foundation member and original committee member of the Wagga Diggers Race Club which took over the running of the Wagga Cup during the war. It continued for sometime after the war with proceeds going to the RSL building fund – now the Wagga RSL Club
Elected 1st Life Member of the Wagga RSL Club
First President of the Turvey Park Australian Rules Club controlling its destinies in the early days with the Central Riverina League. Remained active for many years and was elected Life Member.
Committeeman of the original Wagga Gift carnival when it was promoted at the Wagga Showgrounds with interest and support also for the Gymkhana & Sports Club

Let me tell you about Joe

Let me tell you about

Joseph Jeremiah O'Connor

14th May 1924
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3rd March 2006

Army Number NX169714
Enlisted 7th July 1942
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Discharged 11th July 1946

After enlistment Joe was initially assigned to the 14th Infantry Brigade and sent to Bathurst on 13th July 1942 where he completed
Early training included Small Arms course in September’42 Q90% &
Junior Leaders course in November/December Q65%

He was transferred to the AIF and allotted Army Number on 27th April 1943 & on 19th May 1943 sent to Jungle Warfare Training Camp Canungra. Assigned to the 2/31st Battalion 25th Brigade 7th Division on 19th July 1943 (The members of the 2/31st Battalion had returned to Australia in January of 1943 – only 55 men were fit for duty after campaigns in Kokoda, Gorari & Gona.)

He returned with the 2/31st to New Guinea from 23rd July 1943 to 31st January 1944 where they saw service in the Salamaua – Lae campagn & Finisterre Range campaign Returning to Australia on 27th January 1944 on board the Kanimbla from Port Moresby arriving Townsville 31st January 1944 to prepare for the next phase of the war.

After a year training in the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland they embarked from Townsville on June 6th 1945 disembarking at Morotai on 15th June 1945 and embarking Morotai on 22nd June 1945 before participating in the landing at Balikpapan with the rest of the 7th Division on July 2nd 1945. The Battalion had been involved in the fighting until July 26th when as a result of high casualities (44 killed and 134 wounded) they were moved to the rear.

Following the end of the War, the Battalion was stationed around Bandjermasin (the capital of Dutch Borneo) for the surrender of the Japanese. Joe did a report on this surrender for his home town of Wagga Wagga -see below.

The final trip home was on 25th January 1946 on board HMAS Kinimbla arriving Brisbane on 4th February 1946. The Battalion was disbanded the following month. Joe was initially transferred for reposting before being discharged on 11th July 1946

Reference Joe’s Service Records plus On-Line Battalion Report

Let me tell you about John Francis O’Connor 30/7/1960–Army Number A325347Enlisted 10/9/1986–Discharged –/–/—-