The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) has produced a Commemorative Medallion and Certificate of Commemoration acknowledging the significance of the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The medallion and certificate are available to every living veteran of the Second World War. This medallion and certificate are a small but meaningful way DVA can thank living veterans of the largest global conflict of the 20th century. We are still fortunate in Barham to have four WW2 veterans living amongst our community who are very deserved of this medallion and certificate – Lewis Gray, Norman Easther, Nancy Spence (nee Hall) and Shirley Sartori (nee Hall). The president of the Barham RSL, Greg Hall, presented all the WW2 veterans with their certificate and medallion - Nancy and Shirley being his two aunties. The following is a brief history of their service. Unfortunately, prior to this article going to print, Norm Easther passed away. “Lest We Forget”.
Lewis (Lew) Gray was sitting his final exam at high school on the same day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941. There were rumours that they were heading down south, and no one was stopping them so Lew thought he would help his older brother who was already in the RAAF. Lew loved the ocean, so he thought of joining the Navy. After he arrived home to Narrogin, Western Australia he told his mother a “little white lie” about winning a scholarship to Naval College. He packed his brother’s birth certificate in his bag and headed to Perth to join up. He was still only 15. He enlisted in the Australian Navy and became Alan Gray. Even though he looked young no questions were asked.
He caught a train from Perth to Flinders in Victoria, was issued with a uniform and began training. Lew volunteered for special duties; little was he to know that his life could be in a lot more danger than on board a ship. A rule of military service is ‘never volunteer’ and Lew thought this might be a great adventure, but it culminated in nightmares and regret. He was sent to Canungra for special training in thick bushland. He qualified as a ‘Naval Beach Commando’ and was posted to Darwin where, under the instruction of an American Colonel and Naval Commander of Intelligence, he was given a crash course in Japanese aircraft, ships and insignia recognition. Kayak training was a must even though Lew could not swim, no necessity in Narrogin. Lew was one of 38 men of 68 who completed the Naval Beach Commandos training.
His first three missions, at the age of 16, were on islands around Java. Lew was usually by himself when dropped off in a kayak, when there was no moon, by an American submarine, and picked up when there was no moon again. His task, once ashore, was to get as close to the Japanese camps as possible and within sight of their ports reporting back via radio on their movements, numbers, strong-points, and so on. He and other Naval Beach Commandos would spend a month at a time on the islands.
On one of his trips, he contracted malaria. Whilst stationed in Darwin his malaria worsened and he had to be admitted to Darwin Hospital where, ranting with fever, it was found out that he was not as old as he claimed to be, nor was his name Alan. He was then discharged from the Australian Navy and sent home. Three months later, on 30 January 1945, and at the correct age, he joined up again.
He spent the next couple of years on small naval vessels around the Northern Territory, Thursday Island and Queensland. Lew was discharged from the Navy on 9 June 1947, reaching the rank of Able Seaman. He returned to his home in Western Australia.
Norm Easther joined the Royal Australian Air Force on 15 August 1942 from Pompoota, a dairy farm just out of Murray Bridge in South Australia. He was sent to Victor Harbour for training then sent to Ballarat to Wireless School. After a time, he became quite good at Morse Code. He was then sent to Cootamundra and then onto East Sale where he and other air force members formed a crew. From there they went to Batchelor then to Gould and operated from there.
His crew were on anti-submarine patrols for hours on end. Norm tells the story of being in the Beaufort flying over West Timor and Delhi. He did say that the crew was lucky to have survived the war as there was shrapnel riddled throughout the plane.
Norm also told the story of when he was called into the Adjutant’s office one day and he said to Norm, “I hate liars, especially to their mother.” Norm replied, “Beg your pardon sir.” “I just censored the letter to your mother; you said that you flew an aircraft yesterday and if you did, you’re in deep, deep trouble. What’s your story?” Norm mentioned to me that when forming a crew, if the pilot ever got shot someone had to bring the plane in. He was only trying to keep the plane straight and level. Norm was lucky that he had recorded it in the logbook. Norm explained to the Adjutant that it was a dual control aircraft. The officer said they did not have any dual controlled aircraft in this squadron and asked for its number. Norm answered 109. The officer told Norm that he had not heard the last of this. It was 1943 – Norm is still waiting. Norm thinks he may have rung down to aircraft control and asked how many dual control aircraft were in the squadron, and the sergeant on duty would have replied that they have one and that its number is 109. Norm said that you must be honest in life.
After this conversation I pointed to a photo on his wall of four aircrew men and asked who they were. Norm was a young man with a moustache. The man on the right of him was the pilot who was about 5’ 4” tall and, according to Norm, he should have been a Spitfire Pilot. Norm explains that the pilot flew the Beaufort bomber like a Spitfire. On one trip the pilot said no-one has ever rolled a Beaufort, so over Sydney Harbour at 9,000 feet he rolled it over. He could not control it, so the navigator pushed the stick forward. Norm explains that they dropped 6,000 feet in six seconds. Norm was in the turret and would have hit the water first. Luckily, they came out of it the right way.
Norm tells of another situation when they went to Dubbo to pick up a load of stores. They overloaded the aircraft, took off in the air and then came down and just missed the barbed wire by a fraction - they went underneath the power lines instead of over them. Norm was discharged from the RAAF on 17 February 1945 so that he could help his father on the farm. He had reached the rank of Warrant Officer and his last posting was No. 1 Squadron.
Shirley Sartori (nee Hall) joined the Australian Army at the age of 18 with her sister Nancy on 1 April 1944. Shirley completed training at Camp Darley located about 5km north of Bacchus Marsh, Victoria before being transferred to Fisherman’s Bend where she worked in a disposal depot for Army surplus. They were paid four shillings and four pence a day, slept in single fold out beds with hessian mattresses stuffed with straw in bank houses accommodating 25 to a room. Shirley was discharged from the Army on 25 September 1946 reaching the rank of Corporal.
Nancy Spence (nee Hall) joined the Australian Army on 1 April 1944 from Barham with her sister Shirley. Nancy was also posted to training at Camp Darley and then on to Fisherman’s Bend. Nancy was discharged from the Army on 25 September 1946 reaching the rank of Corporal. Both Shirley and Nancy returned to Barham.
Motor car and aircraft factories were located at Fisherman’s Bend and women were trained in the assembly of fighter planes. Many women were employed at Fisherman’s Bend by the Australian Women’s Army Services, doing office work, and working in the salvage depot, where they laundered and sorted military uniforms and equipment.