COLLINSVILLE – ROLL OF HONOUR – 1939 – 1945
In January 1953, the Collinsville RSL asked the Wangaratta Shire Council to take action for the erection of a War Memorial in front of the Anzac Hall before Anzac Day. In March 1954, the Secretary of the Collinsville RSL advised the Wangaratta Shire Council that it had almost completed a list of those men and women who saw active service and requested that the council expedite the erection of the memorial to be completed by the coming Anzac Day.
Townsville Daily Bulletin, 30th January 1953, 5th March 1954.
We are in the process of loading the information from the other two sides of the Cenotaph. In the meantime you can click here to download the pdf.
Bailey, Leslie Edwin
Date of birth: 23RD January, 1917
Place of birth: Bowen Qld
Parents: Arthur Samuel & Elsie Evelyn
Occupation: Stockman, Exmoor Station
Date of enlistment: 18.2.1942
Place of enlistment: Brisbane
Service No: QX27499
Rank: Private
Unit: 2/7 Australian Infantry Battalion
Place of Death: New Guinea
Date of Death: 3rd April, 1945
Age At Death: 28 years
War Grave: TT.A.4 Lae War Cemetery, NG
On 21ST August, 1943 he was wounded in action at Mount Tambu (south of Lae).
Killed in action during the Aitape-Wewak Campaign & was buried in the field.
Greaves, Vivian Joseph
Date of birth: 8th July, 1914
Place of birth: Rockhampton Qld
Parents: Frederick Charles & Catherine
Occupation: Labourer
Date of enlistment: 18th September, 1941
Place of enlistment: Townsville
Service No: QX22306
Rank: Private
Unit: 2/26 Australian Infantry Battalion
Place of Death: Singapore
Date of Death: 10th February, 1942
Age at Death: 27 years
War Grave: No known grave, remembered on Column 128, Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore
Killed in action during the Japanese invasion of Singapore, previously reported missing & has no known grave.
Hampstead, Lessel John
Date of birth: 13th February, 1924
Place of birth: South Killarney Qld
Parents: Joseph & Amelia Maria
Activities: Surf lifesaver, All Blacks football Team, Swim instructor.
Date of enlistment: 28th March, 1942
Place of enlistment: Sydney N.S.W
Service No: 421805
Rank: Sergeant/ staff pilot
Unit: 2 Bomb & Gunnery School
Place of Death: Port Pirie
Date of Death: 20th May, 1943
Age at Death: 19 years
War Grave: Plot C, Row D, Grave 12, Port Pirie General Cemetery
Sgt Hamstead with 2 other personnel, were towing a drogue target when the aircraft was observed to turn on its back & started to spin before crashing into the ground. The cause was listed as obscure.
Luckner, Ronald Karl
Date of birth: 30th May, 1919
Place of birth: Townsville Qld
Foster Parents: Ernest Clark & Nora Davies
Occupation: Stockman
Date of enlistment: 2nd April, 1940
Place of enlistment: Townsville Qld
Service No: QX1649
Rank: Private
Unit: 2/32 Australian Infantry Battalion
Place of Death: El Alamein
Date of Death: 17th July, 1942
Age at Death: 23 years
War Grave: Plot AIV, Row C, Grave 1 El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt.
During an advance at the El Alamein battle, the Australians were counter attacked by the Germans using tanks. Half of the Battalion were killed or wounded & 200 became P.O.W.’s.
Molan, Desmond Ronald
Date of birth: 16th February, 1924
Place of birth: Cairns Qld
Parents: Arthur William & Mary
Schools: Ross Island & Julia Creek
Date of enlistment: 21st May, 1942
Place of enlistment: Brisbane Qld
Service No: 425955
Rank: Flight Sergeant/wireless operator
Unit: 461 Squadron
Place of Death: Bay of Biscay
Date of Death: 23rd March, 1944
War Grave: Remembered on Runnymede Memorial Panel 261, UK.
Coastal Command – Sunderland Long Range patrol flying boat. On Anti- Submarine patrol was attacked by 9 enemy fighters, the port fuel tank caught fire due to a cannon shell. They ditched in the Bay of Biscay in rough seas. 7 crew members survived & 5 drowned in the ditching.
Needham, William John Thomas
Date of birth: 10th July, 1916
Place of birth: Chillagoe
Parents: William Francis & Mary Agnes
Occupation: Stockman, Conway Station,
Mt Coolum
Date of enlistment: 16th July, 1940
Place of enlistment: Mackay
Service No: QX13270
Rank: Private
Unit: 2/26th Infantry Battalion
Prisoner of War: Changi
Place of Death: Brisbane
Date of Death: 29.3.1989
War Grave: Nil
Taken prisoner of War when the British Commander surrendered in Singapore.
Reardon, Peter James
Date of birth: 20th January, 1901
Place of birth: Charters Towers
Parents: John & Elizabeth
Occupation: Railway fireman
Date of enlistment: 10th July, 1940
Place of enlistment: Kelvin Grove Qld
Service No: QX14430
Rank: Private
Unit: 2/25 Australian Infantry Battalion
Place of Death: Port Moresby
Date of Death: 15th September, 1942
Age at Death: 41 years
War Grave: A1, E, 2 Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, New Guinea.
Private Reardon previously in North Africa & then fought against the Vichy French in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign.
The battalion met the Japanese at Loribaiwa on 15.9.1942 before retreating to Imita Ridge. His body was recovered from the Kokoda Track.
Royal Norman Alfred
Date of birth: 9th June, 1923
Place of birth: Brisbane Qld
Parents: Thomas Guias & May
Wife: Kathleen Mary
Date of enlistment: 9th November, 1941
Place of enlistment: Brisbane Qld
Service No: 414837
Rank: Warrant Officer
Unit: 461 Squadron
Place of Death: Bay Biscay
Date of Death: 23rd March, 1944
War Grave: Remembered on Panel 259 Runnymede Memorial, UK
Coastal Command – Sunderland Long Range patrol flying boat. On Anti- Submarine patrol was attacked by 9 enemy fighters, the port fuel tank caught fire due to a cannon shell. They ditched in the Bay of Biscay during rough seas. 7 crew members survived & 5 drowned in the ditching.
Ruge, Arthur Robert
Date of birth: 5th October, 1918
Place of birth: Proserpine Qld
Parents: Robert Jacob & Jane (Dobe)
Date of enlistment: 29th March, 1941
Place of enlistment: Brisbane Qld
Service No: 405424
Rank: Sergeant/Instructor Pilot
Unit: 2 Operation Training Unit
Place of Death: Lake Victoria (50 miles west of Mildura)
Date of Death: 23rd June, 1942
Posted to RAAF 453 Squadron in Sembawang Airbase in Singapore, withdrawn to Java & then home as the Japanese invaded Singapore.
During a night training flight, the Wirraway was seen to go into a Flick Stall & Spin into the lake. The wreck has never been recovered.
Thank you to Lyn Burke for compiling this information. If you have any more details about the men listed here please contact Lyn on 0407 692928 OR lynburke03@gmail.com
To learn more about other service men and women in Collinsville you can download a pdf here.
