After training on the new equipment the unit was moved to Townsville to await relocation overseas. After months of delay owing to the Coral Sea Battle (May 1942) Col’s unit finally landed in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, and relieved A Aust Heavy Battery.
In October 1943, Col was ordered to attend the School of Artillery at Middle Head in Sydney and took the opportunity to propose, marry and enjoy a honeymoon with Dorothy. He returned to his unit tin Milne Bay and eventually relocated back to Australia in late 1944.
Col then attended an Army Air co-operation school in Canberra before being posted overseas with the 1st Aust PW Recovery and Inquiry Unit. He transited via Manila and then to Okinawa where as a Commonwealth representative he was attached to the 27th US (New York) Infantry Division. Later he would return to Manila and was employed debriefing the ex POWs. After the Hiroshima bomb, the Army devised a points system for priority of discharge and Col, well up on points, hitched a ride home to Sydney on HMS Slinger, a Liberty ship converted by the British into a Support Aircraft Carrier.
Col left the Army in 1945.
Col is survived by his daughter and son. |