Welcome to the blog for the 2/31st Battalion of the 25th Brigade of the 7th Division of the Australian Imperial Force of World War Two.
This blog is not officially connected with any organisation. It was started by me and my husband because we realised that the original members of the 2/31st are becoming fewer and fewer and we wanted to keep their memory and their feats alive. My father, John (or Jack) Edward Lewis (‘Strangler’ to his mates) was one of the soldiers in the 2/31st and that, of course, is my connection.
We have a large number of copies of a magazine called Teh Kallim which was published several times a year by the 2/31st Association and edited by ‘Hook’ Anderson for many years. However, due to increasing age and declining numbers Teh Kallim ceased publication many years ago. This magazine contained personal news about ex-members of the 2/31st and also memoirs about events, battles, accidents, losses, successes – all from the point of view of the ordinary soldier. Through this blog I would like to give these memoirs a ‘second life’.
It is our intention to do several things with this blog.
- Publish extracts from Teh Kallim
- Publish other interesting information about the 2/31st battalion as we find it
- Publish photos that will be of general interest as we find them
- Publish news of events that will be of interest to relatives and friends
Some of the articles have been edited. This is mainly to shorten articles, to expand abbreviations that are no longer commonly understood or to remove dated matters that are no longer relevant. But we are not censors! The articles use the language and expressions that the soldiers used 50 to 60 years ago. We have not felt that it is our right to make expresssions ‘politically correct’. For example, the word ‘gyppo’ comes from the word ‘Egyptian’ and was used by the soldiers to refer to any Arab they encountered in Palestine. We have left such words as they are.
It is not our intention to guard this blog as though it is our private property but, rather, if you also have news or comments that relate to the 2/31st then we will be most happy to include them on the blog and, of course, give you the credit for the information.
Elizabeth and Lindsey Timms
If you want to contact us about any matter just go below to Leave a Reply below and send us an email.
plaque on memorial at Southbank Brisbane
2/31 Memorial at Southbank Brisbane
2/31 memorial in Melbourne at the Shrine of Remembrance, St Kilda Road. It is a plaque with an inscription on it.
2nd 31st Battalion 
Hello all; the book was written by John Laffin a well known WW1 historian and prolific author based for many years on the Western Front. I have a copy – as do all of my brothers. He passed away in Canberra in 2000. Laffin served in the 2nd/31st during WW2 and the Kokoda campaign. I believe he was somehow attached to one of the airdrop squadrons (‘biscuit bombers’) that used to resupply the troops during that campaign. I think the free falling supplies were nearly as much danger as incoming munitions!
Hi, I’m reading up on my uncle Jack (Tex) Byord who was a private in 16 platoon D Company of the 2/31 st. There are 3 photos of him in Forever Forward, including the D platoon picture from Syria, andhe’s one of 4 somewhat emaciated soldiers shown as guarding prisoners after Balikpapan. Jack is long gone of course, but I’m writing a book contrasting the 1930’s, the war and the 1950’s, with the stories of Jack (who survived the war) and my other uncle Charlie (caprured at Singapore, and did not come home as the link. I’ve read Forever Forward and looked at the relevant material in Crossed Boomerangs, but seeing any other material on the 2/31 st would be most welcome. We live in Melbourne. Peter Doherty
Hello Peter, My father took photos on both the Atherton Tableland and in Borneo. He was a Platoon Commander of 10th Pl “B” Coy 2/31st. There are also diary entries that my be of interest.My No is 0439 927 777, should you want to get in touch.
Tim Lewis
Good Morning, I have been doing some further research for our son Paul Cheetham and his wife Helen that leave Sunshine Coast and walk portion of the Kokoda Track in mid April.
Paul had found a QX10262 Pte F T Cheetham 2/31 Inf Bn buried in Bomana War Cemetery and I thought it would be of interest to your association with the Bn
Hello,
I hope we can help each other here. A private in the 2/31 Aust Inf Bn my uncle Stanley George Kussrow was killed in action at New Guinea on 15.09.1943. He is buried at the Lae war cemetery there. I have been trying to find out exactly how and where he died. When dad (his brother) was alive he didn’t want to talk about it and I didn’t want to press him because it obviously upset him. I have read that this battalion was at Loribaiwa on the same day he died. I could assume that was the place but I can’t find any actual record of him there or how he died.
Hoping you can shed some light on this,
Bev
Ah, Sorry, I made a mistake! It was a year later than Loribaiwa when he he was killed!
Just found this:
“The 2/31st Infantry Battalion arrived back in Port Moresby on 26 July 1943 and were flown to Nadzab on 12 September 1943 to participate with the rest of the 25th Brigade in the successful attack on the Japanese at Lae which was completed by 16 September 1943.”
So maybe it was at Nadzab.
Bev
Dear Beverley, This is what we have been able to find out so far. Stanley George Kussrow, QX51649, born 29th January 1922 in Toowoomba, date of enlistment 21st April 1943 in Warwick although locality of home is given as Kingaroy, next of kin Harry Kussrow, date of death 15th September, 1943. He also had the number Q144444 which probably means that he was a member of the militia before the war. The 2/31st cleared Heath’s Plantation of Japanese and then moved on to Edward’s Plantation on the road to Lae. In this action there were 38 casualties of which 13 were killed. Since they arrived at Edward’s Plantation on 16th September it seems likely that your uncle was killed during that action.There is reference to this on page 121 of Forever Forward. According to the Australian War Memorial website he is buried at Lae War Cemetery. His name is also located at Panel 59 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
This exhausts the information that we have been able to find. You could apply to the AWM for a full service record which might give you some more information. Hope this helps. Elizabeth and Lindsey
Hello—my father, Roy Somerville, was in the 2/31st in WW2 and was wounded on 11 Nov 1942 at Gorari, just north of Kokoda, in the Battle of Oivi Gorari. A number of members of the 2/31 st and 2/25 th were killed in this battle. I travelled there on 11 Nov last year with some decendents of the 2/25 th survivors.
This year in November we are travelling to Gorari again to unveil a monument in memory of the battle and those who died there.
If any other decendents or interested persons are interested in joining us they could contact me on the following:-
Mobile. 0416069555
E mail. darrylsomerville@hotmail.com
Do you know if there are any publications about the 2/31st ?
Darryl Somerville
Dear Darryl, The only publication we know of is a history of the 2/31st called Forever Forward written by John Laffin. It was published firstly by 2/31st Australian Infantry Battalion Association (New South Wales Branch) in 1994 and republished in 2002 by Australian Military History Publications, http://www.warbooks.com.au.
Hope this helps. Elizabeth and Lindsey
Hi Darryl. My gr-gr-Uncle was killed at Gona on 25 Nov 1942. It’s lovely to be here and make a connection to others who also had family that fought alongside him x
There’s also “Crossed Boomerangs” A history of all the 31 st Battalions by Bob Burla, but most of the (carefully acknowledged) information in there is also in John Laffin’s book
My Uncle…Desmond Stanley Attwood died of wounds on 11th June, 1940.
He is buried in the Kyatt Beach War Cemetery, Haifa, Israel.
Would anyone have information about him please?
Thank you for your message and enquiry. We will look into it and get back to you. Thanks, Elizabeth
Thank you Elizabeth. I look forward to hearing from you.
I do have a copy of my Uncle’s service record and a photo of his
grave at the Kyatt Cemetery.
Regards, Pam
Hello Pam, I have found details of your uncle’s war service in the Australian National Archives. If you have a computer, but don’t know how to search the archives, give me a call on 0439 927 777 and I’ll “walk’ you through it.
Hi Tim. Thank you for your reply. I have used the Australian National Archives and found my Uncle’s records. I purchased a copy of his war service…..he appears to have been a bit of a ‘larrikin’. Many years ago, my mother (his sister)
found out that a friends husband had served in the 2nd 31st as a medic. He was present when my Uncle died. He wrote a letter which was posted in the Battalion newsletter and I think my mother received some letters from men who had known
my Uncle. I don’t imagine that there would be many of them still with us now.
Kind Regards, Pam
Hello Pam, Further to your inquiry re. your uncle, I have a handkerchief,army issue, passed down from my Great Uncle NX8022 William Gardner which has 19 names, together with service numbers, on it. One if which is VX13079 D.S Attwood.I am assuming this is your uncle.
Uncle Bill sent this handkerchief to his mother, don’t know if it was before or after he left Australia. Uncle Bill was killed in action 11 June 1941, the same day your uncle died. I have chased up information on all the names and 7 of the 19 died in action or of wounds, a pretty high attrition rate. If I knew how I would send you a photo of the handkerchief.
Best Wishes Viv.
Hi Pam Your Uncle actually died of wounds on 11th June 1941 (they weren’t in action in June 1940) and the 1941 date is confirmed in the Book “Forever Forward” . However nothing else about him in the book. I may be able to find out more. Stay tuned.
All I can find is the following report in the Battalion War Diary recorded at METULLA on 8th June 1941 at 5.00am –
“Daylight found all 2 Companies pinned to their positions in open ground. All were appealing for Arty support. Each Coy had considerable casualities, many of whom were unable to be reached for first aid treatment. The stretcher bearers attached to Coys did tend to several of the wounded men, but themselves suffered casualities”.I think the wounded retrieved from the contact area would have been taken to a CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) or Base Hospital at Haifa which was behind their front line.
Hi Mick, thank you for your reply to my enquiry. 1940 was a typo. I have a copy of my Uncle’s war records……not great reading! It ‘seems’ he must have been quite hot headed & was often in trouble……the last episode was very serious not long before he died. Regards, Pam Freeman
Hi there
I was so excited to see this. My grandfather passed away quite a few years ago now, without any of us knowing he had received a MM. Just recently found out he received it on Kokoda trail. Andrew de vere Rutherford. His brother Gideon, who enlisted under the name James ( his father name was also Gideon) Rutherford was killed first day of battle in Sira. We were always told that James died in Andrews arms. We have some beautiful letters which I’ve had the pleasure of reading, that this was not the case. James spent time with his brother praying the night before and had suggested that they run separate due to being fired upon that at least one would have a chance of survival. How so very sad. Andrew had written a letter to family members saying what they ran into was like suicide, how scary it must have been for these young fellows, and by the Grace of God that he did survive.
Thank you for your sad but touching post. We are so pleased that our blog has been of help to you.
Elizabeth
I am researching my late father’s military service during WW2. For part of that service he was a member of 2/31st. I am interested to read the magazines you mention on the intro to your blog & access other information you may have. I also had an uncle who was a member of the same unit.
My father was James Thomas Cameron known as “Curly” . My uncle was Vincent Norman McGrath.
Dear Cherrie, Your father, James Thomas Cameron, QX4172, was born in Cloncurry and enlisted in Brisbane. He was discharged on 23rd November 1944 with the rank of Lieutenant. Your uncle, Vincent Norman McGrath, QX4626, was born in Red Hill (Brisbane) and enlisted in Brisbane. He was discharged on 25th January 1946 with the rank of Private. He was awarded the Military Medal. If you want more information than this you will need to go the website of the Australian War Memorial. It is possible to get a full printout of a soldier’s wartime record. Hope this is helpful. Elizabeth and Lindsey
Dear Cherrie, Just noticed there is a reference to your uncle on page 190 of Forever Forward. It gives the reasons why he was awarded the Military Medal. If you don’t have access to a copy of Forever Forward let us know and we will send the paragraph to you. Elizabeth and Lindsey
Actually, the website you need to refer to find details of a soldier’s service record, is the National Archives of Australia. This is the link for the WW2 diggers –
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/NameSearch.aspx
It appears James Thomas Cameron was only in 2/31st Bn for a very short time (up to a month) before transferred to 2/15th Bn where he received a GSW to his left hand. This led to his early discharge.
When searching for his record don’t include his service no. as it may come up with no record, even though that is his no.
My previous post (Aug 13) is incorrect. James Thomas Cameron appears to have joined 2/31st Bn in England around Nov 1940 and promoted A/Sgt on 9/11/40. Subsequently Bn moved to Mid East and Sgt rank confirmed on 17/3/41. He was wounded by enemy aircraft action on 18/6/41. He had a long recovery period that included positions in base camps . He returned to Australia in 9/1942 and married before attending an OCTU course to become an Officer from Dec 42 to Mar 43. He was ill for approx. 3 months before being t’ferred to 2/31st Bn for approx. 1 month when his commission was approved. He was then discharged as a digger and appointed as an A/Lieut with 2/15th Bn and on 9th Sept 43 while in PNG received a GSW to his left hand. His downgraded medical condition led to his appointment being terminated. It appears that the severe condition of his left hand was not fully recognised by superiors and there was some drama before his termination in Nov 1944. His service file is very hard to follow.
The 31st Battalion Association in Brisbane is having a lunch on Thursday 24th October and will focus on the 2/31st Battalion. The guest speaker will talk on the Kokoda Track & 2/31st Bn. All friends & relatives of 2/31st Bn members are cordially invited and also requested to bring any mementos that they may have relating to the 2/31st Bn. Cost is $25 per person.
Anyone interested in coming please contact me at mickj60@iinet.net.au for details.
Thank you Mick for this post and information.
Sorry I won’t make it, but would have been very interested to hear the talk
Unfortunately not able to make the lunch in Brisbane on the 24th October, hope there will be another opportunity in the future as I would love to learn more about the 2/31st experience in New Guinea and Borneo. Christine MacKenzie(daughter of William Sweeney).
Sorry you can’t attend the lunch.
Hope you learn somethings from our blog.
Elizabeth
Christine MacKenzie
Please email me at the above email address (see post 25th Sept above) with your email and phone no. Our 31st Battalion Association will then be able to advise of any further meetings that we organise.
Regards
Mick James
Thank you for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do some research on this. We grabbed a book from our local library but I think I learned better from this post. I am very glad to see such fantastic info being shared freely out there.
Enjoyed examining this, very good stuff, regards .
My Dad was in the 2/31, did the New Guinea campaign around lei, became a Lieutenant in the field of battle. I’m wanting any information of his service in the army. His name was Clive Robinson, service number is Q41810, date of enlistment 16/12/1940. Discharge 3/2/1944 QX38307.
Hi Brad Robinson, it appears you haven’t requested your father’s War Record from the NAA (National Archives of Aust). The cost is usually under $40 . I can assist you if you wish- my email is mickj60@iinet.net.au.
While your father may have joined the Army in Dec 1940, he only joined 2/31st Bn on 2nd May 43 as a Lieut. and embarked for PNG on 23rd July 43 according t the Book “Forever Forward” by John Laffin (available at “Books on War” on line) He’s not listed as being wounded in PNG so perhaps he had malaria or some other tropical disease which forced his discharge in Feb 44..
Hope this helps.
Cheers James, now that you mention it, he did suffer with Malaria, pretty sure that was the reason for the discharge.
Hello Brad, as Mick James says below, you’ll need to get his service records to get the full picture. The NAA is digitising the WW2 records but until that happens (and they have got naff all funding) you have to pay to access the records in the first instance. IN the meantime here is his DVA nominal roll extract. – https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=37236&c=WW2#R
I have exchanged emails with Brad and advised him how to obtain his father’s war record from NAA. However I also discovered that while Canberra is in lockdown no work is being done in the NAA Office. So while they regularly take 3 months to process, with a further backlog from the lockdown, they may take longer.
To Peter Doherty
Hi Peter
I’m wondering if you are still writing a book on your Uncle,, Jack Byford of 2/31st Bn. While I can’t find his record in the book “Forever Forward” I may be able to assist. I also note that a digger, Peter Daniel Doherty also joined the 2/31st Bn in 1941 from Townsville. He had also been in the 31st Bn Militia. Was he a relation ? You can contact me at mickj60@iinet.net.au
Cheers
Mick James