JOHNSON, George Neville

JOHNSON, George Neville – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWII
SERVICE NO : QX16700
RANK : Lance Corporal
UNIT : 2/31st Battalion
ENLISTMENT DATE : 18/02/1941
AGE : 20
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Toowoomba, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Gympie, Queensland
RELIGION : Baptist
OCCUPATION : Labourer
DATE OF DEATH : 10/07/1945
PLACE OF BURIAL : Lauban, Borneo

MEMORIALS : Warwick Central State School WWII Honour Board, Warwick The Fallen 1939-1945, Warwick War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

View Veteran’s Service File : JOHNSON, George Neville

NOTES : George Neville Johnson was known as Neville. He was the son of Frederick and Ethel Johnson who lived at 71 Guy Street, Warwick. Their house no longer stands but in its place in 2025, you will find the Red Rooster building.

Neville and his best friend George Ernest Wode, attended Warwick Central State School and when World War Two came along, they enlisted in the army on the same day and were both assigned to the 2/31st Battalion.

These two men were rarely apart and spent time fighting in the Middle East before being deployed to Papua New Guinea. The unit was relieved on December 4, 1942 and they returned to Australia to regroup and to train their reinforcements.

On July 25, 1943 they sailed aboard the Duntroon for Port Moresby. They took part in the Lae and Ramu Valley campaign before once again returning to Australia where they took part in a march through Brisbane with the rest of the 7th Division in August 1944.

In June 1945, they left Australia for the fourth time bound for the assault on Balikpapan. It was at Coke Spur where they saw their final conflict, as they were both killed within sight and minutes of each other.

May they rest in peace, friends forever.

Read about Southern Downs Military History here.