WODE, George Ernest

WODE, George Ernest – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWII
SERVICE NO : QX16715
RANK : Lance Corporal
UNIT : 2/31st Battalion
ENLISTMENT DATE : 18/02/1941
AGE : 21
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Toowoomba, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Innisfail, Queensland
RELIGION : Baptist
OCCUPATION : Shop Assistant
DATE OF DEATH : 10/07/1945
PLACE OF BURIAL : Labuan, Borneo

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

View this person’s Service File : WODE, George Ernest

NOTES : Born on May 29, 1919 WODE, George Ernest was the only son of Henry Herbert and Georgina May Wode of Ingham.

Around 1925 the family of six moved to Warwick. George attended the Warwick Central State School before enrolling at Warwick State High School in 1933. He left school after successfully obtaining a position with W K Hyslop and Sons, furniture store in Grafton Street, Warwick.

With the advent of the Second World War, George left his job and enlisted in Toowoomba on February 18, 1941 with his great mate Neville Johnson. They were part of the contingent of reinforcements sent to the Middle East and were drafted to the 2/31 Battalion in time to take part in the Syrian campaign from June to July 1941. It was here where George was first wounded.

After Syria, George saw action on the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea. In trying conditions, the Australian’s were engaged in fighting that pushed the Japanese back to the beachhead at Gona. Goerge was wounded for a second time and like many of his fellow soldiers, he was also suffering from Malaria. After this his unit was involved in the Rumu Valley Campaign.

After a brief return to Australia, George and Neville once more returned to Papua New Guinea and took part in the occupation of Lae and the heavy fighting on Shaggy Ridge. Their unit was relieved just after Christmas 1944 and returned to Australia where they had the honour of marching with the rest of the 7th Division through Brisbane on August 8, 1944.

On June 9, 1945 the Battalion left Australia for the fourth time bound for the Indonesian Island of Moratai.

The two men were to spend their entire military careers together, and died within minutes of each other on the afternoon of July 10, 1945 while attacking a Japanese held position at Coke Spur. They are buried three graves apart in the Labuan War Cemetery.

Read about Southern Downs Military History here.