Alan Ward's story

Alan Ward was working in a butcher's shop in Hillview, Queensland, before he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in July 1941.

Alan trained at Redbank and Goondiwindi before sailing to Papua and New Guinea via Townsville and Thursday Island.

He served with 183 Australian Supply Depot Platoon and was based at Port Moresby. He helped with the supply of troops moving along the Kokoda Track. He recalled being strafed (low air attacks) by Japanese planes and watching Black American troops repairing the runway immediately after Japanese air attacks.

Alan took malaria tablets regularly to avoid contracting the debilitating disease borne by mosquitoes. He recalled how malaria affected some of the other men.

After a short spell in Australia, Alan returned to the war zone and spent the last 8 months of his service at Morotai Island in the Netherlands East Indies.