IN 1945, Mungindi resident Anthony Doyle was 12 years old when Emperor Hirohito publicly announced Japan would accept the Allies’ terms and surrender, effectively ending World War 2 – Victory in the Pacific.
Germany had surrendered to the Allies three months earlier, signalling the end of hostilities in Europe.
Japan’s acceptance of the Allied demand for unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945, is honoured in Australia on August 15, known universally as VP Day.
On Friday, Mr Doyle, 92, travelled in from Mungindi to attend a commemorative VP Day service at Moree RSL Regional Military Museum, to honour 80 years since peace was declared.
Mr Doyle joined a small gathering, which included Mungindi RSL Sub-Branch president Kevin McCosh, Moree sub-branch president John Williams, vice-president Eric Taylor, sub-branch executive member Darryl Brady and master of ceremonies, Roger Butler.
“Eighty years have passed since the end of World War 2, and while fewer than 1000 men and women who participated in the war are still with us today, we remember all of them, and thank them, for the freedoms we have enjoyed for the past 80 years,” Mr Butler said.
Nearly one million Australians served in the armed forces during World War 2.
Of those, nearly 40,000 never came home and more than 17,000 lost their lives while fighting the war against Japan, with 8000 Australians dying in Japanese captivity.
Mr Doyle, a proud national serviceman and vice-president and trustee of Mungindi RSL Sub-Branch, recalled the wartime years in Australia.
The Great War ended in 1919 and World War 2 started in 1939 – only 20 years apart.
Smack-back in the middle was The Great Depression, the longest and deepest economic crisis of the 20th century, marked by widespread unemployment, poverty and financial hardship.
“I turned 12 on May 8, 1945 – the day the way ended with Germany,” Mr Doyle said.
“There was only a short period between both world wars, so they never learned anything.”
To get by, Mr Doyle’s mum, Lila, took in washing while raising 10 kids, who also worked to support the family. His dad, John Doyle, drove bullock and horse teams, generally carting wool long distances.
“When I was nine years old, I used to work for the baker, Geoff Hart, delivering bread and pies – two-bob a week, I used to get – and sometimes I went with the milkman, delivered milk,” Mr Doyle said.
“It helped, but we did it hard. There was no welfare back in those days.”
In 1948, Mr Doyle, born-and-raised in Mungindi, joined NSW Railways as a junior porter. He was 15.
He was awarded an OAM in 2009 and in 2013 was presented with life membership of the Returned and Services League of Australia.
Mr Doyle was also president of the North-Western National Servicemen’s Association for 19 years, and underwent national service in the 19th battalion at Holsworthy Army Reserve, in Sydney’s south-west.
“I did 98 days there – that was in 1952 – and for three years, we did fortnightly stints at Singleton Army Camp, and were active reserves for another five years,” he said.
August 15 commemorates Japan’s acceptance of the Allied demand for unconditional surrender and for Australia, it meant the Second World War was finally over.
“Days like this are very important, to honour what our service men and women gave,” Mr Doyle said. “Some servicemen were only 16 years old, and put up their age just so they could go.”
Moree sub-branch president John Williams said further commemorations will be held tomorrow, August 18, to honour the end of hostilities in Vietnam.
This year marks the 52nd anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, the 59th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966, and the 50th anniversary of the Australian Defence Force humanitarian operations during the fall of Saigon.
On August 18, 1966, 108 Australian soldiers engaged an enemy force of more than 2000 Viet Cong fighters in a rubber plantation near Long Tan, Vietnam.
They fought through the night, in torrential rain and against incredible odds. After killing 245 of the enemy and losing 17 of their own, reinforcements arrived, and the Viet Cong retreated.
“On Monday at 10am, we’ll have a Vietnam veterans’ service in memory of the Battle of Long Tan,” Mr Williams said.
“We’ll hold that at Anzac Park, which is the only memorial in Australia that has all the names of the servicemen in the order of the dates they died . . . all those who died together, are listed together.
“We invite veterans and their families, and the families who have lost loved ones in times of war, to come along and attend the service,” he said.
