Wednesday 2 April 2014

Wordless Wednesday - The Bonegilla March

Continuing on with my last two blog posts about my grandfather Sergeant Keith Leo GRENFELL (1911-1944) who lived and worked in Yallourn and his WWII experience

I found this YouTube clip of his battalion, the 2/21st on the Bonegilla march in September 1940.


There is no sound unfortunately, but exciting nonetheless to know that he was in amongst these soldiers.


The text that is included with the YouTube clip is:

The only video of the 2/21st Btn marching from Trawool to Bonegilla. September 1940. In December 1941 they were sent to defend the Island of Ambon, most were taken prisoners by the Japanese after an estimated 20,000 marines invaded the Island in 1942. By the end of 1945 after 3.5 years in captivity only few survived. 

The death rate of the Australian force was over 75%.




I’ve also included another clipping about the Bonegilla camp, 
and a photo of troops marching at Bonegilla, from the Argus Newspaper Collection of Photographs, State Library of Victoria.






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