Special presentation for World War II hero

World War II veteran John Collett was honoured for his service last week, with a special presentation hosted by new Narrabri RSL Sub-branch president Nicole Gallagher, who was assisted by sub-branch member and Vietnam veteran Dennis Lowder as well as Whiddon-Wee Waa staff.

It was the formal presentation to give John his commemorative medallion, with COVID-19 and other matters delaying official proceedings.

In 2020, the federal government announced that every living World War II veteran would be eligible for a medallion to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the horrible and long conflict.
Veterans receive one commemorative medallion for display and one to keep.

While John’s longevity and war service has quite rightly earned him a lot of respect in the community and given him a celebrity status around the district, locals and readers would likely know the ninety-seven-year-old doesn’t like fuss: he prefers to be called ‘John’ and isn’t a fan of pomp and ceremony, so last week’s presentation was delivered perfectly.

“We thank you for your service, your bravery and your strength,” Ms Gallagher said.

“The Aitape-Wewak Campaign was brutal. Not only were troops fighting off the enemy, they also had the forces of mother nature to contend with.

“The torrential rain, floods, mudslides were only a small portion of obstacles they had to overcome.”

With his beloved dog Sally sitting on his lap, John thanked those who gathered for the presentation and with a smile on his face said: “Thanks very much. I never thought I would get this far.”

John will be 98 in August.

Pictured in 2021, centre, World War II veteran John Collett with some of his family, grandson Luke Dewson, great-grandsons Nate and Toby Dewson and Luke’s wife Bec Dewson at a plaque presentation held at the Wee Waa Namoi Echo Museum. Readers might remember this photo in a previous report about a tribute for the Word War II veteran at the Namoi Echo Museum featuring one of John’s commemorative medallions, his discharge papers, photos and the story John shared with The Courier in 2020 to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific. Veterans receive one commemorative medallion for display and one to keep. Last week was the formal presentation of the medallion.

He served as a gunner in the 2/1st Field Regiment 6th Division, an Australian Army artillery regiment.

John was only 16 when he signed up to join the war effort. He was under age, but certainly wasn’t the only young man who managed to wrangle together a ‘signed’ letter to join his mates and fight for Australia’s future.

John was part of the Citizen Military Forces from June 30, 1943 to August 4, 1943, and he attended training camps near Albury NSW and Chidlow in Western Australia. He joined the
Australian Imperial Force on August 5, 1943 and trained for New Guinea in Queensland.

John served 403 days overseas in the Aitape-Wewak campaign, which has been described as a ‘hard, bloody and wearing’ conflict.

“It was a dirty war,” John told the The Courier at the time of the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific.

“It would be a different Australia today if the Japanese had won,” he said.

The Australian portion of the Aitape-Wewak campaign took place in northern New Guinea between November 1944 and August 1945.

Readers might remember a previous report about a tribute for the Word War II veteran at the Namoi Echo Museum, which features one of John’s commemorative medallions, his discharge papers, photos and the story John shared with The Courier in 2020 to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific.

In the story, John spoke about the importance of the mateship and in 2020, when COVID restrictions were in place, he stood near the end of bugler Peter Carrett’s driveway for the sounding of the Last Post at dawn paying tribute to those who served and made sacrifices.

“You do think about your mates … you think about the ones who couldn’t get home,” he said.

John is Wee Waa’s only living World War II veteran who served Australia.

John, and Frank Hadley, who was in the American Navy at the end of World War II always receive a special acknowledgement at the town’s remembrance services.