Comments on: A Daughter’s Tribute to Verdun John Stanley BOORER – 2/33rd Battalion AIF

By: gary

gary — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:59:19 +0000

Hello there Geoff, thank you for sharing that with us. I am afraid that the entire 25th Brigade is hardly remembered for their efforts and sacrifices on the track. But it is only because people hear the commonly related stories and not enough is written about units, such as the 2/33rd. I would love to read what you have written. I work at the Australian War Memorial, so please look me up if ever you pay a visit. Yours gratefully. Gary Traynor (Administrator)

By: Geoff Watkins

Geoff Watkins — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:16:35 +0000

I have just come across the website and have more than a passing interest in the 2/33. My dad is an “original” of the battalion, which was formed in England, 1940. I believe him to be only one of two left of the originals, the other being Murray Sweetapple in NSW. I hope to travel to Gona later this year to mark the 70th anniversary of my dad being seriously wounded, fortunately not by one of their devasting woodpecker machine guns. I have recently written the complete story of my dad’s war service. If anyone wants to have a read, give me a yell.

By: Matt Sloan

Matt Sloan — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:05:52 +0000

Hi Mary,
Thank you for your post. After my initial post I was given the contact details of the association from the Army museum in Bandiana. It was great to talk with a couple of the heroes of the 2/33 and best of all for me was the fact that both of the gentlemen I spoke with knew and remembered my grandfather. It all started from finding my grandfathers association lapel badges and an old issue of Mud & Blood that sent me on my search.
I am really glad you sent me the address again though because I had several written down from the conversations I had, and wasn’t 100% sure of the correct one.
Thank you once again Mary.
Regards Matt

By: Mary Steenson

Mary Steenson — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:57:43 +0000

Hi Matt

The 2/33rd Association still does exist. They can be contacted at
2/33rd Association GPO Box 5488, Sydney 2001
There is also a magazine called Mud & Blood
There are hundreds of photos on the net. Type 2/33rd battalion in google search.
Regards Mary

By: Matt Sloan

Matt Sloan — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 06:59:53 +0000

Hi Janette,
Thank you for you dad’s story.
My grandfather was a Captain of the 2/33. Unfortunately he died of cancer 10 months after I was born, so I never had a chance to get to know him.

I too have a copy of “The Footsoldiers” and I am thankful that Bill Crooks took the time to write it so the rest of us could have a small window into what these men endured on a day to day basis.

I am very interested in trying to make contact with other family members of the 2/33 so that we can hopefully share photos, resources and pool together to learn more about our family members. Unfortunately these days there is no longer a 2/33 Battalion Association to liaise through. I recently even made contact with the nephew of one of the flight crew aboard USAAF B-24-D Liberator “Pride of the Cornhuskers” that crashed into the 2/33 truck line in 1943.

If you would like to make contact with me please feel free to email me at xplosiv@internode.on.net

Regards,
Matt

By: iain mumford

iain mumford — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 09:48:10 +0000

Hi Janette,
Thank you for posting your dads story, I lost my father today (14/8/11) aged 92 and reading this stuck a note. My dad was also in the 2/33rd 7th Division and probably spent much of his service in the same locations as your dad.

Hope life is good to you and thankyou.

Regards
Iain Mumford

By: Breenda Cannon

Breenda Cannon — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 23:16:44 +0000

Well done Janette,on your research. It is such an eye opener to actually learn the real story,and as you say to wonder how life would have been without the war? Today on Father’s Day, and every day, Lest We Forget.

By: Janine Maddern

Janine Maddern — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 09:00:54 +0000

A moving tribute from a daughter who never knew the hardships her father endured throughout the war and beyond..How wonderful to pursue his life to feel and be a part of it..Well done Janette your Dad wouldve been so very proud of you.