Parliament House Canberra ACT 2602
Telephone 02 6277 7820 Facsimile 02 6273 4140
The Hon Alan Griffin MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
VA116
26 November 2008
VETERANS TO RETURN TO BRUNEI TO MARK LAST ACTION OF WWII
Six veterans of the campaign that ended the Japanese occupation of Brunei will return for the
dedication of the Brunei-Australia Memorial the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin,
announced today.
“It will be an emotional journey for the veterans, most of whom have never returned to Brunei,”
Mr Griffin said.
The successful operations on Brunei and British North Borneo were the largest amphibious
assaults undertaken by Australians during the Second World War. The landings were among
the most complex operations carried out by Australians in the war against Japan, involving land,
sea and air forces. The Borneo campaign was Australia's last in the war which ended in August
1945.
“On Sunday 10 June 1945 members of the experienced Australian 9th Division came ashore at
Brunei Bay and the island of Labuan, as part of Operation OBOE 6,” he said.
“The operation was a combined effort of land, air and sea involving around 20,000 Australians
from each branch of the armed forces. The new memorial will honour them, especially the 114
Australians who were killed and the 221 who were wounded.
“During the operation the Royal Australian Air Force bombed airfields and other military targets
while Royal Australian Navy minesweepers cleared mines from the approach channels.
“Australian forces landing at Labuan faced a determined Japanese force in a tangle of jungle
and swamp known as ‘the pocket’, where the Japanese made their last stand. More than 380
Japanese troops died on Labuan.
“The operations around Brunei Bay continued with waves of Australians landing and advancing
to Brunei town and further afield in North Borneo ending the Japanese occupation.”
The memorial will be dedicated on Saturday 13 December at the site of the Allied landings at
Muara Beach, Pantai Muara, Brunei Darussalam.
The six veterans travelling to Brunei will represent all Australians who served and died during
the Operation OBOE 6 landings at the dedication ceremony. They will also visit wartime
locations in Malaysia and Singapore and lay wreaths and poppies at the Labuan War Cemetery,
where the 114 Australians who died in the operation are buried.
For more information on the dedication ceremony and Operation OBOE 6 visit
Editor’s note: a list of veteran representatives follows.
Media inquiries: Laura Ryan 0437 863 109
The VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a
week on 1800 011 046.
To receive the Minister’s media releases automatically by email subscribe at minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm
Veteran representatives
Name
Unit
State
Mr William (Bill) Corey
2/43rd Infantry Battalion,
Australian Army
Rostrevor, SA
Mr Stephen (Steve) Gooch
HMAS Kanimbla,
Royal Australian Navy
Arana Hills, Qld
Mr Ronald (Ron) Hatch
2/12th Commando Squadron,
Australian Army
Lesmurdie, WA
Mr Rex Kawelmacher
2/17th Infantry Battalion,
Australian Army
Shellharbour, NSW
Mr Rex Smith
25 Air Stores Park,
Royal Australian Air Force
West Ulverstone, Tas
Mr Gordon Verney
1st Australian Beach Group,
Royal Australian Navy
Burleigh Waters, Qld
NOTE: Biographies of the veterans are available on request.
NEWS 
