Page 62 - Memorial Groves
P. 62
PLAQUE NO 98: PLAQUE NO 99: PLAQUE NO 100: PLAQUE NO 101:
Pte John C. Driver Forrest Lieut. Ernest William (Bill) Grigg Lieut. Charles Montague White
Lee Steere (1925) Lee Steere (1924) (1932-34) (1930-32)
2/16th Battalion 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion 2/16th Battalion 2/16th Battalion
John entered Hale School in February Forrest entered Hale School as a Bill attended Hale School from Darlington between 1932 Charlie’s father was killed before he was born during
1925 as a boarder from Boyup Brook. boarder from "Greenfield", Boyup and 1934. He rowed with the first crew in his final year at World War I. His mother ran a boarding house in West
His nickname was "Jiggles”. Brook in 1924. He returned to the school. Perth and managed to send her son to Hale School where
farm and then joined the 2/4th he was the Junior Dux in 1932. He subsequently joined the
After returning to the family farm Machine-Gunners on 10th August He took up architecture in Perth and after war broke out Commonwealth Bank and remained involved with the Hale
"Jayes" for a time he joined the 1940. He travelled with his unit to joined the Western Australian 2/16th Battalion in 1940. He Old Boys Hockey Club until the outbreak of war.
Western Australian 2/16th Infantry Singapore and was with them at the travelled with them to the Middle East and while there was
Battalion in 1941 and went with them surrender to the Japanese forces on commissioned and served as an intelligence officer during Along with a number of Haleian contemporaries, he joined
to New Guinea in August 1942 to 15 February 1942. the Syrian Campaign. After the 2/16th battalion returned the 2/16th Infantry Battalion and subsequently served with
help defend the Kokoda Track against to Australia, he travelled with them to New Guinea and them through the Syrian campaign in the Middle East
the Japanese drive towards Port For 15 months he languished in fought right through the defence of the Kokoda Track during 1941. He was then commissioned and served with
Morseby. Changi Gaol as a prisoner-of-war campaign until they were finally pulled out of the line in the battalion during the Kokoda Track campaign of August
until he was moved to work on the the middle of September. and September, 1942.
He was killed in action on 30 August infamous Thai-Burma railway in April
1942 at Abuari, on the right flank of 1943. While there he contracted The battalion was then moved to the rear to re-fit and take When the battalion was re-inserted back into action in
the four day Battle of Isurava which cholera, rallied but then died several on re-inforcements preparatory to being inserted back December, he was wounded while on a night patrol near
was to prove so crucial in halting the days later on 3 October 1943, too into the frontline. He was accidentally killed by a falling Gona Village. While he was being brought back in for
Japanese advance. He was 28 years weak from overwork and malnutrition tree at the Sogeri encampment on 24 October 1942. He treatment he was hit again and was killed. He was 25
of age. to fully recover. He was 36 years of was 25 years of age. years of age.
age.
Laid by his cousin and nephew, Mr Placed by his brother, Haleian Mr Peter Grigg (1935-42), Placed by Mr Pel Williams, a close friend of Charlie's
Wilfred Lee Steere (1951-53), who Placed by his cousin and nephew, Mr assisted by his cousin, Mr Keith Norrish, also a veteran before the war and during the actions in which the
still farms on the family property at Wilfred Lee Steere (1951-53), who of the Kokoda Track campaign and then the President of 2/16th Battalion were involved.
Boyup Brook. still farms on the family property at the 2/16th Battalion Association.
Boyup Brook.
ABOVE: John C Lee Steere
BELOW: Forrest Lee Steere
