Page 70 - Memorial Groves

PLAQUE NO 112: PLAQUE NO 113:

Leonard D. Oliver (1923-29) William Keith ('Bob') Millard PLAQUE NO 114:

(1936) Gwynne Caleb Harris m.i.d. (1926-33)
Leonard attended Hale School from Claremont between
1923 and 1929. He was the second of five sons and a Gwynne attended Hale School from 1926 to 1933 from Guildford. At school
daughter in the prominent sporting family of Bert and Bob was born in 1921 and entered Hale School in 1936. he was a member of the Head of the River crew and, was a fine athlete. In
Gwenevieve Oliver, who ran a tailoring business in Perth. While at School he was an accomplished tennis player and 1934 he won the 880 yards Hale School championship. After leaving school
Like his brother, Olympian, Percy Oliver, Len was a keen a rower. After leaving he joined the National Bank and was he became a District Patrol Officer in New Guinea and when war broke out he
swimmer and specialised in breaststroke at school, club eventually transferred to Bunbury. It was from here that was commissioned into the Special Intelligence Service and began the highly
and state championship level.
he joined the 2nd AIF and travelled to the Middle East to dangerous task of operating behind Japanese lines in the jungle.
serve with the Western Australian 2/28th Infantry Battalion.
Upon leaving school, he worked for the shipping division He returned to Australia with that unit early in 1943 and For his part in the evacuation of hundreds of troops and civilians from Rabaul
of Dalgetys, was a member of the North Cottesloe Surf was with them when they were sent to serve in Northern early in 1942, he was awarded a Mentioned-in-Despatches citation for his
Life Saving Club, played football for Claremont and East New Guinea later in that year. commendable efforts during a difficult time.
Perth and sailed the 16 foot skiff, "Joyous" at the Royal
Freshwater Bay and Mounts Bay Yacht Clubs.
On a patrol in the Finschaffen area of operations early in For a year longer he operated in highly dangerous positions until he was finally
December 1943, Bob Millard's group was ambushed by withdrawn, despite his protests.
He married Madge Dix in 1939 and the couple had a son Japanese troops and he was severely wounded. His mates
before Len joined the Western Australian 2/28th Infantry eventually extricated him and managed to deliver him to Eventually he was selected to lead a reconnaissance of the Hollandia region in
Battalion after war broke out.
an aid post for treatment. He died of wounds, however, on New Guinea in March 1944, as a prelude to an Allied invasion. The presence
7 December 1943. He was 22 years of age. of the party was quickly detected by the enemy and they were attacked on
He served in the Middle East with his unit and, after the following morning. Captain Harris led his men with great courage in the
promotion to sergeant, was transferred to New Guinea. Placed by his brother-in-law, Haleian Athol Stone (1934- ensuing action but, after a day, they were overwhelmed and captured. As a
He was killed in action at Finsschaffen on the 20 October 35), a good friend at school Hew Mellor (1933-36) and mark of respect to a gallant foe, the Japanese executed Gwynne and his fellow
1943. He was 30 years of age.
by the then President of the 2/28th Infantry Battalion officer.
Association of Western Australia, Haleian Mr Peter
Placed by his brother, Haleian Mr Percy Oliver (1927-35), Salmon (1937-38). Placed by Vietnam veteran, Mr Chris Brooks, a representative of the
assisted by his nephew, Mr Frank Oliver
Highgate branch of the Returned Services League, the organization who have
been so helpful in the supply of Hale's memorial plaques.

Finschaffen