The Leader Newspaper // Special Features ANZAC Day 2019 Supplement | Page 8

COMMEMORATING ANZAC
Les’story...
Photo by Alicia Lüdi-Schutz
Les Kohlhagen still remembers the day he was called for National Service, even though
he’s now 95 years old. He was living at the family homestead in Goat Square at the time,
in the town of Tanunda where he was born and raised.
“As soon as we got the letter, we said yes, we’ll do it - support the country,” said Les.
“We were young and didn’t think that much about it, we’d go ahead and do it. We had
no choice, you got the notice and you had to go.”
Today, living at Tanunda Lutheran Home, Les’ memories of WWII have begun to fade
but the words his officer said on his last day of service still remain vivid.
“He said don’t forget those fellas that we left behind...there were thousands of them.
And now that you’re going back home again, whenever something comes up, you stick up
for your rights and I have done!”
Several years ago, with assistance from his friend, the late Mr Wes Liersch, Les wrote
down his memories - “Lest We Forget”.
By Les Kohlhagen
“In 1939 WWII broke out in the Middle East,
Germany, England and Australia.
“On December 8, 1941 Japan bombed Pearl
Harbor (occupied by America) and declared war on
America and Australia.
“I was called up for service on October 16, 1941
at the age of 18 years.
“The first three months training was on the golf
course at Lockleys and we lived in an underground
dugout off the course.
“Prime Minister Curtin ordered Australian troops
back to Australia immediately as the war in the
Middle East was coming to an end. On arrival home,
the troops had to train for jungle warfare.
“Prime Minister Curtin then went to England to
ask Prime Minister Churchill to come and help us fight
the Japs as our boys had helped England. Churchill
refused. Enough said.
“Prime Minister Curtin then went to America to
enlist help from President Roosevelt, who said he
would gladly help Australia.
“He commanded General McArthur in charge and
in a short time there were thousands of US troops,
ships and planes in Australia.
“In May, 1942 we left for Port Kembla in NSW to
guard the steel works.
At that time a Jap two-man sub came into Sydney
Harbour. An Australian destroyer blew the sub out of
the water. I had leave to go and see the sub.
“Following a short leave at home, we left for
Darwin around February 3, 1942, arriving shortly
after the first big bombing of Darwin.
“As I was still only 18 years old, the army was
going to send me south, as I was under age to be
in a war zone.
“But I refused and with a lot of talking, managed
to stay with my mates. We had a lot of small air
raids by the Japs with 1 or 2 planes - 86 raids in all.
“Then one day the oil tanks in Darwin Harbour
were filled with oil. The next day up to 20 Jap bomber
and fighter planes bombed and destroyed the oil
tankers.
“At the time we were on the rifle range overlooking
the harbour. We heard Spitfires go up and the dog
fight was on, destroying a lot of planes.
“We could identify the planes which were shot
down as the Australians would bail out using a
parachute, but the Japs would go down with the
plane.
“Another time we were camped in Darwin near
the ammunition and bombs dump. One night a Jap
Lest We Forget
with a dog biscuit. Every day the same!
“We had a very hard time in my two and a half
years in Darwin, always out on exercises or war
games.
“There was a mobile cinema which went from
camp to camp but he would not call on us as he said
we were the only unit never in camp!
“The General who was in charge of our unit was a
very hard man - all he thought of was manoeuvres.
In the end, he lost his memory, was sent south and
locked up.
“After approximately two and a half years in
Darwin, we were very pleased to get out and leave
the heat, sand flies, march flies and mossies behind.
In February 1945 we had some leave at Tanunda.
Lest We Forget
8563 2280
www.rogaschwindows.com.au 8563 2058
45 MacDonnell Street, Tanunda
BLD Lic No. R27295
7523 3918
42 Murray St,
Angaston
plane came over to bomb the dump.
“His bombs were in a straight line with the dump
but he was one shell short of blowing up the dump.
Lucky for us, we would not be here to tell this story.
“On inspection after the raid, we found out there
was a light near the dump and we found 44 gallon
drums with kerosene lamps inside, guiding the plane
in a straight line with the dump. We caught Australian
Council workers that were working on the roads
coming to collect the lamps and drums.
“Food in Darwin was not good at all - there were
no fresh eggs, meat, milk or vegetables.
“For breakfast we were given powdered eggs;
lunch consisted of baked beans with a hard dog
biscuit; for tea tinned meat and vegetables - again
Lest We Forget
8563 2728
1B Elizabeth St,
Tanunda
Tanunda RSL member, Mr Les Kohlhagen proudly displaying his medals. The 95 year old
said he was “very grateful” to the Barossa community for their support over the years.
8563 3818
Unit 2, 189-191 Murray Street,
Tanunda 0418 547 377
www.wqps.com.au 8566 2099
44 Main Street, Kapunda
With the kind assistance of the participating businesses, The Leader has been able to provide a generous donation to the local RSL sub branches
8 - “The Leader”, Commemorating ANZAC, Wednesday, April 17 2019
Lest We Forget
Lest We Forget Lest We Forget