Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War II (1939-1945)

Date of Enlistment

19/04/1943

Date of Discharge

23/01/1946

Place of Enlistment

Flaggy Creek, Queensland

Gender

Male

Other Name(s)

Nicknamed 'Tubby'

Date of Birth

15/04/1922

Place of Birth

Footscray, Victoria

Address (at enlistment)

Kennedy Street, Kingston ACT

Occupation

Public servant

Next of Kin

Stephen Rodda (father), Kennedy Street, Kingston ACT

Service Number

NX163245

Final Rank

Private

Final Unit

2/3 Australian Infantry Battalion

Rodda started working for the Patents Office as a 15 year old and worked for them until his retirement in 1982. He was mobilised with the 3rd Battalion (militia) on 5 January 1942. He arrived with his battalion in Port Moresby in May 1942 but was hospitalised shortly after with measles. Rodda entered the Kokoda track with the 3rd Battalion on 5 September 1942 but was evacuated two weeks later with dysentery. He rejoined his unit in December 1942 before they returned to Australia in early January 1943.

When 3 Battalion was disbanded Rodda joined the AIF and transferred to the 2/3 Battalion in July 1943. He married Marion Couper in December 1943 at St. Andrew's in Forrest. He was transferred to HQ 16th Brigade in January 1944 and was sent to Aitape, New Guinea in December 1944. Rodda rejoined the 2/3 Battalion before returning to Australia in January 1946. He died on 15 May 2003. He was the brother of Stephen Rodda who died in a flying accident on 27 October 1941.

The AWM record is a pair of leather leggings, that fasten with a spiralling leather strap and two metal buckles, which Rodda probably obtained before the war while with the militia.

WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
ACT Electoral Rolls 1916 to 1967 http://canberraheritageportal.org/default.php
Ken Laycock, 'Memories of a Militiaman', 1995 (typescript in ACT Heritage Library)
The Canberra Times - 25 January 1943, 22 December 1943, 16 April 1982, 15 May 2003
AWM Collections : REL38934
NAA RecordSearch