Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War II (1939-1945)

Date of Enlistment

10/08/1940

Date of Discharge

18/01/1946

Place of Enlistment

Canberra ACT

Gender

Male

Other Name(s)

Known as Bernard

Date of Birth

03/06/1917

Place of Birth

Canberra ACT

Address (at enlistment)

Causeway, Kingston ACT

Occupation

Labourer

Next of Kin

Vivian Wallace (mother), Causeway, Kingston ACT

Service Number

N43869

Final Rank

Private

Final Unit

3 Battalion

In September 1937 Wallace was fined for "unlawfully interfering" with a sergeant on the local militia. The magistrate advised him that it "would do him a lot of good and teach him discipline" if he joined the militia. Wallace did so and was called up for active service with the 3rd Battalion (militia) on 23 December 1941. He was appointed as a cook the following January and arrived in Port Moresby, Papua with his unit at the end of May 1942. He did not initially serve with 3 Battalion when they entered the Kokoda Track in September 1942 but after being treated for "crushed fingers" he was sent up the track on 20 October 1942. At the end of November 1942 he was hospitalised with malaria and evacuated to Australia a few days later. When 3 Battalion was disbanded he joined another militia unit, the 36th Battalion, on 21 September 1943 in Port Moresby. After another bout of malaria he was sent to New Britain with his unit to face the Japanese who still held Rabaul. He served there until 36 Battalion was withdrawn in June 1945. He was discharged in January 1946 and died in Canberra on 31 March 1994.

Description - height 5 feet 10 inches, blue eyes, brown hair, Catholic.

WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
ACT Electoral Rolls 1916 to 1967 http://canberraheritageportal.org/default.php
The Canberra Times - 8 September 1937, 2 April 1994
NAA RecordSearch - Series B884 (Citizen's Military Forces Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947)