WWII commando turns 100

It was January 1943, and Japan’s invasion of Australia seemed imminent.

As a farmer, Eric Geldard was exempt from military service. However – like his uncles who fought in World War I (WWI) – he felt compelled to serve, and joined the Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) on his 18th birthday.

World War II veteran Eric Geldard

“The VDC was quickly formed by WWl veterans and others in reserved occupations,” Eric told us.

“The Miles Platoon – under the command of stock agent and former Light Horseman, Captain Jim Castens – was to defend the newly built Condamine Airfield, which had four runways and was part of the ‘fall back’ Brisbane defence line.

“We trained at the airstrip each weekend, with those from Miles travelling by a car powered by a charcoal gas producer, as petrol was very scarce. I met the car at the Columboola Bridge, riding my pushbike from Stockton – about 10km along bush tracks on the southern side of the creek.

“My VDC training was remarkably good.”

In 1944, Eric answered the urgent call for Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) recruits, training as a wireless air gunner. He was soon made redundant, but after meeting some “Army blokes” who were parachute jumping into the airfield, he signed up to become a Commando.

“My dad was battling away at home in his 60s trying to run four properties without any permanent help and I felt, ‘I better do the best I can while I’m here’,” Eric recalled to the Australian War Memorial in 2018.

Eric Geldard with friends and family

“I looked on it very personally. To me, I liked where I was, I liked the people, and I felt they needed protecting … so we just went out to fight to protect our home.”

After completing his training, Eric was sent to New Guinea with the 6th Division Cavalry Commando Regiment.

“My unit [2/9th Commando Squadron] was manning an outpost there and the Japanese had all that country and everything,” Eric said. “There was a whole army of them – 24,400 came in when they surrendered – and there was a whole 30 of us.”

Saved by angels

The war was just weeks from ending when Eric’s fate took a turn for the worse.

Early on 26 July 1945, he and his long-time mate Keith ‘Mike’ Thomas Heffernan had just finished their patrol – a hazardous walk along razorback ridges, where jungle obscured the path forward and the steep drops either side.

They were cleaning their weapons when Mike’s Owen gun – which had no safety catch – caught Mike’s shirt, discharging in the process.

The bullet pierced both Eric’s legs.

“It felt as if somebody had hit the funny bone with a sledgehammer,” he said. “Then I started to see blood going everywhere, and I knew I was in trouble.”

With his femoral artery severed, Eric’s only hope of survival was the casualty clearing station – a seven-hour trek away through enemy territory.

He owes his life to the Papuan carriers – better known as ‘fuzzy wuzzy angels’ – who stretchered him 4,000 feet down the steep and narrow jungle trail.

“Gee, they were good,” he said. “In places there were 30 or 40 steps in the trail, and they were so considerate. Sometimes some of them would get down with their hands up and pass the stretcher across the top.”

By the end of the trek, Eric was unconscious and unable to thank his rescuers. Fifty years later, he had the opportunity to thank carrier Raphael Oimbari, who attended Townsville’s Victory in the Pacific commemorations to represent the many people of New Guinea who helped Australian soldiers during WWII.

Eighty years of service

From New Guinea, Eric was flown to Brisbane for further treatment. After 15 months in hospital, he bumped into his childhood friend Betty, who had served as an anti-aircraft gunner and search light operator.

Eric and Betty returned to their hometown of Miles (located 340km northwest of Brisbane) and later married, ran a property and raised four children.

Meanwhile, Eric dedicated years to supporting his fellow veterans and his local community.

“It was my parents’ belief that we should try to put something back into the community where we live,” Eric explained.

He joined Miles RSL Sub Branch in 1946 and served as its President on multiple occasions (1983-1985, 1998, 2000-2001 and 2015). He also helped establish the Miles War Memorial and the town’s war museum – located within Miles Historical Village Museum – which contains photos of all 100 of the local men and women who enlisted for war service.

Eric also held pivotal roles within many community organisations, including Dogwood Rural Fire Brigade, the Freemasons, Miles District Show Society, the Toowoomba and Golden West Regional Tourist Association, and the former Murilla Shire Council. 

In 2022, after more than 80 years of military and community service, Eric was awarded an Order of Australia Medal. Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland, travelled from Brisbane specially to present Eric with his award.

A fortunate life

Eric counted himself very fortunate – to not only survive the war, but also reach his 100th birthday. He celebrated the milestone on 15 January 2025, surrounded by family, and sadly passed away on 11 March 2025.

His secret to living a long and happy life was pretty simple: “Everything in moderation”.