MOUAT Gordon Lawrence VX47194 D Coy [F Force]
Laureen Milligan, (Daughter of Gordon MOUAT, VX47194 - D Coy - F Force)
September 2025
As it nears the anniversary of when (for many of us) our dad's returned home 80 years ago, just thought I'd share some of my most treasured possessions. My mum and dad did not meet until after the war - at a 'welcome home' party on October 13, 1945 - but thanks to my Nanna I have a pile of letters, postcards, etc. that paint a vivid picture of those times. Some letters were written to dad before the Fall of Singapore, not received by dad, and returned not delivered; letters from people who picked up radio messages; the few postcards from dad sent during those 3.1/2 years and letters from the AMF wanting to know who the "boys" were that he referred to in those postcards.
One letter which I found amongst dad's things after he passed, was (I'm guessing) the last letter he received from home. It is dated January 14. It has obviously been folded many times and is torn, and the ink is smudged from water or sweat - who knows.
A letter written by my grandpa to dad dated August 17, 1945, where not really knowing if he was still alive even, but bringing dad up to date on births, deaths, and all the goings on over the years they'd been out of touch.
And nanna's first letter dated August 21, 1945. Her letter conveys the hope that dad and his mates are okay; how everyone is anxiously waiting on news; what joy there will be when they hear news that all is well.
An airmail letter dated September 6, 1945 from Singapore:
"Dear Mum, Dad & All .... Well mum no more grey hairs now as the times at last arrived that we've all been waiting for so here we are signing on once more."
Then finally the wait was over. October 11 was for my Nan the most important day of the year, more important than anyone's birthday or Christmas. For the rest of Nanna's life we had a family celebration on that day. We grew up hearing stories of that day, the joy and celebration, had us laughing and crying, no matter how many times we heard the story. I still have the banner my pa made, painted on calico attached to what looks like two broomsticks, adorned with black and yellow ribbons, WELCOME HOME GORDON MOUAT, from all accounts held aloft along Spencer Street that wonderful day.
This is a photo from that day. Dad (Gordon Mouat) is third from right with his arm round his sister. Jack White is looking over dad's left shoulder. Dad and Jack had been at school together, worked together, joined up at the same time, and returned home together. Nanna is on the far left with the hat on, Pa is next to her.
I'm sure like many of us, dad didn't talk about his experiences. Thankfully there were people like Bob Christie and others like him who did write of their experiences.
Dad formed life-long friendships within the 2/29th. Apart from Jackie White (he was best man at mum and dad's wedding, and my godfather) - Jack Musgrove (his son married my sister), Don Trewin, Bob Mullinger, Paddy O'Toole, and many many more.