VANDERFEEN Norman VX45524 C Coy [J Force]

Thanks to Wayne Hutcheson, a story relating to his Uncles who both served in the 2/29th Battalion

My Mother’s two brothers, Norman Vanderfeen (left) and William Vanderfeen - picture taken at the Victoria Hotel, Ouyen, the evening before they headed off to join the 2/29th.

This pic was in Uncle Norm’s personal belongings that I obtained when he passed away in 1991.

Norm and William worked on the Vanderfeen family farm at Mittyack and also helped their father dig the Channels that were necessary to carry water to the inland farming areas of the Mallee.

They were both hard-working boys, heavily involved in sport, cricket, football and tennis, and, according to their mother, were non-drinkers and did not smoke tobacco before they went away to War.

On their return they both indulged in alcohol and tobacco. Norman never married and lived in Oakleigh with his sister (my mother), and worked in factories until retirement.

William married and had two children, lived in Moe and worked at the SEC at Yallourn. Both men lived into the 1990s.

Pic of Norman Vanderfeen 2/29, walking up the steps at the Shrine behind Weary Dunlop, 1990.

Norm and Bill Vanderfeen

VANDERFEEN William Edward VX45527 C Coy [A Force]

Thanks to Wayne Hutcheson, a story relating to his Uncles who both served in the 2/29th Battalion

My Mother’s two brothers, Norman Vanderfeen (left) and William Vanderfeen - picture taken at the Victoria Hotel, Ouyen, the evening before they headed off to join the 2/29th.

This pic was in Uncle Norm’s personal belongings that I obtained when he passed away in 1991.

Norm and William worked on the Vanderfeen family farm at Mittyack and also helped their father dig the Channels that were necessary to carry water to the inland farming areas of the Mallee.

They were both hard-working boys, heavily involved in sport, cricket, football and tennis, and, according to their mother, were non-drinkers and did not smoke tobacco before they went away to War.

On their return they both indulged in alcohol and tobacco. Norman never married and lived in Oakleigh with his sister (my mother), and worked in factories until retirement.

William married and had two children, lived in Moe and worked at the SEC at Yallourn. Both men lived into the 1990s.

Norm and Bill Vanderfeen

Sid McCartney, Bill Vanderfeen and Jack Lonsdale - drinking mates at the Moe RSL - April 1989

VERCO Ernest Albert VX40946 HQ Coy [F Force]

Private P.O.W. Advices

Mr. A. E. Verco, of Westall street, Hyde Park, has been in formed that his son, Cpl. E. A. Verco, has been released from a prisoner of war camp, and is at Singapore. Cpl. Verco enlisted in Melbourne, and served in Malaya and Singapore with the 2/29 th Bat-talion. For a number of years he was employed by Gillingham and Co., printers, of Adelaide. 

1945 'Private P.O.W. Advices', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 17 September, p. 7. ,http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48668048