Private Vincent Peters – Second World War
RSL Victoria remembers the sacrifice of Private Vincent Peters who lost his life in service of his country during the Second World War.
Private Peters was born on the Cummeragunja Reserve near Echuca on 17 February 1901 to Robert and Edith Peters.
In 1924 he married Daisy Davis, of Coranderrk Reserve in Healesville, and settled down to start a family with her in her hometown.
Vincent was a popular in the town and won renown locally as a talented footballer. He worked as a labourer before he enlisted in the Australian Army in June 1940 at 39 years of age.
He joined the 2/2 Pioneers Battalion, and his wife Daisy and children Harry, Dot, Beryl, Glenn and infant Eric saw him off at Spencer Street Railway station before he travelled to Sydney to embark for service overseas on 7 April 1941.
He arrived in the Middle East on 21 May 1941 and served with the 2/2 Pioneers for the rest of the year. His unit was deployed to Syria where they played a significant role in fighting against the Vichy French forces who were aligned with Germany.
When the Vichy French surrendered Private Peters and the 2/2 Pioneers remained in the Middle East performing garrison duties and further training.
With the entry of Japan into the Second World War the battalion was ordered to return to Australia.
The 2/2 Pioneers departed on the troop ship Orcades and arrived in Sumatra two days after the fall of nearby Singapore. They sailed on to Batavia in Java where the decision was made to await the arrival of the Japanese who were sweeping through the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia).
The Japanese landed on Java on 28 February. The 2/2 Pioneers and Private Peters faced a hopeless task. They engaged the Japanese on 4 March but were soon ordered to lay down their arms following the surrender of the Dutch on 8 March 1942.
Private Peters was one of 865 officers and men from the 2/2 Pioneers to survive the fighting and be taken as a Prisoner of War.
In August 1942 the news of his capture reached Healesville where it was reported in the local newspaper that “One of Healesville’s most popular footballers has been reported missing, believed prisoner of war. He is Private Vince Peters, who enlisted some months ago, and has a son, Harry, in the fighting forces. It is hoped that news will be heard of Vince in the near future.”
The survivors of 2/2 Pioneer Battalion, including Private Peters, were initially sent to Singapore and then on to Moulmein, Burma, to work on the Thai-Burma railway.
He was permitted to send Japanese supplied postcards home during his captivity which said that he was fit and well. The reality was very different; disease and starvation were commonplace amongst the prisoners working on the railway.
Private Peters remained a prisoner until 11 December 1943 when he died after contracting Malaria.
He was buried at Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery in Burma (now Myanmar).
His son Harry survived the war and returned to Australia where he died in 1995.
In 2006 his daughter Dot Peters approached the Healesville RSL about working together on reconciliation. In partnership with Healesville RSL, they held the first service acknowledging Aboriginal military service.
That service became an annual event and is now held on the last Sunday of May every year at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne.
In 2010 Dot Peters said that her work in trying to bring about reconciliation “was inspired by her father and her desire to bring his spirit back.”
In 2009 she felt this was finally accomplished when a West Australian man called John Sars donated a headstone for her mother’s grave inscribed with both her mother and father’s names. She said;
“This not only brought them back together, but it helped to bring my dad’s name and spirit back home.”
RSL Victoria pays tribute to Vincent Peters, his family and all those who have sacrificed in the service of their country.
Lest We Forget.
