Though a centenarian’s eyes
In David Westwood’s centennial year, which also marks 80 years since the end of World War II, the poignancy of 25 April 2025 is not lost on him.
“ANZAC Day means a lot to me… I particularly remember my Uncle George, the life that he lived and the way in which he gave that life up to king and country.”
For years now, David has attended the ANZAC Day March in Melbourne city, revelling in the crowds and their support.
“I think about the people who come into the city for the March, standing there and waving to me as I go past. It’s great for them to be able to think about the reason why people are called up to National Service in wartime and to understand that it’s their freedom that’s been at stake and that freedom is what it’s all about.”
David Westwood
“The right thing to do.”
Shortly after his 18th birthday in 1942, David enlisted with the Royal Australian Air Force. It was a time when labour controls were introduced to protect the demands of defence services against the demands of industry.
The concept of reserved occupations was introduced to help prevent the voluntary enlistment of skilled workers from essential services. As the war went on, the regulations around these reserved occupations changed to meet demands.
“I was not in a reserved occupation, so I was going to have to go to some form of service. As far as I was concerned, it was the right thing to do. My parents weren’t very happy about it, but I was quite happy to go ahead with war service.”
During his RAAF service, David worked as a Radar Mechanic and as an Operator.
“We used to sit on a rotating platform that had the antenna attached at the top. We’d turn a handle and wind ourselves 360 degrees looking for any sign of enemy aircraft or ships.”
After various postings, including to Cape Naturalist and Cape Leveque in Western Australia, David was informed his unit was to be sent overseas. First, they travelled to New South Wales where they practised erecting and dismantling radar units to ensure they would work within 24 hours of reaching their destination.
Travelling to faraway, unknown lands and adjusting to challenging environments seems like a lot for a young man, but David took it in his stride.
“We took it as a matter of fact, I mean, we were young enough to.”
David continued to paint a vivid picture of life in the Southwest Pacific.
“We were almost right on the equator where we went, so we had very hot and steamy conditions. And because there were no women in the unit, the clothing that we wore was very sparse – a pair of underpants in other words.”
David Westwood
After a week on Morotai in heavy rain, David’s unit joined a landing ship.
“We travelled in that ship around the north of Borneo, down the west side and to Labuan Island.”
David remembers drinking ‘imported water’, and while it sounds fancy, he reassures that it was thanks to less than sanitary living conditions.
David’s unit didn’t remain on Labuan; instead, it was moved to Papen Island. David’s recollection of the island at the time is of a ‘pretty smelly place’ where the water supply had been polluted.
“There was a lighthouse on the island… It had a good water supply, but it had been fouled. We used to get our water brought across to us from Labuan.”
Faith and service
Throughout his wartime service, David found strength in his Christian faith and looks back on his service years fondly.
“I enjoyed the work I was doing. I also worked as a chaplain a little bit. I wasn’t a chaplain, but we had a padre who visited us very rarely and our commanding officer asked this padre if he would ask me to conduct a worship service on Sundays. The Catholic boys went off to a nearby Catholic mission, but other denominations had nothing, so we started up a service that I would conduct each Sunday.”
Post-war life
David discharged in February 1946 as a Leading Aircraftman and went on to spend a considerable part of his post-service life studying. He qualified as a biochemist, industrial chemist and chemical engineer.
In between all that, David married his love, Edith, and had three children.
Over the years, David has enjoyed his connection to various RSLs, and ultimately to the Doncaster Sub-Branch where he is a member. He’s grateful to the organisation and the Sub-Branch for their ongoing support.
“Doncaster RSL has taken up the celebration of the life of my uncle. We’ve got a lot of his memorabilia on show. And then, years ago, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs ran seminars, and one was held at an RSL. We were encouraged to get the help we needed by talking to one of the RSL Welfare Officers. I’ve got some disability these days and was helped to get benefits from the DVA.”
He proudly recounted giving back by helping the RSL during the annual ANZAC and Poppy Appeals to raise much-needed money for veterans. With a chuckle, he said wearing his medals was “like a honeypot,” while rattling his collection tin.
David concluded by sharing words that have guided him throughout his life.
“I believe God has directed my path, the experiences that I had when I was working. One experience led to the next, then I gained experience that led to the next. I believe that was God in heaven looking after me and He promises that to all who put Him first.”
This story was originally published in the April 2025 edition of Mufti.
