THE Tamworth RSL Sub Branch is calling on the community's help to locate two of the region's surviving World War II veterans.
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Ahead of the 75th anniversary of the war's end on Saturday, the club is trying to find Douglas Plant to help honour his service and mark the occasion.
Mr Douglas is currently listed as a member of the sub branch, but his whereabouts remain a mystery.
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Corporal Plant enlisted in the army on February 20, 1942 and went on to serve in the 2/31st Australian Docks Operating Company stationed in North Queensland.
Rising to the rank of Corporal, the Glen Innes native was discharged from the army on January 17,1946 and his last known address was in Tamworth.
Tamworth RSL Sub Branch vice president David Howells said the Mr Plant was among two remaining World War II veterans on the club's records.
"As far as we know, Douglas and Jack Woolaston are the only remaining sub branch members that are World War II veterans," Mr Howells told the Leader.
"We have managed to make contact with Jack ahead of the anniversary of the war's end, but we haven't been able to touch base with Douglas.
"That's why we are calling for the community's help to find him so we can honour him and acknowledge their service on Saturday."
Mr Howells said the duo may not be the only remaining World War II veterans in the region.
"We are only able to keep track of the veterans that have become members of the sub branch," he said.
"It's entirely possible there could be more veterans out there that just never joined the sub branch.
"If that is the case, we would love to hear from those veterans as well."
New England MP Barnaby Joyce is also on the hunt for local World War II veterans to ensure they can be honoured with the government's latest service decoration.
"Veterans are by nature pretty humble people and locally, we know there are eligible veterans from the Tamworth area," Mr Joyce said.
"But as their RSL membership is no longer current, contacting them about the medallion has been difficult.
"So if they're willing, I encourage them to reach out to my office or the local sub-branch as we would be proud to present them with this new award in recognition for their service, 75 years on from the war's end."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
