Brisbane loses Rat of Tobruk with death of Walter Gordon Wallace
He lied about his age to enlist in the army at 17. Now, at 98, one of Brisbane’s last links to a historic and celebrated Australian battle has died.
QLD News
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One of Queensland’s last known Rats of Tobruk has been remembered for his “heart of gold” and for helping preserve the mateship of the nation-defining siege, after his death yesterday morning.
Walter Gordon Wallace, 98, was just 18 when he fought in the famous North African battle in 1941 along with 14,000 other Australian soldiers, thousands of kilometres from his home in Cairns.
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In the post-war years, Gordon – as he liked to be called – was dedicated to the Rats of Tobruk Association, and was the last president of its Queensland chapter.
Mr Wallace’s wife of 50 years, Trish, his eight children and their families gathered yesterday at his home in Keperra, on Brisbane’s northside, to pay tribute to his legacy.
“He was often described as a cranky old bastard, but he had a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone and help anyone; give the shirt off his back,” daughter Fiona Lund said.
Son Glen Wallace added: “In many ways, he was just a hard honest working family man and enjoyed life.”
His children said despite his involvement in the Rats of Tobruk Association post-war, Gordon was reserved and haunted about his experiences in the siege.
“He never really spoke to us much about it,” Mr Wallace said.
Ms Lund said: “In terms of going to war and what he did, he always described himself as an ordinary bloke who did what he had to do.
“For many years after returning from war he suffered nightmares and was haunted by the memory of a German he sat with while he died.”
He later served against the Germans in El Alamein, Egypt, and in Papua New Guinea, fighting the Japanese as they advanced south toward Australia.
Ms Lund said Gordon made many lifelong friends in the army and treated them like brothers, all of whom he would outlive.
“He sadly missed them when they were gone, particularly Percy Lyall, OAM.”
Enlisted in 1939, Gordon was one of many underage Australians who travelled thousands of kilometres to fight in the distant European theatre.
“He lied about his age (17) to get into the army,” Ms Lund said.
“His dad didn’t want him to enlist and tried to stop him.”
Descendants of the Rats of Tobruk Association national president Roger Murphy said Mr Wallace’s impact on commemorating the battle after World War II was immense.
“He is a patron of our association,” Mr Murphy said.
“Anything to do with Tobruk, he was there."
His interests included reading, gardening, photography and cycling.