Adrian Leslie Dunne
Born 24 December 1919, the son of Peter Francis Dunne and Euphemia Eddy, and raised in Tocumwal, New South Wales. According to stories told by his brothers, he was a larrikin and always testing the limits of what he could get away with. On more than one occasion, the local police brought him home and had words with his parents about his behaviour. In the days before young men had motorcycles and cars with which to stir up the older generation and impress the younger, there were horses. His father being a stock and station agent, Cobber considered himself an accomplished horseman. Apparently he was a loveable larrikin and was affectionately known to the family as "Cobber". His disappearance and presumed death during war affected the whole family.
"Cobber" and Marion
photograph provided by Maree Holness, Cobber's niece.
Cobber married Marion Iris Crump on 6 May 1943. During the war years, Marion spent a lot of time with her in-laws but, in the years following Cobber's death, contact was lost with her ....... until 2005 when, after approximately 60 years, she initiated contact and passed on some family memorabilia - it was a great delight to hear from her and learn of her life after benig widowed at such a young age.
The Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour Database shows : Lance Sergeant Adrian Leslie Dunne (number VX81616), of 20 Motor Regiment, Army, died at Merauke in Dutch New Guinea (now West Irian in Indonesia), killed in action, at the age of 24, on 12 November 1944. The family traditionally remembered his death as being on 14 October 1944, and the reason for the discrepancy is not known.
newspaper clipping, source not identified, probably published in the Riverina district of New South Wales.
Although not stated in the newspaper item, the date of publication was after his death.
This is a copy of a letter written to E.E.(Mick) Dunne by his brother Adrian Leslie (Cobber) Dunne while he was in Dutch New Guinea during World War Two. Cobber was reported missing in action and then reported as killed in action, with the date of death variously reported as 14 October 1944 and 12 November 1944. Irrespective of correct date, he died within weeks of writing this letter.
VX81616
Sgt A.L.Dunne
C Squadron
20th Aust. Motor Regt.
A.S.F. Aust
Friday 22 Sept 1944Don't take fright and think I have gone tropo, when you discover who this is from but as I am on no duties, the time drags very slowly, and it's about time we did a little correspondence.
Anyway how are you fareing, still in the pink I hope as this leaves me, I am having a champion bludge, and to fill in the time I have been off siding to the orderly room Cpl, it's the first no duty I have had for 3 years and I reckon I have earnt this one. but I'll start from the beginning, a few days back I started out on a job that was to last some indefinite time, I boarded the tub, and spent a reasonable enough sort of a day, of course not going too far from the rails, that night I was sleeping on the deck, as we had anchored for the night at dawn there was a hell of a row & we had run bottom, so it was up anchor and away we were only going a very short time when arse over head everything went and water spewed up through the engine room, we were well truly on a reef, so we jamed the Mae Wests on, and watched everything being washed overboard, with water up to Jock, who was well tucked up, we put the non swimmers on the dingy, they only got 50 yds and over she went, so they run a line out to them, and back they came luckily they could stand on the reef, so they were then put on some rafts and away they went, while we pulled boards doors, and anything we could get our hands on, to make rafts, there was gear floating everywhere, Lobb was laid on as the cases it was in got smashed to pieces, it is all in sealed tines here, so when it reaches the beach the Bongs will be right.
When word was given to abandon ship for the rest of us we had a longing look to shore which was about 4 miles, and set out, but before we did we had a feed, one chap was sitting up on a pole out the water cutting bread saying get this into your black guts as its probably your last, and we thought well you might be right too, anyway to cut short after 4 hours approx I hit shore, a very relieved colt, I was 3rd in, so I set off with some bongs to a village which was not supposed to be far, only 8 miles I discovered, by the time I got there, and I was a very impressive sight, with only a pullover on that I made into a pair of strides, I went to the school teacher, who told me (Tuan Stenga Marte) Sir your half dead, his wife and daughter both broke down in tears when I told them and he very near too, so I bloody near made the grade myself, anyway I got some grub sent back to the others who I reckoned would be in by that time, and had (shusie) both a feed and a smoke, an old chow gave me some underpants; singlet so I was pretty right, but properly rooted so was told where to "Lidoen" sleep, soon hit it their beds are only benches with mats spread on them, it wasn't long before I dozed off, and the last I remember was the wife putting a sheet over me saying (Slamat Lidoen Tuan) Sleep well sir, which I did until the salt started to cover my eyes up, and they bloody near drove me mad, during the spells of rubbing them I realised there was someone sharing the cot with me, as it was dark there were only two ways to find out who it was, and thinking them over decided to leave it as it might have been one of the Bongs "Kaya Kaya", at daybreak I discovered however it was the chow, I don't know whether he got at me or not but anyway I haven't had any morning sickness up to date.
About 9:30 I received a message from the others to say that a boat was waiting to pick us up, so I set off back and got on board at 1 o'clock bloody sore footed and sunburnt so the reason for the no duty ticket there is quite a lot more to it but its not a book I am writing so I'll leave it at that for the time being, everyone got out and no one seriously hurt, Good show.
I often thought of how swell it would be to see some of these beautiful women winging the hips under swaying palms all the bullshit they used to carry on with well I've had it now, as these dirty bitches here make the belly turn over every time you look at them they only wear a grass except a few who might have a bit of a sarong yet they do an exceptionally good job, and it would be a very hard job without them I'd say nearly impossible as they know the country inside out, and there aren't too many sign posts, they carry rations and all the jobs you have no doubt read about & heard but they are a different type to the ones from British N.G.
There are quite a lot of Javs etc here there not too bad, all the school teachers are Javs. There have been a hell of a lot of interesting things happen since I have been here but I don't say too much about them in my letters home, as they would only worry.
I receive a letter regularly from Freda also papers, she's a brave scout isn't she I was very sorry to here of your big disappointment on leave no doubt it took the colouring off it still here's hoping for a promising future.
Marion is still working, so we are doing pretty well considering, I have a good job, as I am doing a Sar Majors job, on the blot, so I have it pretty well organised, you know the way I hand it on for someone else to fix up.
All the Toke boys are still here & going well Nuget is playing cards at the moment.
Well Mick, I only intended to write a very few lines but kept going so before I start on some of my other trips I had better close hoping to hear from you son.
I remain your fond brother
Cobber
Cobber's service record shows that the army didn't stop his larrikinism and he was subject to military discipline on a number of matters. But, in the end, the qualities that make the larrikin may be the same ones that make the hero.
extract from military service records as provided in 1999 by Defence Personnel Executive,
Soldier Career Management Agency, Central Army Records Office, Melbourne.
For current information about Australian Defence Service Records see http://www.naa.gov.au/publications/fact_sheets/fs177.html
These newspaper clippings are from an album kept by his eldest sister, Adelaide.
The newspaper clipping below is thought to refer to one of Cobber's mates and that Cobber was one of the six who died in the patrol on the Ataqua River. However the family never knew for sure just what happened to Cobber and it was easy to imagine that his fate was the worst. Adelaide never found it easy to think kindly towards Japanese people.
source unknown. Reflecting the anguish experienced by family members,
this clipping was found in an album of Cobber's eldest sister, Addie.
Cobber did not fight in the battle of Ramu Valley, but the sentiment of
the poem struck a chord as Addie mourned her lost brother.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission advises that Adrian Leslie Dunne, son of Peter Francis and Euphemia Dunne and husband of Marion Iris Dunne, of Windsor, Victoria, Australia is commemorated at Ambon War Cemetery in Indonesia in Plot 3, Row C, Grave 5.
The Office of Australian War Graves is thanked for providing the
above photographs of Ambon War Cemetery and the plaque commemorating Cobber.
see the Commonwealth War Graves Commission internet display record of commemoration for Adrian Leslie Dunne. "Cobber" is also commemorated on Panel 14 at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
