Ex-serviceman’s milestone calls for reflection

Overlooking the site where he last saw service in 1943, Edgar “Eddy” Charles Cole celebrated his 94th birthday at the National Anzac Centre on Tuesday.

With four generations of family by his side, the World War II veteran reflected on his time in the army and his service as a garrison at Albany’s Princess Royal Fortress.

Mr Cole enlisted in the Australian Army in 1942 at the Fremantle Barracks before he was sent to Rottnest Island for 14 months service in “overseas” deployment.

He was only 19.

In 1943, he saw action firsthand at Exmouth Gulf, on the North West Cape, when three Japanese bombers attacked the Gulf on three separate occasions with a total of 10 bombs all falling unsuccessfully.

When the war ended in 1945, Mr Cole was a few points shy of discharge, so he was sent to Albany to see his final months out.

“I didn’t have enough points to go out, so they sent me to Albany and I said ‘that’s good’,” he said.

During his time in Albany, Mr Cole slept in the Barrack building with about 20 to 30 men and went fishing off the rocks near Point King Lighthouse.

He said he remembered Albany as cold and with plenty of rain, even during the summer months.

Mr Cole was set to be discharged on April 1, 1946, but to avoid being the “April fool” like his eldest brother Roland Frederick Cole, who served from February 2, 1943, to April 1, 1946, Mr Cole left the day after.

The brothers followed in the footsteps of their father, Charles Frederick Cole, who served in both WWI, from April 6, 1916, to December 9, 1918, and WWII, from May 1, 1941 to February 16, 1942, before he died from appendicitis during duty.

Mr Cole’s younger brother, Raymond Jesse Cole, also served and enlisted in Albany from July 16, 1942, to February 4, 1948, having reached the rank of Lance Corporal.

When asked about his time in service, Mr Cole said he enjoyed it as he was young, but he often reflected on his fallen mates.

“Of course I do, all the time,” he said.

“I think of all the other chaps, too, that lost their lives — so many thousands are dead.

“(It is) terribly sad. There should’ve never been any wars at all.”