Coolamon war hero Warrant Officer Class 2 Frederick Balfe Emanuel will have his story immortalised at the Australian War Memorial’s Last Post ceremony on Friday. Photo: Supplied.
While there are countless horrifying stories depicting the violence of World War II, there are just as many about the heroic acts performed by many brave men and women, including the story of Warrant Officer Class 2 Frederick Balfe Emanuel from Coolamon, who will be remembered exactly 80 years after VP Day (Victory in the Pacific).
Born on 19 August 1918 to Robert and Beryl Emanuel, Frederick grew up in Coolamon before the family moved to Wellington, NSW. After high school, he moved to Sydney, worked in a bank, and married Mollie Hancock.
Two years later, aged 22, he enlisted in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force, serving with the 2nd/6th Armoured Regiment in Papua before joining the Far Eastern Liaison Office, a special operations unit conducting dangerous reconnaissance and propaganda missions in the South-West Pacific.
Just before the Second World War ended, Mr Emanuel’s life was cut short when his B-24 Liberator crashed during an operational flight over Borneo.
Warrant Officer Class 2 Frederick Balfe Emanuel will have his story of sacrifice honoured at a Last Post service at the Australian War Memorial on Friday, exactly 80 years after Victory in the Pacific. Photo: Supplied.
“On 2 July 1945, Frederick boarded the fatal flight over Balikpapan. It would be only a little more than a month before the war ended and Frederick’s life was cut short in a B-24 crash over Borneo,” Australian War Memorial Director Matt Anderson said.
“His story is a heartbreaking reminder of how close some came to seeing peace, yet never returned home.”
On Friday (15 August) the Australian War Memorial will mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day by honouring the service and sacrifice of the young man from Coolamon, whose journey took him from a country town to covert missions behind enemy lines.
The Governor-General, Ms Sam Mostyn AC and the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, the Hon Matt Keogh MP, will welcome Second World War veterans, members of the Diplomatic Corps, guests, and visitors to a Last Post ceremony, which will mark the moment on 14 August 1945 when the allies accepted Japan’s unconditional surrender, and the war was finally over for Australia.
The Last Post ceremony honouring the service of Warrant Officer Class 2 Frederick Balfe Emanuel will be livestreamed to the Australian War Memorial’s YouTube.
