David Cowled grew up in the small town of Kimba in South Australia. In the late 1930s he was harvesting wheat on his family's property.

Then Mr Cowled, like a lot of other young Australians, joined the Air Force in 1940 for the beginning of World War II.

“The start of the war really was the end of the great depression,” Mr Cowled said.

“Originally there were too many volunteers so I was put off until 1941.

“Once I was in I started at Victor Harbour and I serviced anything that went off with a bang.

“Rifles, machine guns, bombs, you name it I serviced it,” he said.

Mr Cowled married Millicent Hastings in 1943 before he was drafted as an armour fitter and sent to Port Moresby.

He served at Milne Bay and Goodenough Island before returning home at Christmas 1945.

While on Goodenough Island just prior to Christmas 1944 Mr Cowled suffered a terrible case of dengue fever. He drifted in and out of consciousness for five days and experienced extreme hallucinations.

“I didn't know where I was or what was going on, it was a terrible feeling,” he said.

Mr Cowled said he and a lot of other men witnessed some terrible accidents and tragedies while fitting bombs to aircraft.

“A lot of men needed counselling when they returned but of course that wasn't available to us back then.

“My daughter was born in 1944 while I was away,” Mr Cowled said.

“Coming home and seeing her was one of the happiest moments of my life so I considered her my counselling.”

After returning home in 1945 Mr Cowled joined a government training scheme where he learnt carpentry and joinery.

He built houses along the coast of Northern NSW before moving to Tingha in 1952.

“I lived in Tingha for 20 years,” Mr Cowled said.

“I then moved to Delungra for 11 years before I came to Inverell.”

Mr Cowled retired from building in 1980 at the age of 58.

He moved to Cooinda a year ago after his wife sadly passed away.

“I do get lonely sometimes but I do like it here,” he said.

“It's a good place to be if I ever lose my license.”

Mr Cowled keeps busy with four grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

He is also a member of the Inverell East Probus Club and sings for people in McLean Retirement Village three times a month.

“I enjoy things like that, its keeps me busy.

“I also make sure I see my family as often as I can, I get great enjoyment out of the little great grandchildren,” Mr Cowled said.

© 2010 Inverell Times

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