Deniliquin RSL Sub-branch member Byron Goodsell with veteran Russell Eames.
Russell Eames’ war service may have ended about 80 years ago, but the Deniliquin RSL Sub-branch is proving it’s never too late to be recognised for it.
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Sub-branch member Byron Goodsell discovered that the World War II veteran, who is now 102, was short a few medals.
And so after a year of research and applications, Mr Eames now has a full complement.
Mr Goodsell said he realised Mr Eames was missing the medals during a chat on Anzac Day last year.
“After a lot of work, we got to present Russell with his missing medals - the 1939-1945 Star, and the Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 w/ South West Pacific Clasp,” Mr Goodsell said.
“It was an honour to present our eldest veteran with these two medals, earned during his service over 80 years ago.”
Mr Eames is Deniliquin’s sole surviving World War II veteran.
He served in the Australian Army from 1940 to 1946, after enlisting as a 17 year-old.
Russell Eames was just 17 when he registered for World War II service, lying about his age.
While he lied about his age on the official documents to be granted enlistment, Mr Eames left for war with the permission of his family.
“When I was 17 and a half, I rode a horse something like 15 miles to sign up for the Army, but I lied and put my age as 18,” he previously told the Pastoral Times.
His first encounter with the offensive was his first overseas commission to Balikpapan in Borneo.
He was a soldier in the 33rd Guard Regiment and was tasked with guarding army equipment and supplies.
Like many of his generation, Mr Eames prefers not to speak of his war experiences.
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