Rodney Clyde Eather (1922 - 1993)

Born 21 Sep 1922 in Singleton, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Mavis Isobel (Edwards) Eather — married 1948 in Singleton, New South Wales, Australia

Died 20 Jun 1993 at age 70 in Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Rodney Eather served in the Australian Army in World War II
Service started: 3 Oct 1941
Unit(s): ?
Service ended: 6 May 1946

Rodney was born in 1922. He was the son of James Eather and Mabel Allen.^[1]

Rodney (NX48633) enlisted on Oct 3, 1941, and was discharged May 6, 1946.^[2]

IN CASUALTY LISTS

Lance-Corporal Rodney Clive Eather, 20, youngest son of Mrs. J. Eather, of South Singleton, has been wounded in action in New Guinea. He embarked for the front in December last. He was formerly employed at Newbold's silica brick works.^[3]

KILLED IN NICK OF TIME JAP. WITH DEMOLITION CHARGES

A son of Mr and Mrs A. Kermode, of Greenlands, has sent the following war incident to his parents:— A Jap, equipped with three demolition charges, got to within a few feet of an Australian outpost in New Guinea before he was killed. The Australians had occupied a portion on top of a long mountain spur, forestalling by a day a possible enemy attempt to use the feature. On one side was a sheer drop into a valley, hundreds of feet below. The other side of the ridge descended sharply into valleys, with four native tracks leading up. Kunai grass and jungle undergrowth covered the slopes of the ridge almost to the very edge of the Australians' perimeter positions.

Shortly after midnight movement was heard in the undergrowth, and a sentry hurled a grenade at the sounds. From then until dawn the Japs, made spasmodic attempts to get to the Australians, who held them off with grenades and small arms fire. "When I saw a Jap grenade come over, I bowled one over the ridge down the hill in retaliation," said Tpr. Rodney Eather, of Frederick Street, Singleton. "Next morning, about 15 feet from my pit, there was a sword and a pair of spectacles, both covered with blood. "A few yards away, and only a few feet from the top of the ridge, we found one dead Jap. He had plenty of ammunition, and a loaded mach-ine-gun magazine, and three explosive charges. Each charge was made of three slabs of high explosive," stated Eather. "There were probably 30 or 40 Japs in the attack,' he added, "judging by the sounds in the undergrowth. Next morning, the kunai and undergrowth were beaten down in many places and there were signs where wounded or dead had been dragged away." Trooper Eather is a son of Mr James Eather, of Singleton.^[4]

Rod returned to Singleton after the war, and was very involved in the community, in sporting teams such as the local Rugby Legue teams, and as an active member of the Returned Servicemen's League.

In 1948 Rod married Mavis Edwards.

Their children are:

1. 1949 Robyn (Naughton)
2. 1950 Denise (Nelson)
3. 1953 Victor
4. 1957 Janelle (Woodbine)

TOWN AND DISTRICT TOPICS Two babies were born at Fairholme this week-end. Both were girls, a daughter to Mr and Mrs V. FitzSimmons. of St. Clair, born yesterday, and a daughter to Mr and Mrs Rodney Eather, of York Street, born this morning.^[5]

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS FAIRHOLME BIRTHS

Congratulations to .... ; and to Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Eather, of Frederick Street, Singleton, with a son, born to Mrs Eather on Monday, also at Fairholme. The hospital authorities report that both mothers and their infants are doing well.^[6]

Rod and his family moved to Wallsend around 1954.

He passed away in 1993,^[7] and his ashes are at Newcastle Memorial Park (R S W 14 L/159) ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ EATHER RODNEY E 44631/1922 JAMES E MABEL M SINGLETON
2. ↑ Rodney Clyde Eather Birth: Sep 21 1922 - Singleton, New South Wales, Australia Residence: Cooks Hill, New South Wales, Australia Enlistment: Oct 3 1941 - Paddington, New South Wales, Australia Discharge date: May 6 1946 https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4635726
3. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), Saturday 6 February 1943, page 4
4. ↑ Singleton Argus (NSW : 1880 - 1954), Friday 26 January 1945, page 5
5. ↑ Singleton Argus (NSW : 1880 - 1954), Monday 14 March 1949, page 2
6. ↑ Singleton Argus (NSW : 1880 - 1954), Wednesday 14 October 1953, page 2
7. ↑ EATHER RODNEY CLYDE 20197/1993 JAMES ERNEST MABEL MAY
8. ↑ Findagrave MEMORIAL ID 193478556