General News
31 August, 2024
Veterans' Voices: Walter (Mick) Cossar Hood
- Sally Bertram, RSL Military History Library. Contact Sally at sj.bertram@hotmail.com or call 0409 351 940.
Walter Cossar Hood, known as Mick, was born at Natimuk on February 20 1922 to Walter Cossar Hood (1897-1970) and Sophie Gladys Dickerson.
Mick had four siblings: Ian, Margery (Northfield), Allan and Betty (Sanders).
He volunteered for service on November 27 1940 at Polkemmet.
Mick's reserve service number was V26407 and his rank was trooper.
He served in the 19th Machine Gun Regiment.
Mick enlisted in the regular army at Bendigo on October 11 1941, aged 19 years and eight months.
His was in the Special Forces raised for service in Australia or abroad.
He was discharged from serving as a volunteer with 19th Machine Gun Regiment on the same day he signed the oath the join the regular army.
His service number was VX65168.
Mick was taken on strength on October 22 1941 at Royal Park, Melbourne, and transferred to 6 Training Battalion on October 29 1941.
He spent time in hospital with pharyngitus and on recovery returned to his unit on December 16 1941 and was attached to No 2 Group for further training.
He rejoined his unit but was transferred to 2 Initial Training Battalion on January 2 1942.
After this stage of training, he was sent back to 6 Training Battalion.
Mick was transferred from 2 Initial Training Battalion at Darley and to RC Caulfield on draft.
He was posted to 39th Battalion, AIF, on March 16 1942 and left for Port Moresby with his unit in the same month.
He sailed aboard SS Taroona from Melbourne and disembarked on March 26 1942, being transferred from Military District (MD).
Mick subsequently served in New Guinea from March 16 1942 until mid-March 1943 with 39 Battalion AIF.
The Australians were fighting in difficult conditions against the invading Japanese forces at Ambon River, Buna-Gona, Euro, Creek-Templeton’ Crossing, Gona, Isurava, the Kokoda Track, Kokoda-Deniki and Sanananda Road.
After an expected attack in Wau in mid-February that never came, the 39th returned to Australia on March 12 1943.
Mick embarked HS Duntroon at Port Morsby.
His 39th had suffered heavily.
On March 14 and again in July he was sick with malaria and spent time in hospitals.
On August 10 1943 Mick was discharged to 6 Division Reception Camp
He was transferred to 2/8 Infantry Battalion on August 19 1943 ex 39th Australian Infantry Battalion.
From September 26 1943 Mick spent more time in hospitals with relapses of malaria.
He was eventually discharged to GDD Queensland on March 8 1944.
Mick returned to his 2/8 unit on March 18.
Mick's next of kin changed on 18 June 1944.
He served in New Guinea from November 7 1944 until February 17 1945 with the 2/8.
On November 7 1944 Mick sailed from Cairns on Thomas Corwin.
On November 12 1944 Walter disembarked at Aitape, New Guinea.
On January 19 1945 he was wounded in action and evacuated to 2/7 Field Ambulance.
He suffered a right eye injury caused by a grenade.
Mick was evacuated to 104 Australian Casualty Clearing Station and on February 17 1945 left New Guinea by plane to Archerfield, Queensland.
In Brisbane he received a medical classification assessed as B2 Right Eye.
He was discharged to GDD Victoria for reallocation due to his wound and took leave before returning to duty.
He was reallotted and transferred to L Headquarters AWS administration school.
On July 24 Mick was discharged on compassionate grounds.
Mick Hood's unit on discharge was 2/8 Battalion.
He died on June 12 2003 at Quantong Cemetery, Vectis, between Natimuk and Horsham.
By August 15 1945 Mick had served up to 805 days of service in Australia and up to 467 days overseas.
[CROSSHEAD]2/8 Battalion AIF
It was not until late in the war that the 2/8th was committed to its first, and only, campaign against the Japanese, deploying to Aitape–Wewak in November 1944 as the Australians took over from US forces in the region.
Walter did not take part in the advance to Weawak in the Prince Alexander Range, where the last significant Japanese forces were concentrated up Mt Shiburangu, facing heavy resistance.
This was the battalion’s final major operation of the war before the fighting ended in mid-August 1945.
In all, 2793 men served with the 2/8th battalion, of whom 77 were killed, 248 were wounded and 203 were captured.
The Hood family
To the Hood family, I offer my apology for incorrect information in the article published on June 28 about Walter Cossar Hood Senior and Junior.
The service of Walter Cossar Hood (1845-1932) was correct.
He served in both World War I and then World War II in the reserve forces.
The information and photos were more to do with service of 19th Machine Gun in Darwin.
Although Walter Cossar Hood (1922-2003) did serve with the 19th Machine Gun he joined the regular army after a period of nearly 12 months.
I have written his own story to correct mistakes and so he receives his own recognition for his service.
Sally Bertram, RSL Military History Library. Contact Sally at sj.bertram@hotmail.com or call 0409 351 940.