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Sunday, March 13, 2011

More on World War Two: Charles Gordon, Roy andRupert Colless

Charles Gordon Colless: Service Number N347666, was born in Springwood 25th January 1904 to Vivian (Viv) Rupert and Ada Celia (nee Dent) Colless. The Colless family built four weatherboard shops in Springwood c1905 that were located opposite the present-day post office.  Viv operated a mixed business selling fruit and vegetables, confectionary, ice-cream and drinks; they also served teas. He is reputed to have had the first soda fountain in the Blue Mountains. 

Charles followed his father into trade and his service record shows that he was a fishmonger/butcher. Charles had several siblings; namely Vera, Robert, Roy, Margery, Oliver, Rupert, William, Martin, Mabel and Mary. He married Margaret Anne Maddox in Katoomba in 1938, and they were the parents Tom Colless who is a current resident of Leura.

His service record shows that Charles was a part-time member of the Volunteer Defence Corps from 1942 until 1945. 

Brothers Roy Lucas Colless (Service No. 2601) and Rupert George Colless (Service No. N347597) also served in World War Two. Roy served with the Royal Australian Navy.

* The service record of Charles Gordon Colless has been digitalised by the National Archives and can be downloaded from their website.

* The Making of a Mountain Community: a Biographical Dictionary of the Springwood District has a larger article about the Colless family.

1 comment:

lisa said...

Hi,I am finding all content relating to my past very interesting as Vivian colless was my great grandfather, Rupert Dent Colless my Grandfather.I feel a great connection to Springwood Leura Katoomba and Blackheath and slowly finding out why