During 1936 the rumblings of War again could be heard.

In 1937 the RSL forwarded a resolution at their 22nd Annual Congress: “that a national volunteer defence force be raised from ex-servicemen and others between the ages of 41 and 60 years for local defence and to relieve existing forces from certain duties in the event of a national emergency.” The Government was reluctant to act, preferring to train and equip younger men. But in 1939 approval was given, and by the time World War II had been declared, matters were underway which meant that at the start of hostilities members of the VDC took over duties that allowed regular soldiers to proceed to the war zones.

In July 1940 the Government granted approval for a volunteer homeland defence force, to be known as the Volunteer Defence Corps. Hitler’s drive for world domination looked like leaving Australia safe from direct threat, but if Britain and Europe succumbed, Australia would be ‘hanging by a thread’, with no defences. Originally the VDC was run by the Government and the RSL but later was in May 1941 was taken over by the Government. General Sir Harry Chauvel was Commander, he had distinguished himself in the Light Horse WWI. In West Australia Colonel W.B. Robinson, D.C.M., E.D. was in charge.

Japan entered the war and soon Malaysia and Singapore fell, then New Guinea was under attack and Broome and Darwin were bombed.

Seven million Australians appeared to be imminent danger. Air raid sirens were issued and trenches were dug. Schoolchildren were initially instructed in air raid drill and ration cards were issued. Some people started to camouflage their homes. Children from Perth and Fremantle were billeted with country families including those in the Gnowangerup District as the threat continued.

One of these was John Wallace who, with his brothers Brian and Len, aged 10, 8 and 6, with his grandmother, Mary Anne McDonald, were sent from Perth as evacuees to live in Gnowangerup.

Less of a threat but more a reminder of troubled times, Italian Prisoners of War were working in the district clearing farms, some of whom were destined to have ongoing links with the district.

Throughout Western Australia homes became observation and reporting posts. The local telephone exchanges became an integral part of the defence communications, some being manned 24 hours a day. (Prior) Members learned secret codes, how to identify all planes, how to plot their position and flight path, and how to report this to the local headquarters. Three months after Japan had struck the VDC membership had doubled. It had its own officers and full time staff. There were 16 Battalions in West Australia and 130 permanent Staff. Each Battalion consisted of about 400 men. 5,000 members were called up for Coast watch duties, and during 1942 the numbers swelled to 100,000.

The Gnowangerup VDC was one of the first established, the first meeting held in the Memorial Hall on July 7, 1940. Sam Stewart placed an advertisement in the Gnowangerup Star under the authority of the Department of Defence and the local RSL Sub-branch. “instruction in physical training, musketry, signalling and drill is being efficiently organised and Commanding Officer Lt F.O. Gaze M.C. would appreciate the loan of rifles to facilitate the training of the unit.” (Gnowangerup Star 3 Aug 1940). (Frederick Owen Gaze was known as ‘Ric”).

Parades were held every Sunday morning at either 9.45 am or 10am depending upon the program for the day. Marching was practised from the hall to the Showgrounds, or to St Margaret’s Church or the golf links. Members had been requested to ‘bring your own .303 rifles and shotguns’. In addition, anyone in possession of a .303 was urged to leave it with ‘W. Adshead on loan’.

This time was convenient for most people, as many families would come into town for church on Sunday. The number of members on the first available register amounted to 63, but additional known members (per The Echo and other records) bring the number up to over 70. A number of younger men attended with their fathers on an ‘unofficial’ basis. The only female member was June Marsh, listed as a clerk with the WRAF during World War I and involved with nursing and the St John Ambulance.

A platoon was attached to the VDC which was formed by the local Rifle Club, and by November another Rifle Club Platoon was added. A combined parade which included this platoon and members of the Borden VDC was held on August 25 1940. This involved around 100 men. The next month there were 151 attending.

In November Gnowangerup, Borden and the Rifle Platoons undertook exercises near the golf links.

One day during training, the local VDC were on manoeuvres near the golf course, when along came a man on a bike collecting wool from dead sheep. Only after he had ‘conversed unrecognised with an outpost’ was it discovered that it was Tom Wellard – a ‘spy’ in disguise!(Gnowangerup Star 30 Nov 1940)

In December 28 members of the Gnowangerup Unit attended a parade of 1500 at the Perth Esplanade on December 15, reviewed by Sir Henry Chauvel. At this stage uniforms had not yet been distributed. By early 1941 there were almost 200 members in the District under the command of Lt F.O. Gaze. Tragically, Frederick Gaze suffered severe burns as a result of an accident on February 16, 1941.

The VDC members marched past the hospital on the following Sundays so their Commanding Officer could hear the band and maybe take the salute, but on 3 April 1941, following six weeks in the Gnowangerup Hospital he passed away at the age of 49. Lt M Wilkinson relinquished the position as C.O. which automatically fell to him, and this was taken up by Lt Dick Chambers.

Meetings were held in the RSL room at the Memorial Hall and at other locations. For some time progress was impeded by a lack of instructors. Until March 1942, there also were no uniforms and little equipment. Members used their own guns if they had been able to retain them. Boots, slouch hats and some rifles and bayonets arrived in March 1942. Blanks were used as ammunition was in short supply. The real ammo was needed urgently at the front line.

The uniform consisted of khaki shirt and trousers, boots, and slouch hats. The VDC badge was the initials VDC red embroidered on a khaki coloured patch. Several members were involved in the Gnowangerup Brass Band and musical instruments were played during marching practise.

Training was undertaken in the use of weapons, bayonet drill, unarmed combat, map reading and signalling.

Other courses which were undertaken throughout Australia and Britain were: Tank hunting and destruction, Field Works, Application of Fire, Light Machine Gun Training, Anti-tank Rifle Training, and Protection against Gas.

Tales are told of an aeroplane flying over Gnowangerup in a simulated ‘attack’, with gelignite placed under a pile of rocks and was then exploded to give the effect of a bomb being dropped. Bomb throwing and lessons in the ‘Mills bomb’ were undertaken.

Tommy Stewart held Morse Code classes at Pallinup State School which were attended mostly by the youth of the area. Jean Denny later went on to enlist having completed these Morse Code lessons.

Setting up radio and tele radio communication and the laying of lines was instigated.

A weekend training session out in the bush was arranged as often as possible, and the majority of the 40 men attended. Supplies gathered and transported, tent camps set up complete with camp fires, cooking areas, a ‘Mess’, bush showers and latrines. Water was once again boiled on open fire in kerosene tin. Cooking was completed in camp ovens, much of the equipment for this retrieved from sheds where it had lain since the first settlers arrived.

In April 1941 Colin Heppell returned on leave and gave lessons in the use of gas masks. Colin later perished in Burma after capture by the Japanese Army. In 1941 William ‘Bill’ Adshead, local police officer and Colonel in the local VDC, wrote a letter to the Gnowangerup Star insisting that the focus on bayonet drill be dropped for more modern methods of warfare, noting that only 1.7% of soldiers in WWI died of bayonet wounds, and in ‘modern warfare’ soldiers usually did not get close enough for bayonets to be used.

Several ‘Bases’ would have been established around the District. Meetings were held in the RSL rooms at the Memorial Hall and occasionally at other locations. During this time the two Vickers machine guns which had been fixed to the right hand side of the stage in the Memorial Hall after World War I were taken down to be used for training. There was no ammunition for some time, and perhaps they were later appropriated by the Army, but they were never returned to the Hall.

In October 1940 members attended a march past held in Perth with around 2,000 other Western Australian VDC members. There were 4,000 registered members in W.A. at that time.

Their motto was “Deny, Delay and Protect.” reflecting the philosophy of guerrilla warfare which was considered the most effective form of defending Australia. The number of members on the initial register at Gnowangerup amount to 63, but later reports show around 200 residents of the Gnowangerup District participated.

A regular sight was that of VDC members assembling on Yougenup Road at St Margaret’s Anglican Church, and marching down the main street to the Memorial Hall. Photos from that time show two flag bearers leading the group, followed by a drummer. Senior ranks travelled to Perth and other towns to study special courses. Members used their own motor vehicles and gained extra ration cards for petrol and tyres, etc.

The local rifle range became a focus of activity, there were several local men such as Dick Chambers who were classified as ‘sharp shots’ available to train the other members.

The Gnowangerup RSL Ladies Auxiliary was a cohesive and dynamic group. They assisted by raising funds, making morning and afternoon teas, altering and repairing the uniforms and collecting items for ‘comfort packages’ to send to the front.

These included many home-made items: knitted socks, balaclavas, mufflers, scarves, cardigans, pullovers, gloves, mittens, knee caps, bed socks, and hot water bag covers. Other items included toiletry bags, face washers, sheets, towels, books, magazines and phonograph records. Newspapers were also sent - Tom Stewart’s wife Lillian posted a notice in their outdoor loo: “Do not use too much behind because our boys need it at the front”

The headmaster at the Gnowangerup School was consulted on how many trenches would be required. Children were continued to be instructed and participated in air raid drills. In 1940 ration cards were issued. People began camouflaging their homes, and instructed on how to ‘black out’ their home by applying newspaper or brown paper to the inside glass.

Homes were inspected to see this was completed correctly. I remember Mrs Ernie Brade, Mum's friend in town, telling us about the blackout inspections and if anyone had any light showing from their windows they had to fix it. When I asked Dad why we didn't do it, he laughed. He wasn't worried about a lonely farmhouse. We had verandahs all the way round so there would not have been much light showing anyway. (Marolyn Hamilton nee Harris).

Local residents (all women) were instructed re the enemy plane spotting system. Margaret Walker and Elsie Firth were two of these volunteers who spent many long hours in the weatherboard observation box opposite the Telephone Exchange (Post Office) where the school tennis courts are now located. They would be able to rush over to the telephone exchange and get an emergency call through very quickly.

Margaret Walker told me most people were genuinely frightened - especially that the Japanese would land on the south coast in the Bremer Bay Area and come up through the wheat belt.

Regular rumours of enemy planes being sighted or the Japanese navy entering the waters near Perth were investigated and usually dispelled by the Commanders. The Headquarters for plane spotting were at Mt Lawley and the main control post at the University of Western Australia. An air strip was set up, and locals enlisted to provide lighting at night from their car headlights in case of emergency. Though life went on almost as usual, Gnowangerup residents were effectively on stand-by 24 hours a day.

Regular meetings and practice were carried out despite petrol rationing, busy times on the farms and the distance many had to travel. Dr Pope and members from Katanning VDC came to Gnowangerup to give instruction in First Aid and stretcher bearing. It was common practice for the local Ambulance Association and the local hospital to join with the VDC for training and gather supplies in preparation. Locals were also trained in First Aid, and many more studied up on home nursing.

On Sunday July 5, 1943 there was a Church Service in the Gnowangerup Hall to celebrate the third anniversary of the VDC, which was followed by a demonstration to which all residents were invited. Mock battles were undertaken, sometimes with neighbouring towns. Following the ‘skirmishes’ both sides would have members who retired to the Gnowangerup Hotel for refreshments.

An amusing story appears in the Dumbleyung Short Stories book where two commanders of ‘opposing’ units nearly came to blows when the Members from one country town would not let the ‘invaders’ through their road block!