I had the honour of being an Australian soldier usher at Sir Weary Dunlop's funeral at Saint Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne, thousands upon thousands of people gathered to honour him. A true Aussie Hero and Gentleman.
Thank you for your thought. The "Weary" nickname is a pun, a word joke. You've probably heard of Dunlop tyres, and so the young Edward bore the nickname of Weary, carrying through the pun on tyre/tire throughout his life. To turn serious - he was a great man, an outstanding man. It's hard to pick who has been the greatest Australia, How do you define "great" for a start? But no matter what you decide about this, Dunlop would have to be in the small group of the very greatest Australians
I Had the pleasure of working with him in the 1980's. He still did the occasional surgical procedure well into his 70's at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He was an absolute gentleman and bore no bitterness towards the Japanese despite his dreadful experiences and those of his fellow POW's. Lest We Forget!
@@Fiona-zc6ozI read his book and talked to locals from his home town. Weary would have just been an arrogant doctor looking down at others. His stubborn character was made for the trials he and others went through . Many would not have made it home without him. Back in Australia he was a hero to veterans and their families. Yet he was not liked by his home town and treated his family poorly. Still a hero because right up to his death he put veterans and their families first.
@@Rose-jz6ix Sounds like he was a man who didn't suffer fools lightly. Makes me wonder if, outside of the vets et al, he was intolerant of people who had very little to complain about but did so anyway.
@@cbjones2212 he ignored his family to the extent of being cruel. The vets & their families were the only ones that meant anything to him. He would do risky surgery because of his strong belief in himself & his skills. It took me three attempts to read his book because he came off as such an arrogant a,,hole. Once past that it was those very traits that were needed in Changi & beyond.
Hi Mandy, came looking to see if another Benalla person was here 👋🌹 I was pleased when I moved here just shy of 6 yrs to see just how much "Weary" is remembered here 💜
Australians of my generation and older would know him. He amputated the leg of one of my family members who was a prisoner in the same area on the Burma railway, thus saving his life.
one of my best mates father was a prisoner in Changi and another fought in Tobruk and New Guinea. I'm a baby boomer Aussie old bloke. My dad was in the army during Korea.
Weary was a big man, naturally stood tall over the enemy, that may be a disadvantage for many, but Weary stood even taller and stuck his head out to save his men, fellow prisoners and patients. He never betrayed his hippocratic oath or his humanity. He survived the war. A true hero
He is one of my heroes..Nelson Mandela, Mohandas Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Jesus of Nazareth, Sir John Monash..not in any order of merit..just as they came to mind .
Do we know Weary? We sure do. What an absolute amazing man. I don’t think as some mentioned, the younger generation here might not. I think I’ll show my grandchildren this. Weary’s memory of all he contributed & achieved should never be forgotten.
I think you might be surprised with the younger generation. All 4 of my granddaughters at different primary school's have learnt about him, just like we did back in the day ❤
@@kerrydwyer1879my uncle John was in Changi during WW2. He was a big man but returned a skeleton of the man he was before the war. He didn’t hold hatred for the enlisted Japanese but did despise the officers. He was an amazing man. Loved him dearly.
He couldve been in an officer camp but he stayed with the men. He saved many lives by doing surgery without much more than alcohol & he saved my late mates life removing part of his intestines. Vic Cooper did not think he was anything but a POW, but Vic's life was saved by Weary. Truly an amazing man.❤❤❤
Im 78 and was friends with his secretary. He continued his medical practice, was married and raised a family. Remarkable. I’m sure like my uncle as a Rat of Tobruk, who lived until his 90s , the nightmares didn’t go away.
My grandfather was in a German POW camp after the Battle of Crete. He so admired the way Australian and NZ officers looked after their men and so our family emigrated to NZ at the end of the war.
My father was also captured and survived 2 years in a German prison camp. He had a number of surgeries on his leg and often told us that a NZ doctor saved his life numerous times. Apparently the nursing sister would pour the anaesthesia directly on a patients face and tried to kill patients that way
When I was driving for a hire car company we were assigned to drive veterans home from visiting for treatment the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in Melbourne . I had the pleasure to twice drive Sir Weary home... he was still working the odd day as a dr at the repat back then.
The father of a friend of mine was on the Burma-Thailand railway and it destroyed him. He survived and came back, a broken man who rarely spoke to his family and spent most of his time in a granny-flat out in the backyard watching TV and crying silently off and on for no apparent reason. It was that brutal and his family NEVER gave up on him.
Jesus christ .... I can only imagine the horrors. Thankfully his family didn't give up on him. You'd think it would have provided some comfort to the veteran knowing they still loved him.
@@lesflynn4455 I still don't think a lot of the world really understands the absolute horrors of the Pacific theatre of war in WW2. Seems to be more of the European focus & Germany etc. But when you delve into the atrocities like Unit 731 in Manchuria, and Nanjing, and Changi & Burma.....yeah........
@@becsterbrisbane6275 I'd suggest there's a lot we don't know about the horrors of war back then, because those that badly affected were hidden away from society in asylums. You see the odd documentary footage of horribly scarred, both physically and mentally, but the general public just weren't aware and if they were, rarely spoke of it. But, you're also right, what happened in the Pacific theatre was exceptionally brutal.
Im 75 yrs old live in Qld my old man was in the Royal Navy in WW2 mentioned in dispatches at Dunkirk. Yes Australia was very much in the thick of it all. It must never be forgotten that war is a dirty ugly business Thank goodness for people like Weary Dunlop
RYAN, im 60yrs. I worked at Westmead Hospital in Sydney Australia 🇦🇺. One of the older nurses fathers was a Doctor who was a POW with Weary Dunlop. Her father survived the camp as well. She said that her father and Weary Dunlop used to give the sick whatever bugs and worms they could find, as to get some protein into them. Amazing, resourceful doctors. True blue Aussie Hero.❤❤
He is especially well known here in Victoria where he is from. After the war, he practiced medicine in Melbourne. I once heard that he was a very ‘assertive’ driver of a large old car and on one occasion had an altercation and punch up with another motorist. Arriving at the hospital where he worked, he realised that his nose was broken. So as not to be late for the patient he was about to operate on, he quickly set his nose back into shape himself in the bathroom mirror then continued on with a full day’s work!
I had the honour of meeting Weary a couple of times, the most unassuming, humble man I have ever met. Always interested in other people and listening to their story, not once did he speak of his own. A great man and a great Australian !! RIP
A movie which depicts the horrors of the Burma Railway is The Bridge on the River Kwai. "The Bridge on the River Kwai is now widely recognized as one of the greatest films ever made. It was the highest-grossing film of 1957 and received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics. The film won seven Academy Awards (including Best Picture) at the 30th Academy Awards. In 1997, the film was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress.[5][6] It has been included on the American Film Institute's list of best American films ever made.[7][8] In 1999, the British Film Institute voted The Bridge on the River Kwai the 11th greatest British film of the 20th century." Wikipedia
Although it is very much from an English perspective, not Australian! There is another one about a group of women forced to march through the jungle (etc), starring Virginia McKenna, I can't think of the name of it right now!
You should also look at Sister Vivian Bullwinklel, who survived and told the world of the massacre of her fellow nurses of world war 2. She is another great hero like Weary Dunlop.
Yes we definitely know all about Weary Dunlop. I'm 59, and we learnt all about him in years 4 and 5 in primary school. He is one of Australia's greatest heroes, and a big deal for us at ANZAC Day marches. RIP Weary. You will be remembered for many generations to come. Much respect and gratitude for all you did for our country and our soldiers 🫡❤️
Yep, I'm only 47, but have known about him since grade 3 in Primary... an absolutely solid individual with a backbone and heart not many posess. literally cannot hear or say the word Weary or Dunlop without thinking of this astounding man. Respect & deepest admiration, always.
@@BoogieManSince1977 Yep, that man had many qualities all rolled into making a quality, second to none human being, and one to be proud of in this country. This world would be a much nicer place with more Weary's in it !
You also need to look at the story of LtCol Vivian Bullwinkle, our WW2 hero nurse. These are the tales that need to be told and remembered. (Sorry about multiple comments, just thinking about this period bring back memories)
Vivian Bullwinkle, yes. Thanks for reminding me of her. Ii was taught hers and Dunlop's stories in year 9 in 1984. WW2 history was still extensively taught during my public secondary education. Truly inspirational people.
Weary Dunlop is an Aussie hero. We 100% know him and his services to Australians in a time of need. My grandfather was a POW for 3 1/2 years and was assigned to the 2nd/9th Field Ambulance where hed dash out of the ambulance to collect the injured and dead as a stretcher bearer and drive them back to the hospitals, until captured as a POW. Hed then hand over the sick and maimed to Docs like Weary. My Grandpa survived the war and came home when war ended, but many other relos did not survive and fell victim to the railway build and other war type activities.
Weary is a legend! I'm in my 60s and learned of his exploits in school. We respect our Diggers (ex-servicemen) here and give them the honor they are due! But so many are humble and shy away from being recognised for what they have done. To them, they weren't exceptional, they just did right by their mates, and that's the Aussie way!
@@BobLouden-r9q That’s so true of so many having survival guilt, my grandpa served in the army during this war and was up in New Guinea, my Mum said he was never the same when he came home and just recently my Mum passed away in July and when I was going through her things, I found a letter that she had written to my grandpa while serving in the war and it was dated 1945, just this little piece of paper folded neatly in an envelope, I couldn’t believe it and just cried and cried 😢😢😢thinking what it must of been like back then. 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
@@-nellie-m3711 I have some letters and a note book from my grandfather who was awarded the Military Medal in WW1. Aunty and 3 uncle's in WW2 Aunty was a driver in Darwin During the bombings, her husband was a jap spotter on Melville island, another uncle was at WEEWAK in PNG, the other was in Port Moresby PNG. Dad was RANR just after WW2. Cousin Iraq and Afghanistan, his son Iraq and Afghanistan. I can only imagine what my grand father went through, to be awarded the 3rd highest medal for 'conspicuous gallantry under extremely heavy machine gun and cannon fire', in Belgium. Respect to all our diggers that gave their all.
@ Thank you kindly, she was 88 years old also, with Dementia and heart disease, I Miss Her So Much, as there was only her and me, my Dad passed 35 years ago and now they’re together forever once again. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
I think us guys in our 60s will know all about Weary Dunlop. He has given several TV interviews and you can tell how great a man he is/was. Always makes me cry to hear the stories of other extraordinarily brave men who didn't make it out alive.
As an Aussie, I have heard about Sir Weary Dunlop. I didn't really know much about him, though. This channel is helping me learn so much about my own country!
Though I am fine with modern Japan, the murder of those nurses by the Hapanese Imperial army was an atrocity, one that still shocks. For a long time I wanted her story o be required reading in all Jaoanese schools. All armies commit atrocities but killing niurses was beyond the line. It is all history now. Lest We Forget.
I’m an American born in 1942 who migrated to Australia in 1976 and I soon learned about Weary Dunlop. He was of my father’s generation and stands out as a unique kind of war hero because he served both as a doctor and great military commander of POWs and what he did was clearly impossible except through spiritual strength.
He became Sir Edward (weary) Dunlop who was a doctor before WW2 who was able to save the lives of so many fellow POWs . I had the pleasure of meeting the great man in 1980 at a meet and greet event, and will always cherish this memory. 😇
Ryan-I live in the country town of benalla-this is where weary came from-the enormous pride and gratitude the people show to him-the absolutely deserves it that is true-a truly great Australian-even after that everything they did to hymn and his men-not one ounce of hatred did he have in his heart-he went back to Thailand and Burma and Indonesia-he started schools he started hospitals-they never ending dying thanks are those people for him-what are truly kind magnificent man he was may he never be forgotten!.-it is because of your reaction and others like you-that people will never forget about Edward weary Dunlop!.
This man is a true legend. He came bacl from that Horrible War and kept on working like a Trojan. He got the men to collect grass, they boiled it and had a sip of the green juice for vitamins when they were starving on the Burma Railway for the Japanese.
G'day , as an Australian, I knew of Weary Dunlop, but I'm so thankful for this reaction video. What an amazing person, a true hero. I didn't know the scope of his legacy. Cheers Ryan ☮️😎🇭🇲
One of Australia's amazing heroes. His two books, one a biography and the other his diarie are an absolute read - I have both and read them. My Uncle was a POW on the Thai Burma railway and Weary prescribed what my Uncel called sheep drench to cure worms he had contracted during the war. Weary's mother's twin sisters Lily and Violet were nurse overseas during WW1 and cared a great deal for him after his birth. I have researcged the family for that purpose, spoken with family members who remember them well. I live in the town where Weary was born and actually travelled Dunlop Street this morning. Of course Weary's was only one of many whom we can call hearos of War and their efforts afterwards. Thanks for covering this brilliant man.
I was born and raised in Wangaratta too, lived with my parents in Orwell St. My father was born in Benalla where Weary and his family moved to. They met through the RSL where my father was Vice President of the Wangaratta branch.
@@kennethdodemaide8678 Small world - reading a book written by Weary's brother about their childhood called 'Little Tricks' - good read of those times. Couldn't be from our area without knowing about the Dunlop family and relatives.
@@heatherlane9270 That's true. Weary gave my father 2 autographs which I inherited and will pass on to the grandsons with a copy of his diary. I like the memorial of Weary they set up in Benalla. My father was born in Benalla but moved to Wangaratta while Weary was born in Wangaratta and moved with his parents to Benalla.
@@kennethdodemaide8678 Many will have personal stories and memories which is wonderful for us to hand down or on. Yours is a good one too. So precious to have.
Yeah, the older people know, but the younger ones, maybe not so much, such is life sadly. I'm wiping tears away as I type, hard to imagine going through something like that, let alone having that kind of strength and selflessness. Legend. ✌❤
I went to school in the 80s-90s, we were taught about Simpson and his Donkey in primary school, but I didn't learn about Dunlop until I joined the Army.
General Sir John Monash is another Aussie to watch. The video titled... John Monash The Australian Corps and WW1 which can be found on the History Guy's Channel. He commanded the Australian, British, American army's ending World War 1
Two other notable Australian POW's who were at Changi and worked on the Burma Railway were Tom Uren, and Sir John Carrick. Whilst Uren served with "Weary" on the railway, Carrick was moved to Hellfire Pass. Both men returned to Australia, and with the lessons they learned from the war, and eventually moved into politics to better our nation, and were both highly respected in their parties
My grandfather was 2/29th in Singapore when that gutless prick Percival surrendered. He managed to escape so avoided Changi. His little mate Pte Billy Boyd was killed in the Sandakan death march. Lest we forget.
When I was a young trainee, I worked for an ex Japanese POW Accountant, he worked very long hours (to keep busy), refused to have doors shut or anyone behind him, but was very considerate of other people! It's hard to imagine how so many survived! There are movies about this subject! I hadn't heard this great man's story, what an Aussie legend! 😪👍
@@rodshepherd5769 yes, I saw other ppl commenting who said 3 or 3.5 years for their relatives. It shocked me. I can't imagine surviving mentally or physically,.
Thanks for reacting to this one man, and thank you for the respect. He is a hero, especially to us Victorian’s. A true embodiment of the Australian spirit. His rules for care are something we believe in down here very strongly. Honestly might explain why our healthcare system is so much fairer than a lot of the world 😅 our service men did a lot to model it for us
I read his book and my mother who has since passed away, actually met him as she was a lieutenant in the Australian nursing corps, during the Vietnamese war. She was introduced to him in Melbourne. An absolutely amazing brave man!
My great uncle was a POW for 3 years and worked on the Burma railway. That's what my dad told me, that's all he told me, and he only told me once. While many don't like to talk about what they've been through, it's important that we never forget
I met Mr. Dunlop at the Royal Australian College Of Surgeons. He was a true gentleman. (I corrected the location thanks to Bob's informative replies below)
@@BobLouden-r9q It was for an SBS doco in the late 80s so memory may have blurred. I thought it was on the parliament side of Spring Street. Maybe it was in the R. A. College of Surgeons? Chance of memory failure I'll admit. At the time I didn't know his history but I do remember how nice he was.
@marklane58 My family first met him when he operated on my brother with a depressed fracture of the skull,in the late 60s then became good friends till death. His office was either in or at the end of Collins St. Mum and dad would regularly stay with them at their Christmas hills property. Mum would go and stay with lady Dunlop at Toorak to keep her company when Edward was away. I didn't take up the invitation to go there. Silly me.
@@BobLouden-r9q Forgive the young you. It's difficult to appreciate such people at that age. Even for me, in my ignorance at 32. We are fortunate to have had a slight glimpse and to acknowledge him in time. I made a mistake about the consulting room, it was the College of Surgeons, probably because he happened to be there when we were scheduled to meet. I'm going to correct my initial comment.
@@marklane58 I purely didn't want to see how the wealthy lived. I had the chance to go with dad to the Toorak mansion to uncover wall safes in each bedroom that had been plastered over. Dad said he would move a wardrobe to test where a safe was and there would be very expensive oil paintings given to Edward as gifts, stuffed behind the wardrobes. PS dad said his wine cellar was worth more than our family home lol.
Weary was virtually a "local" to me. He born in Wangaratta (80 odd K from here) and going to school in Stewarton and Benalla (both within a half an hour drive from here) before studying medicine in Melbourne. He has a statue in the rose garden in Benalla as well as a plaque on the wall of the shop where he did his apprenticeship as a pharmacist in Nunn Street in Benalla. He was a legend. "Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop's early life was marked by hard work, a strong work ethic, and a pride in his Scottish heritage: Birth: Born on July 12, 1907 in Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia Childhood: Raised on a farm, where he was often required to perform hard physical labor Education: Attended Stewarton Public School and Benalla High School Pharmacy apprenticeship: Began a pharmacy apprenticeship in 1924 at Benalla University: Moved to Melbourne in 1927 and attended the Victorian College of Pharmacy Medical school: Won a scholarship to Ormond College, Melbourne University to study medicine Graduation: Graduated with first class honors in 1934 Nickname: Received his nickname “Weary” during medical school, a reference to his last name-"tired" like a Dunlop tyre Sports: A talented athlete who played rugby union for Australia against New Zealand in 1932 and was an amateur boxing champion"
My dearest neighbour was on the Burma Railroad with Weary Dunlop.. Jack, my neighbour suffered awfully and credited Weary Dunlop with his survival. Weary Dunlop was revered. by him and all the other Aussies under his care. I think most Australians are aware of Weary Dunlop. Thank you for showing this video.
The Australian War Memorial in Canberra has a museum and the last time I was there they had a display dedicated to 'Weary' Dunlop. What struck me was all the medical instruments were hand made by the prisoners and the scissors were made from fencing wire and they looked like a medical instrument supplier had made them.
A bloody legend and I can say from experience, an absolute gentleman and the quintessential Officer in his manner. Definitely proud to have met Weary and had his input into my military career. Edit to Add: When Service Personnel are captured, they are still uniformed members and subject to military law. The chain of command remains intact and according to the International Rules of War, their most senior Officer or SCNO (Senior Non Commissioned Officer) will be the CO or Commanding Officer for that group. Hence why Weary was the "Boss Cocky" as we say here in Oz. In 1993 when Weary died, every single one of us in RAAMC (Royal Australian Army Medical CORPS) wanted to be either in the guard of honour, or the burial detail. He was that respected.
I am 62 yrs old and people of my age in Australia would know of this wonderful man. I was a nurse and I read of the amazing achievements and lives he saved with so little in the worst situations imaginable. He is a hero in the truest sense it is sad that so many of our younger Australians do not know of him. As for that art that is an example of the art done by the soldiers while imprisoned and hidden from their captors. The Australian war Memorial in Canberra has a lot of this kind of examples as well as the story of Weary on display. Sir Weary Dunlop continued to support returned veterans until his death, he was a wonderful man
He is an absolute hero. The word is tossed around too lightly and applied to sporting people. Weary was truly heroic. I have read his war diaries and his autobiography and was honoured to visit Benalla and see his statue. A true Aussie hero.🇦🇺
The Japanese forces made it to New Guinea. (Check out Kokoda Trail). They also dropped more bombs on Darwin than Pearl Harbour. Perhaps you could find out about that if you haven't already.
Weary Dunlop is on our 100 'dollar' NOTE. Appearing below the ANZAC Crown with his donkey, carrying a wounded. Yes he is on the money, along with the Australian Light Horse.
Weary Dunlop is not on any Australian banknote. They did coin a 50 cent piece with him on it in 1995. Simpson (John Simpson Kirkpatrick) was the man with the donkey. He was First World War hero. He was machine gunned and killed at Gallipoli.
@@BobLouden-r9qLike many Australians, Simpson was born overseas but left his ship to stay in Australia in 1910. He signed up and fought with the ANZAC. He was an Australian by choice. Even today there are many Australians born on foreign soil.
@@christinesavage4837 As of June 2023, 30.7% of Australia's population was born overseas. But they are still Aussies no matter where they were born they chose this country as their own!
My uncle was a POW in Changi - he survived - he was 6’4 tall and when he was repatriated to Australia he weighed only 86 pounds - 44 kilograms. His health was destroyed and he died prematurely at the age of only 40.
He must have been our greatest hero and he has a statue in the gardens just off St. Kilda Rd Melbourne . Ryan I think you should check out how far south the Japanese got in the second world war, you will be surprised.
my dad was on the mine sweepers too - he didn’t see service until a couple of months before the war ended and after the war, but spent more than a year mopping up the sea mines through the Coral Sea and Torres Strait
My grandfather and fatherinlaw were both under Weary Dunlop grandfather joined at 40 fatherinlaw 16 my fatherinlaw said Weary was a kind and compassionate man but had a will of iron underneath he never talked about his 3 years as a prisoner of war but to say that Wearys determination got a lot of men through Weary Dunlop is our national hero we decendence of these soldiers bless this man and are forever grateful to him
Neighbour who ‘worked’ on the Burma Railway, said prisoners knew which plants were edible, & would strip plants as the walked past to get some nutrition. RESILIENCE !!
I remember him from the stories of my dad. A fellow POW who came across him in Changi. Dad could never say enough wonderful things about this man who was a true inspiration
Ashamed to say although I knew of weary, I never knew about all the details you spoke of Ryan. Kids today need to be taught more about these legends..sadly when I went to school in the 80s we learnt more about American and British history then hero’s of Australia. About time Australia made a movie about Weary ❤
Thank you very much for the history lesson. Like most Aussies I have always heard of Weary Dunlop but I actually didn’t know about what he did, so thank you again. He truly was a hero and someone to be proud of.
Kudos to you Ryan. Australians revere Weary Dunlop. So pleased you watched, understood and respected this video. Well done mate. Share your new knowledge of a truly great man.
Learnt about weary as a child from my grandmother, she had a lot of articles she had collected since the 1950's. In school we learnt more about him, usually around Anzac day and remembrance day.
I don’t know if kids today get taught about him but we certainly did when I was younger. I’m 60 years old now and every so often I reread his diaries, it’s amazing what we humans will do to each other during war . He was a great man .
You really are building up a good knowledge of Australia Ryan to the point where it just rolls off your tongue on a lot of occasions . Thank you. This man is a legend in Australian military history.
It seems to me the world forgets the Japaneses held POW's being used as slaves. My father was in Changi prison in Singapore - was put to work on the Burma railroad and then taken to Japan to work in the mines
My two brothers in law their father was in Changi and my uncle was on the Kokoda Track in New Guinea , so the Japanese reached closer to Australia than Java.
Course we knew all that, this man was considered a saint, Ryan. My late sister in Laws father was a POW of the Japanese and his eye became infected, it had to be removed with crude instruments, no anaesthetic, no pain killers. He survived, came home mailed and had two children. These men worshiped Weary, his name is as well known in Australia as our late Queen in UK and your President in USA. There is a lot to Australia you don’t know, but with in time you’ll learn more. BTW, I am a naturalised Aussie, Australian friends tell me America saved this country as we were in Europe fighting Hitler leaving us weakened. Thank you USA , blessings.
I've read Dunlop's War Diaries and I recommend it to anybody who wants to get an insight into the man and into just what POW life was really like under the Japanese. An added bonus to the book is the sketches done by a Sergeant Jack Chalker, an English soldier who was Dunlop's orderly in the prison camps. Dunlop kept meticulous records and as an example of the brutal conditions they suffered under, he recorded how he had treated an Englishman for beriberi, dysentery, malaria and cholera. Finally, the poor bugger was trampled to death by an elephant! When the Japanese demanded that the sick patients in Dunlop's 'hospital' should turn out to work on the railway, Dunlop would have them all carried out to a log seat near the camp entrance. Then Dunlop, who stood 6'4' tall, would pick each one up, and carrying them like babies, walk to the camp commander and ask, "This one, Nippon?" As these poor wretches were nothing but skin and bone and the officers were deadly fearful of losing face in front of their men, these human wrecks would be rejected from the working party! Dunlop was, however, not the only Australian doctor doing miraculous work in the POW camps along the Burma - Siam rail line There was certainly others whose deeds went unsung.
Weary Dunlop is an inspirational Australian that we absolutely know about. There’s so much more to this story and what Weary endured to stand up to his captors and negotiate for medical supplies, food for his men. He was a tower of humility and grace in the face of tyranny.
Older Australians certainly remember him. A truly wonderful man of great courage and determination. Factoid: His image is depicted on the 1995 50-cent coin.
My grandfather was a prisoner of war on the Burma Railway and knew Weary personally. My grandfather would never talk about what happened while he was a POW , but he did tell us many times what an absolute hero Weary was to them.
Yes, he was a legend of the war, with so many owing their lives to him. Another that you check out is Vivian Bullwinkle, a captured nurse that suffered at the hands of the Japanese. We were taught about these people at school, me personally in the 60's and 70's. I could not tell you if that is the case, these days.
My grandfather spent many nights in the turret on top of the Yallourn picture theatre. This was to protect the Yallourn Power Station from the Japanese. He worked on at the power station during the day and would then sit in the turret at night
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I had the honour of being an Australian soldier usher at Sir Weary Dunlop's funeral at Saint Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne, thousands upon thousands of people gathered to honour him. A true Aussie Hero and Gentleman.
@@tucsonn0110 Thankyou for your service to our country.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them, Lest we forget. RIP Sir Dunlop.
It's Sir Weary. not Sir Dunlop
@@LesleyBeswick Actually it was Sir Edward Dunlop. Weary was just his nickname.
@@LesleyBeswick Actually it was Sir Edward Dunlop. Weary was just his nickname.
Thank you for your thought. The "Weary" nickname is a pun, a word joke. You've probably heard of Dunlop tyres, and so the young Edward bore the nickname of Weary, carrying through the pun on tyre/tire throughout his life.
To turn serious - he was a great man, an outstanding man. It's hard to pick who has been the greatest Australia, How do you define "great" for a start? But no matter what you decide about this, Dunlop would have to be in the small group of the very greatest Australians
I Had the pleasure of working with him in the 1980's. He still did the occasional surgical procedure well into his 70's at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He was an absolute gentleman and bore no bitterness towards the Japanese despite his dreadful experiences and those of his fellow POW's. Lest We Forget!
wow that's incredible!!
Nor did he suffer fools.
My mother, who used to be an Army Nurse during WW2 also knew him & held him in great regard. She would have been 100 this year.
@@bigpuppy9923 My great grand father would have been 180 years old this year.😁
My great uncle was a POW In Borneo he never really recovered after the war. Yet he held no bitterness towards the japanese...
We absolutely know about Weary Dunlop. A true hero. 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
The only actual hero on that list
I had heard of him but had no idea about his story
@@Fiona-zc6ozI read his book and talked to locals from his home town. Weary would have just been an arrogant doctor looking down at others. His stubborn character was made for the trials he and others went through . Many would not have made it home without him. Back in Australia he was a hero to veterans and their families. Yet he was not liked by his home town and treated his family poorly. Still a hero because right up to his death he put veterans and their families first.
@@Rose-jz6ix Sounds like he was a man who didn't suffer fools lightly. Makes me wonder if, outside of the vets et al, he was intolerant of people who had very little to complain about but did so anyway.
@@cbjones2212 he ignored his family to the extent of being cruel. The vets & their families were the only ones that meant anything to him. He would do risky surgery because of his strong belief in himself & his skills.
It took me three attempts to read his book because he came off as such an arrogant a,,hole. Once past that it was those very traits that were needed in Changi & beyond.
I live in a small town of Benalla, in the north of Victoria. There is a statue of Weary in our park. He was the essence of a true hero.
Hi Mandy, came looking to see if another Benalla person was here 👋🌹
I was pleased when I moved here just shy of 6 yrs to see just how much "Weary" is remembered here 💜
Btown here
Australians of my generation and older would know him. He amputated the leg of one of my family members who was a prisoner in the same area on the Burma railway, thus saving his life.
Have you read Weary's diary - if not he may have it in there?
one of my best mates father was a prisoner in Changi and another fought in Tobruk and New Guinea. I'm a baby boomer Aussie old bloke. My dad was in the army during Korea.
@@somefatbugger Baby boomer here too.
@@heatherlane9270 Yep, been on my bookshelf for many years and I have read it multiple times
incredible
He is considered pretty much Australia's greatest hero. I met him once. He was an absolutely lovely, quiet gentleman
Us older boomers know of Weary Dunlop...An incredible man....Remarkable strength of character, and a great love for humanity...
I am Boomer but did not know anything about him
Don’t discount us young folk, we gen Z knew about him from school
Weary was a big man, naturally stood tall over the enemy, that may be a disadvantage for many, but Weary stood even taller and stuck his head out to save his men, fellow prisoners and patients. He never betrayed his hippocratic oath or his humanity. He survived the war. A true hero
played rugby too!
He is one of my heroes..Nelson Mandela, Mohandas Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Jesus of Nazareth, Sir John Monash..not in any order of merit..just as they came to mind .
He is an Australian hero. He saved many POWs from certain death.
Sir Weary is an Aussie legend....but it was good to be reminded what a great man he was....the world needs the likes of him now
They are there - good men and women - assisting others in times of war. Ukraine and Palestine for example
Do we know Weary? We sure do. What an absolute amazing man. I don’t think as some mentioned, the younger generation here might not. I think I’ll show my grandchildren this. Weary’s memory of all he contributed & achieved should never be forgotten.
My Father flew people back from Changhi prison at end of the war.He saw the state they were in
Maybe they found opium over there as they were building that railway.We can hope.
So true and good on you for showing your family.
I think you might be surprised with the younger generation. All 4 of my granddaughters at different primary school's have learnt about him, just like we did back in the day ❤
@@kerrydwyer1879my uncle John was in Changi during WW2. He was a big man but returned a skeleton of the man he was before the war. He didn’t hold hatred for the enlisted Japanese but did despise the officers. He was an amazing man. Loved him dearly.
He couldve been in an officer camp but he stayed with the men. He saved many lives by doing surgery without much more than alcohol & he saved my late mates life removing part of his intestines. Vic Cooper did not think he was anything but a POW, but Vic's life was saved by Weary. Truly an amazing man.❤❤❤
Im 78 and was friends with his secretary. He continued his medical practice, was married and raised a family. Remarkable. I’m sure like my uncle as a Rat of Tobruk, who lived until his 90s , the nightmares didn’t go away.
My grandfather was in a German POW camp after the Battle of Crete. He so admired the way Australian and NZ officers looked after their men and so our family emigrated to NZ at the end of the war.
Where was your grandfather from
He was Welsh
My father was also captured and survived 2 years in a German prison camp. He had a number of surgeries on his leg and often told us that a NZ doctor saved his life numerous times. Apparently the nursing sister would pour the anaesthesia directly on a patients face and tried to kill patients that way
@@pamelajones4791 what? Do you know any more of that story? What a psychopath.
When I was driving for a hire car company we were assigned to drive veterans home from visiting for treatment the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in Melbourne . I had the pleasure to twice drive Sir Weary home... he was still working the odd day as a dr at the repat back then.
Wow what a connection to history!
One of my uncles spent time at the Repat. He was a POW in Changi
I used to work at RGH (C) when it was still a Repat hospital. Those men went through so much.
The father of a friend of mine was on the Burma-Thailand railway and it destroyed him. He survived and came back, a broken man who rarely spoke to his family and spent most of his time in a granny-flat out in the backyard watching TV and crying silently off and on for no apparent reason. It was that brutal and his family NEVER gave up on him.
Jesus christ .... I can only imagine the horrors. Thankfully his family didn't give up on him. You'd think it would have provided some comfort to the veteran knowing they still loved him.
@@lesflynn4455 I still don't think a lot of the world really understands the absolute horrors of the Pacific theatre of war in WW2. Seems to be more of the European focus & Germany etc. But when you delve into the atrocities like Unit 731 in Manchuria, and Nanjing, and Changi & Burma.....yeah........
@@becsterbrisbane6275 I'd suggest there's a lot we don't know about the horrors of war back then, because those that badly affected were hidden away from society in asylums. You see the odd documentary footage of horribly scarred, both physically and mentally, but the general public just weren't aware and if they were, rarely spoke of it. But, you're also right, what happened in the Pacific theatre was exceptionally brutal.
@@becsterbrisbane6275my family came from Manchuria in the 50's.
Aussie pride in this courageous, humble & so noble a man almost brings tears.🇦🇺💌❗
Younger generations might not know him but a true Australian Hero
Im 75 yrs old live in Qld my old man was in the Royal Navy in WW2 mentioned in dispatches at Dunkirk. Yes Australia was very much in the thick of it all. It must never be forgotten that war is a dirty ugly business Thank goodness for people like Weary Dunlop
RYAN, im 60yrs. I worked at Westmead Hospital in Sydney Australia 🇦🇺. One of the older nurses fathers was a Doctor who was a POW with Weary Dunlop. Her father survived the camp as well. She said that her father and Weary Dunlop used to give the sick whatever bugs and worms they could find, as to get some protein into them. Amazing, resourceful doctors. True blue Aussie Hero.❤❤
He is especially well known here in Victoria where he is from. After the war, he practiced medicine in Melbourne.
I once heard that he was a very ‘assertive’ driver of a large old car and on one occasion had an altercation and punch up with another motorist. Arriving at the hospital where he worked, he realised that his nose was broken. So as not to be late for the patient he was about to operate on, he quickly set his nose back into shape himself in the bathroom mirror then continued on with a full day’s work!
Haha. Weird. Kept his cool with japanese officers but suffered from road rage?
I had the honour of meeting Weary a couple of times, the most unassuming, humble man I have ever met. Always interested in other people and listening to their story, not once did he speak of his own. A great man and a great Australian !! RIP
A movie which depicts the horrors of the Burma Railway is The Bridge on the River Kwai.
"The Bridge on the River Kwai is now widely recognized as one of the greatest films ever made. It was the highest-grossing film of 1957 and received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics. The film won seven Academy Awards (including Best Picture) at the 30th Academy Awards. In 1997, the film was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress.[5][6] It has been included on the American Film Institute's list of best American films ever made.[7][8] In 1999, the British Film Institute voted The Bridge on the River Kwai the 11th greatest British film of the 20th century." Wikipedia
That was on sbs movies a few times the last couple of days
Bring the tissues. Lots and lots of them 😢
Although it is very much from an English perspective, not Australian! There is another one about a group of women forced to march through the jungle (etc), starring Virginia McKenna, I can't think of the name of it right now!
You should also look at Sister Vivian Bullwinklel, who survived and told the world of the massacre of her fellow nurses of world war 2. She is another great hero like Weary Dunlop.
@@jenniferharrison8915I think you might mean A Town Like Alice. There was also a mini series starting Bryan Brown.
Yes a magnificent, humble man who should be known by all Australians.
Yes we definitely know all about Weary Dunlop. I'm 59, and we learnt all about him in years 4 and 5 in primary school. He is one of Australia's greatest heroes, and a big deal for us at ANZAC Day marches.
RIP Weary. You will be remembered for many generations to come. Much respect and gratitude for all you did for our country and our soldiers 🫡❤️
I am 65 and was never taught anything about him
@Fiona-zc6oz seriously 😱 wow. To say I'm shocked is an understatement
Yep, I'm only 47, but have known about him since grade 3 in Primary... an absolutely solid individual with a backbone and heart not many posess.
literally cannot hear or say the word Weary or Dunlop without thinking of this astounding man.
Respect & deepest admiration, always.
@@BoogieManSince1977 Yep, that man had many qualities all rolled into making a quality, second to none human being, and one to be proud of in this country.
This world would be a much nicer place with more Weary's in it !
You also need to look at the story of LtCol Vivian Bullwinkle, our WW2 hero nurse. These are the tales that need to be told and remembered. (Sorry about multiple comments, just thinking about this period bring back memories)
Vivian Bullwinkle, yes. Thanks for reminding me of her. Ii was taught hers and Dunlop's stories in year 9 in 1984. WW2 history was still extensively taught during my public secondary education. Truly inspirational people.
As a nurse myself I am very interested in their roles during the war. I will look up her heroic story - thank you.
Weary Dunlop is an Aussie hero. We 100% know him and his services to Australians in a time of need. My grandfather was a POW for 3 1/2 years and was assigned to the 2nd/9th Field Ambulance where hed dash out of the ambulance to collect the injured and dead as a stretcher bearer and drive them back to the hospitals, until captured as a POW. Hed then hand over the sick and maimed to Docs like Weary. My Grandpa survived the war and came home when war ended, but many other relos did not survive and fell victim to the railway build and other war type activities.
Weary is a legend! I'm in my 60s and learned of his exploits in school. We respect our Diggers (ex-servicemen) here and give them the honor they are due! But so many are humble and shy away from being recognised for what they have done. To them, they weren't exceptional, they just did right by their mates, and that's the Aussie way!
@@jesamindee6783 There was so much survivor guilt. To them the only heroes lay in shallow graves.
@@BobLouden-r9q That’s so true of so many having survival guilt, my grandpa served in the army during this war and was up in New Guinea, my Mum said he was never the same when he came home and just recently my Mum passed away in July and when I was going through her things, I found a letter that she had written to my grandpa while serving in the war and it was dated 1945, just this little piece of paper folded neatly in an envelope, I couldn’t believe it and just cried and cried 😢😢😢thinking what it must of been like back then. 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
@@-nellie-m3711 I have some letters and a note book from my grandfather who was awarded the Military Medal in WW1. Aunty and 3 uncle's in WW2 Aunty was a driver in Darwin During the bombings, her husband was a jap spotter on Melville island, another uncle was at WEEWAK in PNG, the other was in Port Moresby PNG. Dad was RANR just after WW2. Cousin Iraq and Afghanistan, his son Iraq and Afghanistan. I can only imagine what my grand father went through, to be awarded the 3rd highest medal for 'conspicuous gallantry under extremely heavy machine gun and cannon fire', in Belgium. Respect to all our diggers that gave their all.
@-nellie-m3711 Condolences for your loss of your mum. 4 years since mine died at 88 still missed daily.
@ Thank you kindly, she was 88 years old also, with Dementia and heart disease, I Miss Her So Much, as there was only her and me, my Dad passed 35 years ago and now they’re together forever once again. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Wonderful, humble, and selfless. A true man. One of the best of men. Lest we forget.
I think us guys in our 60s will know all about Weary Dunlop. He has given several TV interviews and you can tell how great a man he is/was. Always makes me cry to hear the stories of other extraordinarily brave men who didn't make it out alive.
I’m a 47 year old immigrant and I know who he is so the story has been kept reasonably alive
As an Aussie, I have heard about Sir Weary Dunlop. I didn't really know much about him, though. This channel is helping me learn so much about my own country!
We’re Dunlop was one of my hero’s when young, also Nancy Wake. Look her up. She worked behind the line during the war in France.
The White Mouse. And also Sister Bullwinkle
@@way2dumb Sister Bullwinkle, was a heroine. Lest we forget.
Though I am fine with modern Japan, the murder of those nurses by the Hapanese Imperial army was an atrocity, one that still shocks. For a long time I wanted her story o be required reading in all Jaoanese schools. All armies commit atrocities but killing niurses was beyond the line.
It is all history now. Lest We Forget.
At least, can you spell his nickname 'Weary' correctly? It has only been around for several decades & you must have seen it written at least once.
@@two2fargone the Australian Nurses were raped before they were murdered.
May they rest in peace.
Lest we forget.
An Australian 50 cent coin was issued with his image on it. He was a true hero.
It was a 50 cent coin minted in 1995.
I still have a few
I’m an American born in 1942 who migrated to Australia in 1976 and I soon learned about Weary Dunlop. He was of my father’s generation and stands out as a unique kind of war hero because he served both as a doctor and great military commander of POWs and what he did was clearly impossible except through spiritual strength.
He became Sir Edward (weary) Dunlop who was a doctor before WW2 who was able to save the lives of so many fellow POWs .
I had the pleasure of meeting the great man in 1980 at a meet and greet event, and will always cherish this memory. 😇
Ryan-I live in the country town of benalla-this is where weary came from-the enormous pride and gratitude the people show to him-the absolutely deserves it that is true-a truly great Australian-even after that everything they did to hymn and his men-not one ounce of hatred did he have in his heart-he went back to Thailand and Burma and Indonesia-he started schools he started hospitals-they never ending dying thanks are those people for him-what are truly kind magnificent man he was may he never be forgotten!.-it is because of your reaction and others like you-that people will never forget about Edward weary Dunlop!.
This man is a true legend. He came bacl from that Horrible War and kept on working like a Trojan. He got the men to collect grass, they boiled it and had a sip of the green juice for vitamins when they were starving on the Burma Railway for the Japanese.
G'day , as an Australian, I knew of Weary Dunlop, but I'm so thankful for this reaction video.
What an amazing person, a true hero.
I didn't know the scope of his legacy.
Cheers Ryan
☮️😎🇭🇲
One of Australia's amazing heroes. His two books, one a biography and the other his diarie are an absolute read - I have both and read them. My Uncle was a POW on the Thai Burma railway and Weary prescribed what my Uncel called sheep drench to cure worms he had contracted during the war. Weary's mother's twin sisters Lily and Violet were nurse overseas during WW1 and cared a great deal for him after his birth. I have researcged the family for that purpose, spoken with family members who remember them well. I live in the town where Weary was born and actually travelled Dunlop Street this morning. Of course Weary's was only one of many whom we can call hearos of War and their efforts afterwards. Thanks for covering this brilliant man.
I was born and raised in Wangaratta too, lived with my parents in Orwell St. My father was born in Benalla where Weary and his family moved to. They met through the RSL where my father was Vice President of the Wangaratta branch.
@@kennethdodemaide8678 Small world - reading a book written by Weary's brother about their childhood called 'Little Tricks' - good read of those times. Couldn't be from our area without knowing about the Dunlop family and relatives.
@@heatherlane9270 That's true. Weary gave my father 2 autographs which I inherited and will pass on to the grandsons with a copy of his diary. I like the memorial of Weary they set up in Benalla. My father was born in Benalla but moved to Wangaratta while Weary was born in Wangaratta and moved with his parents to Benalla.
@@kennethdodemaide8678 Many will have personal stories and memories which is wonderful for us to hand down or on. Yours is a good one too. So precious to have.
Weary was my childhood hero and still is. A true legend!
Yeah, the older people know, but the younger ones, maybe not so much, such is life sadly. I'm wiping tears away as I type, hard to imagine going through something like that, let alone having that kind of strength and selflessness. Legend. ✌❤
I went to school in the 80s-90s, we were taught about Simpson and his Donkey in primary school, but I didn't learn about Dunlop until I joined the Army.
It's up to us to tell our children and grandchildren, and could start with showing them this or talking about our Aussie legends on ANZAC Day. ❤🇦🇺🦘
General Sir John Monash is another Aussie to watch. The video titled...
John Monash The Australian Corps and WW1 which can be found on the History Guy's Channel. He commanded the Australian, British, American army's ending World War 1
Two other notable Australian POW's who were at Changi and worked on the Burma Railway were Tom Uren, and Sir John Carrick. Whilst Uren served with "Weary" on the railway, Carrick was moved to Hellfire Pass. Both men returned to Australia, and with the lessons they learned from the war, and eventually moved into politics to better our nation, and were both highly respected in their parties
My uncle was a prisoner at Changi,he was 13 stone when he was captured and under 5 when he came home,and he was over 6 feet tall.
For those too young to remember 16oz to the lb, 14 lb to the stone if memory serves me correctly
My grandfather was 2/29th in Singapore when that gutless prick Percival surrendered. He managed to escape so avoided Changi. His little mate Pte Billy Boyd was killed in the Sandakan death march. Lest we forget.
Same for my Uncle George. My mother and her siblings were horrified. He died only a couple of years ago living to 92.
So about 120kg to 50?
I was way off 82kg down to 31kg
When I was a young trainee, I worked for an ex Japanese POW Accountant, he worked very long hours (to keep busy), refused to have doors shut or anyone behind him, but was very considerate of other people! It's hard to imagine how so many survived! There are movies about this subject! I hadn't heard this great man's story, what an Aussie legend! 😪👍
My husband’s uncle was a P.O.W at Changi for three years
He lost his arm, and thanks to Weary Dunlop, survived
3 years! That's a lifetime. RIP.
@@jillianmunday7640 That was fairly standard
@@rodshepherd5769 yes, I saw other ppl commenting who said 3 or 3.5 years for their relatives. It shocked me. I can't imagine surviving mentally or physically,.
@@jillianmunday7640 It is unimaginable
Thanks for reacting to this one man, and thank you for the respect. He is a hero, especially to us Victorian’s. A true embodiment of the Australian spirit.
His rules for care are something we believe in down here very strongly. Honestly might explain why our healthcare system is so much fairer than a lot of the world 😅 our service men did a lot to model it for us
I read his book and my mother who has since passed away, actually met him as she was a lieutenant in the Australian nursing corps, during the Vietnamese war. She was introduced to him in Melbourne. An absolutely amazing brave man!
My great uncle was a POW for 3 years and worked on the Burma railway. That's what my dad told me, that's all he told me, and he only told me once. While many don't like to talk about what they've been through, it's important that we never forget
I certainly know him. A true hero.
I met Mr. Dunlop at the Royal Australian College Of Surgeons. He was a true gentleman. (I corrected the location thanks to Bob's informative replies below)
Collins St.
@@BobLouden-r9q It was for an SBS doco in the late 80s so memory may have blurred. I thought it was on the parliament side of Spring Street. Maybe it was in the R. A. College of Surgeons? Chance of memory failure I'll admit. At the time I didn't know his history but I do remember how nice he was.
@marklane58 My family first met him when he operated on my brother with a depressed fracture of the skull,in the late 60s then became good friends till death. His office was either in or at the end of Collins St. Mum and dad would regularly stay with them at their Christmas hills property. Mum would go and stay with lady Dunlop at Toorak to keep her company when Edward was away. I didn't take up the invitation to go there. Silly me.
@@BobLouden-r9q Forgive the young you. It's difficult to appreciate such people at that age. Even for me, in my ignorance at 32. We are fortunate to have had a slight glimpse and to acknowledge him in time. I made a mistake about the consulting room, it was the College of Surgeons, probably because he happened to be there when we were scheduled to meet. I'm going to correct my initial comment.
@@marklane58 I purely didn't want to see how the wealthy lived. I had the chance to go with dad to the Toorak mansion to uncover wall safes in each bedroom that had been plastered over. Dad said he would move a wardrobe to test where a safe was and there would be very expensive oil paintings given to Edward as gifts, stuffed behind the wardrobes. PS dad said his wine cellar was worth more than our family home lol.
Weary was virtually a "local" to me. He born in Wangaratta (80 odd K from here) and going to school in Stewarton and Benalla (both within a half an hour drive from here) before studying medicine in Melbourne. He has a statue in the rose garden in Benalla as well as a plaque on the wall of the shop where he did his apprenticeship as a pharmacist in Nunn Street in Benalla. He was a legend. "Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop's early life was marked by hard work, a strong work ethic, and a pride in his Scottish heritage:
Birth: Born on July 12, 1907 in Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia
Childhood: Raised on a farm, where he was often required to perform hard physical labor
Education: Attended Stewarton Public School and Benalla High School
Pharmacy apprenticeship: Began a pharmacy apprenticeship in 1924 at Benalla
University: Moved to Melbourne in 1927 and attended the Victorian College of Pharmacy
Medical school: Won a scholarship to Ormond College, Melbourne University to study medicine
Graduation: Graduated with first class honors in 1934
Nickname: Received his nickname “Weary” during medical school, a reference to his last name-"tired" like a Dunlop tyre
Sports: A talented athlete who played rugby union for Australia against New Zealand in 1932 and was an amateur boxing champion"
My dearest neighbour was on the Burma Railroad with Weary Dunlop.. Jack, my neighbour suffered awfully and credited Weary Dunlop with his survival. Weary Dunlop was revered. by him and all the other Aussies under his care. I think most Australians are aware of Weary Dunlop. Thank you for showing this video.
Thank you for honouring Weary - he was an amazing man - Lest we Forget
The Australian War Memorial in Canberra has a museum and the last time I was there they had a display dedicated to 'Weary' Dunlop. What struck me was all the medical instruments were hand made by the prisoners and the scissors were made from fencing wire and they looked like a medical instrument supplier had made them.
I live in Benalla, Victoria and feel very proud of our hero, Weary Dunlop. His statue in the Rose Gardens is a great tribute to this wonderful man.
If you haven’t already done so, please research Nurse Vivian Bullwinkle, if her story doesn’t bring tears to your eyes, you have a heart of stone.
A bloody legend and I can say from experience, an absolute gentleman and the quintessential Officer in his manner.
Definitely proud to have met Weary and had his input into my military career.
Edit to Add:
When Service Personnel are captured, they are still uniformed members and subject to military law. The chain of command remains intact and according to the International Rules of War, their most senior Officer or SCNO (Senior Non Commissioned Officer) will be the CO or Commanding Officer for that group. Hence why Weary was the "Boss Cocky" as we say here in Oz.
In 1993 when Weary died, every single one of us in RAAMC (Royal Australian Army Medical CORPS) wanted to be either in the guard of honour, or the burial detail. He was that respected.
We were all taught about "Weary" in school. What a true Aussie HERO!!!
I am 62 yrs old and people of my age in Australia would know of this wonderful man. I was a nurse and I read of the amazing achievements and lives he saved with so little in the worst situations imaginable. He is a hero in the truest sense it is sad that so many of our younger Australians do not know of him. As for that art that is an example of the art done by the soldiers while imprisoned and hidden from their captors. The Australian war Memorial in Canberra has a lot of this kind of examples as well as the story of Weary on display. Sir Weary Dunlop continued to support returned veterans until his death, he was a wonderful man
He is an absolute hero. The word is tossed around too lightly and applied to sporting people. Weary was truly heroic. I have read his war diaries and his autobiography and was honoured to visit Benalla and see his statue. A true Aussie hero.🇦🇺
The man is a legend. Post WW2 as a surgeon in Melbourne he continued to look after veterans.
ABSOLUTELY KNOW about him!!!
Thank you for reacting to this. 🙏☮️
The Japanese forces made it to New Guinea. (Check out Kokoda Trail). They also dropped more bombs on Darwin than Pearl Harbour. Perhaps you could find out about that if you haven't already.
the Japs finally arrive in darwin this week, 87 years, but this time, the are on our side.
Weary Dunlop is on our 100 'dollar' NOTE. Appearing below the ANZAC Crown with his donkey, carrying a wounded. Yes he is on the money, along with the Australian Light Horse.
That is Simpson and his donkey , from World War 1, not Weary Dunlop
Weary Dunlop is not on any Australian banknote. They did coin a 50 cent piece with him on it in 1995. Simpson (John Simpson Kirkpatrick) was the man with the donkey. He was First World War hero. He was machine gunned and killed at Gallipoli.
@@ginagrant315and he was English not Australian.
@@BobLouden-r9qLike many Australians, Simpson was born overseas but left his ship to stay in Australia in 1910. He signed up and fought with the ANZAC. He was an Australian by choice. Even today there are many Australians born on foreign soil.
@@christinesavage4837 As of June 2023, 30.7% of Australia's population was born overseas. But they are still Aussies no matter where they were born they chose this country as their own!
My uncle was a POW in Changi - he survived - he was 6’4 tall and when he was repatriated to Australia he weighed only 86 pounds - 44 kilograms. His health was destroyed and he died prematurely at the age of only 40.
He must have been our greatest hero and he has a statue in the gardens just off St. Kilda Rd Melbourne . Ryan I think you should check out how far south the Japanese got in the second world war, you will be surprised.
There is a statue in Benalla as well, he was born around there I think
He also has a statue in the rose gardens in Benalla
@@kevkoala that great to hear their should be lots of statues of him all over the country
Weary Dunlop is a WW2 hero. Albert Jacka VC, MC and bar in WW1 is probably our greatest hero but no one remembers his story. Lest we forget. 😢
The younger generations don't know of Weary Dunlop. But mine does. I'm 69. And my father was a non combatant on a mine sweeper in WWII
my dad was on the mine sweepers too - he didn’t see service until a couple of months before the war ended and after the war, but spent more than a year mopping up the sea mines through the Coral Sea and Torres Strait
My grandfather and fatherinlaw were both under Weary Dunlop grandfather joined at 40 fatherinlaw 16 my fatherinlaw said Weary was a kind and compassionate man but had a will of iron underneath he never talked about his 3 years as a prisoner of war but to say that Wearys determination got a lot of men through Weary Dunlop is our national hero we decendence of these soldiers bless this man and are forever grateful to him
yes, we all know about Weary a true hero and a beautiful soul. Much respect and always remembered
He was a brilliant human being ❤
Neighbour who ‘worked’ on the Burma Railway, said prisoners knew which plants were edible, & would strip plants as the walked past to get some nutrition. RESILIENCE !!
Yes we will always remember him. What a great and wonderful man❤ what worrying years they were.
I am 54 we learnt about Weary Dunlop .A great Australian .A true Hero ❤Lest we forget
I remember him from the stories of my dad. A fellow POW who came across him in Changi. Dad could never say enough wonderful things about this man who was a true inspiration
Ashamed to say although I knew of weary, I never knew about all the details you spoke of Ryan. Kids today need to be taught more about these legends..sadly when I went to school in the 80s we learnt more about American and British history then hero’s of Australia. About time Australia made a movie about Weary ❤
Thank you very much for the history lesson. Like most Aussies I have always heard of Weary Dunlop but I actually didn’t know about what he did, so thank you again. He truly was a hero and someone to be proud of.
Ryan he was amazing
What an incredible man!
Kudos to you Ryan. Australians revere Weary Dunlop. So pleased you watched, understood and respected this video. Well done mate. Share your new knowledge of a truly great man.
Learnt about weary as a child from my grandmother, she had a lot of articles she had collected since the 1950's. In school we learnt more about him, usually around Anzac day and remembrance day.
A wonderful man one of a kind . True hero
Thank you for your interest in my country, and the people who do/have lived here 💙🇦🇺
As a retired Army Doc (member of Royal Australian Army Medical Corps), we know the story of Weary very well.
then tell it; talk about the detail of the treatments that he and others created.
@peterwundersitz3715 it's ALL documented, if you can be bothered to read it
I don’t know if kids today get taught about him but we certainly did when I was younger. I’m 60 years old now and every so often I reread his diaries, it’s amazing what we humans will do to each other during war . He was a great man .
Keep learning mate. Some amazing individuals have existed 😊
There's only 2 men who deserve the respect and who I am happy to call 'Sir' , they are My Dad and Weary Dunlop.
You really are building up a good knowledge of Australia Ryan to the point where it just rolls off your tongue on a lot of occasions . Thank you. This man is a legend in Australian military history.
Like "Rats of Tobruk"
I knew of him but not about him. Thank you for showing me an Australian hero.
An Australian legend
It seems to me the world forgets the Japaneses held POW's being used as slaves. My father was in Changi prison in Singapore - was put to work on the Burma railroad and then taken to Japan to work in the mines
My two brothers in law their father was in Changi and my uncle was on the Kokoda Track in New Guinea , so the Japanese reached closer to Australia than Java.
Course we knew all that, this man was considered a saint, Ryan. My late sister in Laws father was a POW of the Japanese and his eye became infected, it had to be removed with crude instruments, no anaesthetic, no pain killers. He survived, came home mailed and had two children. These men worshiped Weary, his name is as well known in Australia as our late Queen in UK and your President in USA. There is a lot to Australia you don’t know, but with in time you’ll learn more. BTW, I am a naturalised Aussie, Australian friends tell me America saved this country as we were in Europe fighting Hitler leaving us weakened. Thank you USA , blessings.
Married
I've read Dunlop's War Diaries and I recommend it to anybody who wants to get an insight into the man and into just what POW life was really like under the Japanese. An added bonus to the book is the sketches done by a Sergeant Jack Chalker, an English soldier who was Dunlop's orderly in the prison camps. Dunlop kept meticulous records and as an example of the brutal conditions they suffered under, he recorded how he had treated an Englishman for beriberi, dysentery, malaria and cholera. Finally, the poor bugger was trampled to death by an elephant!
When the Japanese demanded that the sick patients in Dunlop's 'hospital' should turn out to work on the railway, Dunlop would have them all carried out to a log seat near the camp entrance. Then Dunlop, who stood 6'4' tall, would pick each one up, and carrying them like babies, walk to the camp commander and ask, "This one, Nippon?"
As these poor wretches were nothing but skin and bone and the officers were deadly fearful of losing face in front of their men, these human wrecks would be rejected from the working party!
Dunlop was, however, not the only Australian doctor doing miraculous work in the POW camps along the Burma - Siam rail line There was certainly others whose deeds went unsung.
Yes, knew he was an Aussie hero. Great reaction Ryan, thank you. He reflected the best in us.
Weary Dunlop is an inspirational Australian that we absolutely know about. There’s so much more to this story and what Weary endured to stand up to his captors and negotiate for medical supplies, food for his men. He was a tower of humility and grace in the face of tyranny.
Older Australians certainly remember him. A truly wonderful man of great courage and determination. Factoid: His image is depicted on the 1995 50-cent coin.
My grandfather was a prisoner of war on the Burma Railway and knew Weary personally. My grandfather would never talk about what happened while he was a POW , but he did tell us many times what an absolute hero Weary was to them.
Yes, he was a legend of the war, with so many owing their lives to him. Another that you check out is Vivian Bullwinkle, a captured nurse that suffered at the hands of the Japanese. We were taught about these people at school, me personally in the 60's and 70's. I could not tell you if that is the case, these days.
I grew up on the south west coast of Victoria, we still have the cannons on the hill that were set up for the 'Japanese invasion'
My grandfather spent many nights in the turret on top of the Yallourn picture theatre. This was to protect the Yallourn Power Station from the Japanese. He worked on at the power station during the day and would then sit in the turret at night