Missing man declared dead

A WORLD War II veteran who disappeared near Knocklofty Reserve in 1982, with his body never found, has finally been declared deceased by a coroner.

Byron Balfour Woolley, known as Bert, served in the 2/12 Battalion Australian Imperial Force during World War II, taking part in Oboe Two – the allied amphibious assault at Balikpapan, Borneo in July 1945.

In his findings published on Tuesday, Coroner Simon Cooper said Mr Woolley returned to Tasmania, never married or had children, was described as a loner, and apparently suffered depression. After the war, he worked for the Hydro Electric Commission, ran a newsagency in Queenstown and worked as a tin prospector in the North-East.

Mr Cooper said the 71-yearold West Hobart resident enjoyed bushwalking, especially in the Knocklofty Reserve area, which was not far from his home. He disappeared from the Arthur St home he shared with his cousin in the afternoon of October 11, 1982.

“Contemporary records indicated his backpack, some bread and cheese, walking boots, an army coat, army trousers and a green Stetson hat were all noted to be missing from his home,” Mr Cooper said.

“He did not take his bank book, which suggests to me he was not planning to go very far away or for very long.”

The coroner said searches for Mr Woolley “proved fruitless” with “no trace of him” ever found since the date of his disappearance.

“I am satisfied he is dead,” Mr Cooper said.

“It is … reasonable to conclude he went walking, probably nearby. How and why he died are not questions that can, on the evidence, be answered.”

According to the Australian Navy, Oboe Two was the last large-scale operation of World War II and remains Australia’s largest-ever amphibious assault.

Australian forces successfully led the allied liberation of Borneo from Japanese occupation in an attack launched from the sea.