Smoky Dawson

Today we remember Smoky Dawson. He recalls the day he left his wife, Dot, to go to war. A day he never forgot.

Smoky Dawson audio file (MP4 23.90 MB)

Smoky Dawson audio script

75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War

Audio actuality

“Fellow Citizens, the War is over” — (The Hon J B Chifley, Prime Minister of Australia)

On the 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War, Australia remembers Smoky Dawson, who enlisted to serve and later went on to become an iconic singer, entertainer and radio star.

But the day he left his wife, Dot, to go to war, is something he never forgot.

Smoky Dawson

It was a very frosty morning. And as I walked down to the little ol’ railway station down there. And we both said to each other, we promised that we wouldn’t look back when we said goodbye. And I remember this last kiss — and I turned my back on her and walked down the hill. And I heard the train … and I never looked back at Dot — I couldn’t bear to look back. As the train started moving out, I happened to look up and I saw, at the top of a hill, where I left my wife with her apron, waving … and these three pine trees. And I bawled like a kid. And the two women on the other side broke down and cried with me. And I’ll never forget it — I felt so stupid dressed up as this soldier, with all this gear on me and fighting equipment … and here I was I was bawling like a kid. And I really didn’t think I would see her again — And I was terrified; I was terrified.

Saturday, August 15 marks the 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War. Let’s pay our respects to that amazing generation of Australians.