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Allan Duffield
Allan Duffield, auctioneer was born at 71 Normanby St, East Geelong on 25 August 1921 to parents Herbert Clarence Duffield and Elfreda Adeline nee Williams, and first attended Miss Seymour’s Swanston St School then Tate St School before commencing at Geelong High School. In 1936 he commenced at Geelong College as a day student. At College, he won the Norman Morrison Cup at the College Sports in 1936. This was an aggregate prize for several handicap events for students under 16 years of age. He rowed as stroke in the 3rd Rowing VIII of 1938 but was more noted as a member of the 1st Football Teams of 1937 and 1938. His brother, Norman Clarence Duffield (1923-1996) also attended the College.
After leaving School he worked at Strachan & Co woolstores and continued playing football with the Geelong Amateurs and later with the Geelong League reserves. In the 1930’s Alan had raced pigeons and this experience was to become significant during World War II after his enlistment on 8 February, 1943. He was transferred to the newly formed HQ 1st Carrier Pigeon Section from where he moved steadily north, first to Indooroopilly in Queensland, and then to Goodenough Island and Lae in New Guinea, eventually participating in the landings at Admiralty and Manus Islands. Later, he served near Rabaul. The 1st Australian Pigeon Section provided a little known but crucial communications role especially in New Guinea when communication in the humid jungle became unreliable and at sea when alternatives didn’t exist. The actions of several pigeons earned Dickins Gallantry Medals during World War II.
Sources: Alan Duffield, Reminiscences (Unpublished); Australian War Memorial; James Affleck, Geelong Collegians’ at World War II. OGC 1936