Many thanks to Nine News Brisbane for including Bill McDonald's story in its Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day coverage.

Bill was 17 when he signed up as a stoker with the Royal Australian Navy. He was assigned to the river class frigate HMAS Diamantina in 1945 (it had been built in Maryborough in 1944).

Bill was onboard when VP Day was announced, and was also present when Japanese surrenders were taken on Diamantina's quarter deck at Nauru and Ocean Island.

Thanks to the support of RSL Queensland, QMM was able to have Bill driven to the site in a spacious Covid-safe vehicle so he could walk his old ship's deck once more.

www.maritimemuseum.com.au

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