WA’s small population will explain the reason there are so many connections throughout the 2/4th. Not only are there brothers, but cousins, 2nd or 3rd cousins, a soldier’s sister marrying his best mate, or his best mate’s mate! In small rural communities we often find several boys enlist into 2/4th over a short period of time. We also see where older blokes appear to be a role model for younger boys to join 2/4th.
These community connections kept families close but at the same time loss of loved ones would devastate a family who would then celebrate a miracle and vice versa. Take for instance Harry Bunker who miraculously survived long enough in the waters of the South China Sea after the ‘Rakuyo Maru’ was torpedoed and was picked up by the American submarines. However his sister married one of Harry’s mates in the 2/4th who didn’t return home.