Stephen Bunbaijan was a child when World War Two started. Bunbaijan's father brought him to Milingimbi, Northern Territory where he did small jobs for the Marines. A Sergeant Pat at the military base was going to send Bunbaijan to Tasmania to live but the Reverend Ellemore would not let that happen. Bunbaijan was later asked if he wanted to join the Army but Sergeant Pat would not let him because of his age and height, instead Sergeant Pat organised correspondence schooling for Bunbaijan.
