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This is an edited version of the original story featured in Army News, written by Corporal Darryl Gallagher and published on January 24, 1985.

When Corporal Joe Gregg, of the 2nd Training Group (2 Trg Gp) at Ingleburn, was tasked with dismantling a wall of an old building, he started a puzzle that would take months to solve.

During the task, Corporal Gregg found an old wallet in the wall cavity – dusty and decaying, with several yellowing photographs and other assorted personal items, but no identification.

The task of tracking down the owner fell in the lap of Lieutenant Linda Burns, the Unit Public Relations Officer of the Education Centre at 2 Trg Gp.

With virtually nothing to go on, Lieutenant Burns discovered a stamp on the back of a photograph, “Bingara Chemist”, and a name, “Colin Brown”.

Bingara, a small town in NSW near the Queensland border, has only one chemist and the name Brown rang a few bells among locals.

After calls to the Bingara sub-branch of the RSL, public school, post office and police, Lieutenant Brown established that a Colin Brown from the town had been in the Army at Ingleburn in the early 1950s.

However, a check with the Central Army Records Office in Melbourne established that 17 Colin Browns were enlisted in the Army in 1951.

A last, desperate call to Bingara – this time to the Shire Council office – tracked down a relative and, after several more calls, the elusive Colin Brown was discovered living in Swansea, near Newcastle.

The wallet was recently returned to Mr Brown at his home, and it was ironic that he could not remember losing it.

But the memories came flooding back as he wandered back into the past while looking at photographs of old friends, some penny stamps bearing a likeness of Princess Elizabeth – the future Queen – and tickets to a Regimental dance.

“Set me back three bob, these did,” Mr Brown said.

Mr Brown joined the Army in 1951 when, as a 16-year-old, he overstated his age and volunteered for National Service.

Soon after he joined the Regular Army and was posted to the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, which was preparing to leave for service in Korea.

The Army found out he was underage and he was swiftly discharged. 

Undeterred, he waited until he was “legal” and two months later was back in the ranks.

Mr Brown served in Korea with both the 1st and 3rd Battalions, and later in Japan with Headquarters in British Commonwealth Brigade, before returning to Australia to finish his service with the Military Police.

Military service is something of a tradition in the Brown family, and Colin's four brothers also served overseas on active service.

Heading the list is Robert, a warrant officer at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in Canberra, who racked up 26 years.

Two brothers, Starii and David, were both chief petty officers in the Navy and totalled 28 years between them, and Reg made the family a tri-service affair, retiring from the Air Force as a flight sergeant after 22 years.

Colin finished his seven years as a corporal, bringing the family’s total service to 83 years. 

When Mr Brown received the surprise phone call from the Army he thought he had been drafted again, but was relieved to hear that some of' his previous mischief "hadn't caught up with him".

And the wallet?

“I certainly won't lose it again,” he laughed as he stuffed it into his back pocket.

For personal stories that capture Army personnel through history, explore Trove.