Neville Teede

Neville Hamlin was born at Bunbury and attended Bunbury High School.

Having served with the 29th Garrison Battalion, Citizen Military Forces, Teede enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1942. He trained as a navigator in Australia and England, and in August 1944 joined No. 462 Squadron. He was reported missing when his Halifax bomber was hit by enemy fire at 15,000 feet(5,000m) near Dortmund, Germany, on 8 March 1945. He had parachuted to the ground, suffering only a sprained ankle, and was captured by German villagers. He and his comrades were marched between camps, some escaping along the way, and rescued later in the month by American forces. On 14 April he was promoted to temporary warrant officer. Returning to Australia in July, he was discharged on 20 December.

Under the Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme, Teede studied English at UWA (BA Hons, 1950). As President of the University Dramatic Society he participated in many productions. He later studied at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, England, playing in its 1954 European Tour. In 1956 he returned to Australia, performing major roles at the Playhouse Theatre, and tutoring and lecturing at the University, successfully combining academic duties with appearances as a professional actor.

Photograph from NAA A9301 436224
ADB