Don Bradman wearing his Lieutenant's uniform, 1940

Don Bradman never felt entirely comfortable with his war record, as he spent much of the conflict battling a muscle disorder which prevented him serving in any prominent theatre of war. This was made all the more poignant with several of his Test and First-Class colleagues serving in Africa, New Guinea or Europe.

Don Bradman enlisted to join the Royal Australian Air Force on 28 June 1940, but delays in processing new recruits saw him transfer to the Army in October.

He was appointed Lieutenant at the Army School of Physical & Recreational Training at Frankston, Victoria. Here he was subjected to an intensive program of rigorous physical exercise and competition which inflamed a painful muscle condition, that he had previously occasionally suffered from, called ‘Fibrositis’. He suffered muscular spasms in his back and his eyesight was affected. By June 1941 he was not able to continue and was invalided out of the Army.

He sought respite on his father-in-laws farm just outside Mittagong in NSW before returning to Adelaide and his stock-broking business in 1942. Don Badman would not to play any form of cricket again for five years.