David Gibson

David Gibson

Personal Information
Date of Birth	17 Apr 1920
Place of Birth	Newcastle, England
Age at Enlistment	20 years, 8 months
Description	6'3" (1.91m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; green eyes ; fair hair ; scar on left shin.
Occupation	Farm hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	No. 1 Mail Truck, Oldbury, Western Australia
Next of Kin	father , Mr. David Gibson
Military Information
Reg Number	WX10445
Date of Enlistment	20 Dec 1943
Rank	Corporal
Unit/Formation	2/9th Australian Transport Platoon
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument(s)	Byford WW2 Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)
Medals	1939-45 Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

War Service

David enlisted in the General Reinforcements at the Showgrounds Claremont Recruit Reception Depot on 20 Dec 1940. On 3 Jan 1941 he was posted to the No. 2 Trainig Battalion at Northam, and on 12 Mar 1941 he was transferred to 13th Australian Infantry Training Battalion as a member of the 8th reinforcement for the 2/28 Battalion. On 17 Apr 1941 he transferred to the 7th reinforcement draft, but on 23 Apr 1941 he had been returned to No 2 Training Battalion, and then on 28 Apr 1941 he moved again to the AASC Training Centre at Claremont. From 29 Apr 1941 until 25 May 1941 he enjoyed his pre-embarkation leave having joined the 7th Austalian Division Support Column on 29 Apr 1941. On 5 Jul 1941 he embarked on a ship that was part of Convoy US 11A - more than likely HMAT Aquitania. The convoy sailed for the Middle East via Colombo on 9 Jul 1941. He disembarked at Port Tewfik on 25 Jul 1941. On 13 Sep 1941 he was posted to the 7th Australian Division Supply Column.

From 3 - 5 Dec 1941 David was a patient of the 14th Australian Specialist Hospital, and on 13 Jan 1942 he was posted to 6th Australian Company AASC. There on 21 Jan 1942 he was paid as a Trage Group III Driver/Mechanic. On 5 Feb 1942 he embarked aboard SS Anna Odland in Suez for Adelaide via Colombo where he disembarked on 28 Mar 1942. This ship was one of those that Churchill sought to divert the returning Australian troops to Burma. When John Curtin refused to accede to Churchill's strong arm tactics the ships refueled in Colombo and saied for Australia.

On 10 Aug 1942 David embarked on SS Van der Lijn in Brisbane for New Guinea where he disembarked on 17 Aug 1942. On 11 Oct 1942 David was admitted to the 11th Australian Field Ambulance with suspected Malaria. He returned to his unit on 22 October. On 12 Nov 1942 David was graded a Group II Mechanic Motor Transport. On 11 Dec 1942 David was evacuated to the 2/1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, and on 24 Dec 1942 he embarked on HMT Taroona at Milne bay for Townsville where he disembarked on 27 Dec 1942. On arrival he was admitted to the 116th Australian General Hospital to be treated for Malaria. He was released on 28 Dec 1942 to the 114th Australian Convalescent Depot. On 5 Jan 1943 he was well enough to be placed in the New Guinea General Details Depot

.

On 30 Jul 1943 David embarked in Townsville aboard HMT Katoomba for Port Moresby where he disembarked on 4 Aug 1943. David was admitted to the 11th Australian Field Ambulance from 11 - 22 Oct 1943 with Malaria and on 12 Nov 1943 he was employed as a Trade Group II Mechanic. ON 30 Nov 1943 David was evacuated to teh 2/4th Australian Field Ambulance for treatm,ent for petrol burns to his eye. On 15 Dec 1943 he was transferred to 2/8th Australian General Hospital, and on 27 Dec 1943 he was discharged to the 1st Australian Corps Reception Camp who transferred him on 30 Dec 1943 to the 2/153rd Australian General Transport Company. He embarked in Port Moresby aboard SS Orizata om 12 Feb 1944, and disembarked in Brisbane on 16 Feb 1944.

David was transferred to the 2/9th Australian Transport Platoon on 8 Jul 1944 and during September completed an Electrical Conversion Course. During December 1944 David, a member of the 2/9th Australian Transport Platoon, completed a three week GMC Workshop Course. He also took pary in a Waterproofing course and a Workshops course in December 1944. On 27 May 1945 David embarked on LST 911 in Cairns

On 7 Jul 1945 David embarked on LST 224 in Morotai for Balikpapan on Dutch Borneo. On 24 Aug 1945 he was promoted Corporal with the 2/9th Australian Transport Platoon before being transferred to 121st Australian Transport Platoon. On 23 Oct 1945 David embarked on LST 419 at balikpapan for Morotai where he disembarked on 27 Oct 1945, and on 18 Dec 1945 he was tansferred to 2/27th Australian Transport Platoon. On 23 Jan 1946 David was transferred to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot deplaning the same day in Australia, and arriving in Perth on 5 Feb 1946. He was discharged on 25 Mar 1946

ME 5 Jul 1941 - 29 Mar 1942 New Guinea 10 Aug 1942 to 27 Dec 1942 New Guinea 30 Jul 1943 to 16 Feb 1944 Dutch Borneo 27 May 1945 to 23 Jan 1946

Post War

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