John Blair

John Blair

Personal Information
Date of Birth	23 Apr 1922
Place of Birth	Pines Farm, Byford, Western Australia
Death	13 Jul 1984, aged 61
Place of Death	Mandurah, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	18 years, 7 months
Description	5'8½" (1.74m) tall ; ; dark complexion ; green eyes ; black hair
Occupation	woodcutter
Religion	Presbyterian
Address	Byford, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Peter Allison Blair
Military Information
Reg Number	W4424 & WX26335
Date of Enlistment	12 Nov 1941
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	'D' Australian Heavy Battery (Coast)
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	22 Nov 1943 ‒ 27 Nov 1943
Transport Details	HMT Duntroon Townsville to Buna, New Guinea
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	1 Jul 1944 ‒ 5 Jul 1944
Transport Details	HMT Boschfontein Port Moresby to Brisbane
2nd Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	2 Nov 1945 ‒ 13 Nov 1945
Transport Details	HMT Duntroon Sydney to Singapore
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	2 Nov 1945 ‒ 13 Nov 1945
Transport Details	SS Cheshire Singapore to Fremantle
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia Assisted with POW repatriation from Singapore
Monument(s)	ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) Byford WW2 Honour Roll
Medals	1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

War Service

John was mobilised into the CMF at Claremont on 12 Nov 1941. He served with the Fortress Engineers, Fremantle Fixed Defences as a Sapper in the sub unit Fortress Company based on Rottnest, with Army Number W4424. On 2 Jan 1942 John was admitted to the 39th Australian Camp Hospital on Rottnest, rejoining his unit on 7 January. However he was again admitted to the Camp Hospital on 14 Jan 1942, rejoining his unit on 21 Jan 1942. John was charged having been AWOL from 10:00am on 28 Jan 1942 until 10:00am on 29 Jan 1942. Found guilty he was fined 15/- ($1.50) and in addition he forfeited a day's pay. From 29 May until 5 Jun 1942 John was again admitted to the 39th Australian Camp Hospital, after which he was again AWOL, this time from 10:00am on 29 Jun 1942 until 10:00am 2 Jul 1942 for which he was fined 40/- ($4.00) and he forfeited three day's pay.

John then enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 5 Aug 1942, with Army Number WX26335. On 23 Sep 1942 John was again admitted to 39th Australian Camp Hospital this time requiring an operation for a Hernia. He was released from hospital to a convalescent house in Cottesloe on 15 Oct 1942. While there he was charged on 31 October with having been AWOL on 18 Oct 1942 for which he was fined 5/- (50 cents), and 25 Oct 1942 for which he was awarded 5 days Confined to Barracks along with the forfeiture of a day's pay. John rejoined his unit on Rottnest on 13 Nov 1942.

On 5 Jan 1943 John entrained for Queensland, arriving there on 16 Jan 1943 where he was posted to the 4th Australian Fortress Company RAE on 16 Jan 1943, and transferred on 23 Jan 1943 to the 5th Australian Fortress Company RAE. On 8 Mar 1943 he was charged with, at Wynum: (1) Became unfit for duty by reason of prevous indulgence in alcoholic stimulants; (2) Did use obscene language in a public place. Period under close arrest two days - he was awarded 14 days Field Punishment and forfeiture of 16 days pay and allowances. On 1 Mar 1943 he was committed to 2/1st Australan Detention Barracks, rejoining his unit on 13 Mar 1943. On 28 Mar 1943 John was admitted to 56th Australian Camp Hospital, returning to his unit on 2 Apr 1943.

John was transferred on 1 May 1943 to

New Guinea 2 Nov 1943 - 5 Jul 1944

John and his unit the 2/14th Australian General Hospital embarked in Sydney aboard HMT Duntroon on 27 Aug 1945 for Singapore where they disembarked on 13 Sep 1945. On 2 Nov 1945 John was posted to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot and he embarked in Singapore aboard SS Cheshire for Fremantle where he disembarked on 13 Nov 1945. From 16 Nov 1945 until 4 Dec 1945 he was detached to the Intermediate Medical Wing, Western Command. On 4 Dec 1945 John returned to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot's Discharge Section to be procvessed for his discharge on 6 Dec 1945.

Post War

During 1946 John married Roma Mary Leyshon.

Electoral Roll entries: 1954 at Prospect road, Armadale, truck driver; 1958 - 1968 at 205 Anzac road, Mt hawthorn, bus driver; 1972 - 1980 at 26 Elizabeth street, Mandurah, bus driver.