John Henry (Jack) O'Meagher

John Henry (Jack) O'Meagher

Personal Information
Date of Birth	12 May 1917
Place of Birth	Carlisle, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	23 years old
Description	5'10½" (1.79m) tall ; ; dark complexion ; blue eyes ; dark hair ; 2nd finger on left hand missing
Occupation	Sawyer
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Sir James avenue, Harvey, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr John H O'Meagher
Military Information
Reg Number	WX2775
Date of Enlistment	15 May 1940
Rank	Corporal
Unit/Formation	2/2nd Forestry Company RAE
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	31 May 1940 ‒ 18 Jul 1940
Transport Details	SS Stratheden Fremantle to Liverpool
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	21 Sep 1943 ‒ 4 Nov 1943
Transport Details	SS Henry Ainsworth UK to Brisbane
2nd Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	1 Mar 1944 ‒ 13 Jun 1944
Transport Details	SS Alfred E True Sydney to Lae Papua New Guinea
Transfers
Journey Dates	11 Oct 1944 ‒ 15 Oct 1944
Transport Details	SS Aconcagua Lae, PNG to Torokina, Bougainville
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	26 Jul 1945 ‒ 1 Aug 1945
Transport Details	unknown Torokina, Bougainville to Sydney
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Medals	1939-45 Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

War Service

Enlisted at Northam and allocated to the 2/2nd Forestry Company. From 21 - 28 May 1940 he was granted pre-embarkation leave, and on 31 May 1940 he embarked on SS Stratheden for Liverpool in the UK where they disembarked on 18 Jul 1940. While enroute he had been classified as an Axeman.

In the UK on 14 Feb 1941 he was reclassified as a Sawyer Trade Group I. On 5 Jul 1941 he was admitted to the Shotley Bridge Emergency Hospital with Dhobi Itch, and he rejoined his unit on 30 Jul 1941. He was admitted to the Tottenham Emergency Hospital on 17 Oct 1941 with tonsilitis before being released back to his unit three days later. However, he was readmitted the following day i.e. 21 Oct 1941 and on 1 Nov 1941 he was transferred to the Homick Hall avenue Hospital. Health restored he rejoined his unit on 12 Nov 1941, and on 4 Feb 1942 he was again reclassified, this time as Sawer Trade Group II. John was appointed Lance Corporal on 8 May 1942, before being admitted to the Dumphries Infirmary with a head injury on 19 May 1942. He appears to have been hospitalised until 20 Jun 1942 when he was again taken on strength by his unit. On 17 Jul 1943 John married Lillian Joyce in the UK. At the time Lillian was a serving member of the British forces.

John boarded the SS Henry Ainsworth on 21 Sep 1943 for Australia, and disembarked in Brisbane on 4 Nov 1943. On 13 Nov 1943 John arrived in Perth by train from Queensland via Victoria for some leave. On 11 Dec 1943 he returned to NSW by train to attend the Engineer's Training Centre. On 1 Jan 1944 his trade grouping was changed to Millwright Special Group I, but on 14 Jan 1944 it was again changed, this time back to Sawyer Trade Group II, after which he was detached to the 10th Australian Workshop & Parks. He was also promoted Acting Corporal on the same day. His promotion was confirmed on 1 Mar 1944 before he embarked in Sydney on the Liberty Ship SS Alfred E True on 13 Jun 1944, disembarking in Lae, Papua New Guinea on 30 Jun 1944.

On 11 Oct 1944 he embarked on the SS Aconcagua in Lae, Papua New Guinea, and disembarked on 15 Oct 1944 at Torokina on Bougainville having arrived there late the previous day. He was to remain on Bougainville until 26 Jul 1945 when he embarked on an unknown ship for Newcastle in NSW, disembarking there on 1 Aug 1945. On discharge John gave his home address as Karragullen before being discharged on 8 Sep 1945.