Difference between revisions of "John Henry (Jack) O'Meagher"
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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. | 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. | ||
==Post War== | ==Post War== | ||
| − | + | ||
| + | The three O'Meagher brothers - Jack, Tom and Bill - resumed their lives in Karragullen, centred around the family orchard. They had a case mill, making fruit transport cases for growers in the area. According to the oral history of Dawn O'Meagher (Jack's sister-in-law), each of the brothers was gifted a block of land by their father to build a house on. In the meantime Jack and Joyce had shifted over to Illawarra Road. | ||
| + | |||
===Notes=== | ===Notes=== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Revision as of 14:40, 11 February 2020
 | |
| 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 C 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 |
Pre War
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 C 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.
Post War
The three O'Meagher brothers - Jack, Tom and Bill - resumed their lives in Karragullen, centred around the family orchard. They had a case mill, making fruit transport cases for growers in the area. According to the oral history of Dawn O'Meagher (Jack's sister-in-law), each of the brothers was gifted a block of land by their father to build a house on. In the meantime Jack and Joyce had shifted over to Illawarra Road.
Notes