Mervyn Eric Doherty

Mervyn Eric Doherty

Mervyn and Ella Marriage - photo Ancestry.com
Personal Information
Date of Birth	9 Jan 1912
Place of Birth	Jull road, Armadale, Western Australia
Death	13 Dec 1955, aged 43
Place of Death	Claremont Mental Hospital, Claremont, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	30 years, 1 month
Description	5'5" (1.65m) tall ; ; dark complexion ; blue eyes ; dark brown hair
Occupation	Baker
Religion	Methodist
Address	70 Banksia terrace, South Perth, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Ella Doherty
Military Information
Reg Number	WX19909
Date of Enlistment	27 Feb 1942
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	12th Australian Field Bakery
Post War Details
Medals	Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

On 8 Jul 1939 Mervyn married Ella May Smith (1916 - 2010) in Waroona. Mervyn and Ella had two children, Maxine Joy born 1940 and Kim Mervyn born 8 Sep 1946. Electoral Roll entries: 1936 at Waroona Hotel, Waroona, baker; 1937 at Manjimup, bread carter; 1943 at 70 Banksia terrace, South Perth, baker.

War Service

Mervyn enlisted in Claremont on 27 Feb 1942. On 9 Mar 1942 he was allocated to General Reinforcements and sent to join the 2/28th Battalion reinforcement pool (13th Training Battalion) at Northam on 9 Mar 1942. A week later on the 16th he was transferred to the 3rd Specialist detachment in Perth. On 16 Jul 1942 he joined the 35th Australian Infantry Training Battalion, and enjoyed leave from 15 - 24 September. However, re returned to his uit late and was charged with haviong been AWOL from midnight 24 Sep until midnight 27 Sep 1942. Penalty was a fine of 40/- ($4) and stoppage of 3 days pay. On 12 Dec 1942 Mervyn was posted to the 2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion, and on 16 Feb 1943 they moved to Adelaide , arriving on 20 March, to join with the elements of the Battalion that were raised there, and then on 6 Mar 1943 moving to the Northen Territory.

On 9 Jul 1943 Mervyn was admitted to the 107th Australian General Hospital for a medical assessment, resulting in his classification changing to 'B', and hence a week later on 16 Jul 1943 he was transferred to the 12th Australian Field Bakery in the Northern Territory. Assessed as a Trade Group II Baker, he was detached to the 2nd Australian Field Bakery from 31 Oct 1943 until 14 Jan 1944. Released back to his parent unit, he entrained in Alice Springs on 15 Jan 1944 for NSW to rejoin the 12th Field Bakery. On 20 Jun 1944 he was again reviewed by a Medical Board which confirmed him to be 'A2' due to lack of vision in his right eye.

Mervyn's records covering the period July 1944 until January 1946 are missing, but we can establish from his discharge assessment that he spent time overseas from 26 May until 23 Dec 1945 in the Netherlands East Indies. This document is also stamped with 46th Australian Field Baking Platoon and it is known that they were operational in Merauke, Dutch West New Guinea in late 1944, bbefore leaving there in October and it is possible they went to Morotai and on to Borneo. Mervyn's records ahow that he arrived back in Australia on 23 Dec 1945. Sent back to W.A. to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot where he was discharged on 21 Jan 1946.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1954 at 70 Banksia terrace, South Perth, baker.