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
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	5 Jul 1941 ‒ 25 Jul 1941
Transport Details	HMAT Aquitania Fremantle to Port Tewfik
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	14 Feb 1942 ‒ 27 Mar 1942
Transport Details	SS Anna Odland Suez to Adelaide
2nd Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	10 Aug 1942 ‒ 17 Aug 1942
Transport Details	USAT Van der Lijn Brisbane to New Guinea
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	24 Dec 1942 ‒ 27 Dec 1942
Transport Details	HMT Taroona Milne Bay to Townsville
3rd Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	30 Jul 1943 ‒ 4 Aug 1943
Transport Details	HMT Katoomba Townsville to Port Moresby
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	12 Feb 1944 ‒ 16 Feb 1944
Transport Details	SS Orzita Port Moresby to Brisbane
4th Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	27 May 1945 ‒ 13 Jun 1945
Transport Details	USS LST 911 Cairns to Morotai
Transfers
Journey Dates	7 Jul 1945 ‒ 11 Jul 1945
Transport Details	USS LST 224 Morotai to Balikpapan
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	23 Oct 1945 ‒ 27 Oct 1945
Transport Details	HM LST 419 Balikapan to Morotai
Journey Dates	23 Jan 1946 ‒ 23 Jan 1946
Transport Details	plane Morotai to Australia
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 Training Battalion at Northam, and on 12 Mar 1941 he was transferred to 13th Australian Infantry Training Battalion also at Northam, as a member of the 8th reinforcement for the 2/28th Battalion. On 17 Apr 1941 he was transferred to the 7th reinforcement draft, but on 23 Apr 1941 he had been returned to No 2 Training Battalion. Then on 28 Apr 1941 he was transfered 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 Australian Infantry Division Supply 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, and David disembarked at Port Tewfik on 25 Jul 1941. On 13 Sep 1941 he joined the 7th Australian Infantry Division Supply Column in the field.

From 3rd - 5th Dec 1941 David was a patient of the 2/14th Australian Specialist Hospital, and on 13 Jan 1942 he rejoined his unit now known as 6th Australian Company AASC. There on 21 Jan 1942 he was paid as a Trade 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 with returning Australian troops that Churchill sought to divert to Burma. When John Curtin refused to accede to Churchill's strong arm tactics the ships refueled in Colombo and sailed for Australia. His records contain no reference to his time back in Australia.

On 10 Aug 1942 David embarked on USAT 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. However, Malaria struck again, and on 25 Jan 1943 he was evacuated to the 116th Australian General Hospital. A month later on 2 Feb 1943 he was transferred to the 114th Australian Convalescent Depot at Sellheim in north Queensland. On 18 Mar 1943 he had returned to his unit. He was again in need of help with Malaria on 18 Apr 1943 when he was evacuated again to the 5th Australian Camp Hospital. Two days later on the 20th he was transferred to 2/2nd Australian General Hospital who discharged him on 5 May 1943. He then spent from 6 - 8 May with the 2/7th Australian Division Rest Camp before being posted to the 2/153rd Australian General Transport Company.

On 30 Jul 1943 David embarked in Townsville aboard HMT Katoomba for Port Moresby where he disembarked on 4 Aug 1943. On 12 Nov 1943 he was employed as a Trade Group II Mechanic, but on 30 Nov 1943 David was evacuated to the 2/4th Australian Field Ambulance with 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. David was transferred on 30 Dec 1943 to the 2/153rd Australian General Transport Company. He embarked in Port Moresby aboard SS Orzita 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. During September he completed an Electrical Conversion Course, and in December 1944 David completed a three week GMC Workshop Course. He also took part in a Waterproofing course and a Workshops course in December 1944. On 27 May 1945 David embarked on USS LST 911 in Cairns for Morotai.

On 7 Jul 1945 David embarked on USS LST 224 in Morotai for Balikpapan on Dutch Borneo. On 24 Aug 1945 he was promoted Corporal before being transferred to 121st Australian Transport Platoon BCOF on 12 Oct 1945. On 23 Oct 1945 David embarked on HM LST 419 at Balikpapan for Morotai where he disembarked on 27 Oct 1945, and on 18 Dec 1945 he was transferred 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