New Guinea Force General Details Depot

[[File:]]

Brief History

8th Military District General Details & Training Depot was formed at Port Moresby during January 1942 to handle and to forward men in units that were excess to the unit's War Establishment as well as handling reinforcements from Australia, and returnees from hospital or courses. Comprising four wings: infantry, artillery, HQs and evacuation in March it was renamed 8th Military District Base Depot & Training Centre. It was further re-organised in May 1942 as New Guinea Force Reinforcement Depot when training was spun off into a NG Force Training Centre. In September at the height of the Kokoda Campaign the unit moved to Sogeri and in October it was renamed New Guinea Force General Reinforcements. moving back to Murray Barracks in Port Moresby in December.

In September 1943 they were relieved of their reinforcement role, with the unit now named New Guinea Force General Details Depot and they moved to Donadabu in October before sending 3 & 4 Sections to Milne Bay in November as that area had a direct shipping connection with Australia. 7 & 8 Sections moved to Dobodura to service units in the Buna area. In April 1944 4 Section moved from Milne Bay to Lae, and in May, 3 Section returned to Pot Moresby. In June the unit followed the HQ New Guinea Force to Lae, leaving one section at Port Moresby to manage a transit depot. In August a section moved to Madang and in October another to Torokina on Bougainville. Sections also operated transit depots at various times in Nadzab, Finschhafen, Salamaua, Aitape, Wewak and Moem.

Passing Through

• Walter Vivian Ernest Peters 19 Oct - 28 Oct 1943 & 2 - 15 May 1944
• Mervyn Roy Drummond 1 - ?? Jan 1944
• Edward Ernest Wilson 18 - 22 Jan 1944

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 6 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, pages 6.427 & 6.428 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018