Donald George Martin

Donald George Martin

Personal Information
Date of Birth	22 Aug 1920
Place of Birth	Narrogin, Western Australia
Death	10 Jul 2008, aged 87
Place of Death	Gosnells, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	18 years, 5 months
Description	5'7½" (1.72m) tall ; 132lbs 59.874 kg ; grey eyes ; brown hair ; diagonal scar in appendix region
Occupation	Orchardist
Religion	Congregational
Address	Canning Mills road, Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr George Henry Martin
Military Information
Reg Number	W467 & WX13621
Date of Enlistment	31 Jan 1939 & 28 May 1941
Rank	Craftsman
Unit/Formation	2/117th Australian Brigade Workshop
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Medals	1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1945-75

War Service

On 31 Jan 1939 Don enlisted in the CMF and was allocated to the 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment ww2. He transferred to the 2nd AIF on 28 May 1941. On 30 May 1941 Don was sent to the No. 1 Training battalion at Northam Camp, and there on 10 Jun 1941 he was allocatd to the reinforcements for the 2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion. However, on 9 Jul 1941 he was transferred to the AASC Training Depot at Claremont and posted to the AASC Group Reinforcements.

On 9 Sep 1941 he accidentaly injured his right 1st finger while on duty. He was granted pre-embarkation leave from 4 Dec 1941 until 10 Dec 1941 and soon after his return, on 13 Jan 1941 he was detached to the Spencers Brook Supply Depot until 21 Mar 1942 when he transferred to the 1st Armoured Division Section, Armoured Corps Ordnance Workshop. On 1 Apr 1942 Don entrained in Perth for Sydney to join his unit which on 2 Dec 1942 changed its name to 1st Armoured Division Troops Workshop AEME.

On 19 Jan 1943 Don was transferred back to Western Australia with his unit, arriving in Perth on 30 Jan 1943. On 11 Mar 1943 Don was detached to the 2/96th Australian LAD. From 29 Jun 1943 until 3 Jul 1943 Don required treatment from the 103rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station for Diarrhoea.

On 25 Jan 1944 Donald was charged with being AWOL from 1:15pm on 24 Jan 1944 until 5:45am on the 25th. Awarded 5 days Confined to Barracks, and the automatic forfeiture of a day's pay. Some time later, on 13 Mar 1944 Don was evacuated to the 2/14th Australian Light Field Ambulance. On 10 Aug 1944 Don was evacuated to the 110th Australian Base Hospital with a fractured fibula. On 19 September he was released to the 109th Australian Convalescent Depot, before returning to his unit on 30 Oct 1944.

On 22 Jan 1945 Don was transferred to the Brisbane Base Watercraft Workshop, however, on 27 Feb 1945 he was posted to a holding unit awaiting re-allocation. On 17 Apr 1945 he was transferred to the 4th Australian Armoured Brigade Workshop and on 26 May 1945 he embarked in Brisbane aboard the USAT Maui for Morotai, disembarking on 5 Jun 1945. On 27 Jun 1945 he embarked on USS LST 456 for Balikpapan. On 29 Nov 1945 he was transferred to the 2/117th Brigade Workshop until 17 Dec 1945 when he was transferred to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot, emplaning that day, and arriving in Perth direct from Balikpapan on 19 Dec 1942. On 24 Dec 1945 he was discharged.

TG3 Driver / mechanic

Post War

During 1946 Don married Elvie Anne Douglas in Perth.

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1958 Bedfordale Hill road, Bedfordale, armament worker; 1963 - 1968 at 25 Milson street, South Perth, manager; 1972 Elvie at 118 South West Highway, Armadale; 1977 Mills road, Gosnells