Kenneth Roy Curtis

Kenneth Roy Curtis

Personal Information
Date of Birth	26 Jun 1924
Place of Birth	Armadale, Western Australia
Death	27 Oct 2010, aged 86
Place of Death	Subiaco, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	17 years, 10 months
Description	5'8¼" (1.73mm) tall ; ; fresh complexion ; green eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	labourer
Religion	Methodist
Address	34 Victoria avenue, Claremont, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Horace Gordon Stanley Curtis
Military Information
Reg Number	F3998
Date of Enlistment	24 Sep 1941
Rank	Able Seaman
Ships Served On
Ship Name	HMAS Manoora
Tour Dates	12 Mar 1943 ‒ 14 Nov 1945
Ship Name	HMAS Parkes
Tour Dates	9 Sep 1951 ‒ 20 Apr 1952
Ship Name	HMAS Voyager
Tour Dates	10 Jul 1957 ‒ 2 Jul 1960
Ship Name	HMAS Paluma
Tour Dates	21 Nov 1961 ‒ 8 Mar 1962
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

Ken's records show him entering HMAS Cerberus on 16 Apr 1942, and transferring to HMAS Lonsdale in Port Melbourne on 5 Feb 1943, having qualified as an Ordinary Seaman on 26 Jun 1942.

Ken served on HMAS Manoora from 12 Mar 1943 until 14 Nov 1945. During that time he qualified as an Able Seaman (18 Mar 1944), and received his first Good Conduct Badge on 26 Jun 1945. While he was a member of its crew, the HMAS Manoora was a passenger liner converted into a troop ship, used to transport men to New Guinea and then later carry men to beach landings in both New Guinea and the pacific islands such as Morotai, Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines, Tarakan, and Brunei. Ken was then transferred to HMAS Leeuwin on 15 Nov 1945 to prepare for demobilisation which occurred on 14 Feb 1946.

On 23 Jun 1949 Ken re-enlisted in the RAN, giving his daughter Beverley Margaret Curtis of East Victoria Park as his Next of Kin. He was again sent to HMAS Cerberus until 3 Oct 1949 after which he was posted to HMAS Melville' in Darwin. After a two year posting to Darwin he was drafted on 9 Sep 1951 to the HMAS Parkes the last of 60 minesweepers constructed for during WW2 in Australia, based in Fremantle, remaining in her crew until 20 Apr 1952.

On 24 Apr 1952 he was discharged from the navy, seemingly at his own request, and the next day was placed on the Royal Australian Fleet Reserve list for 5 years. On 20 Oct 1952 his records note that he had completed 7 days RAFR Training, the only training that he did before again re-entering naval service.

On rejoining the navy, Ken was sent to HMAS Cerberus for refresher training before being posted to HMAS Voyager (II) on 10 Jul 1957. Aboard HMAS Voyager on 21 Jan 1958, Ken was awarded his second Good Conduct Badge, and on 29 May 1958 he passed his ERT course. His records show him remaining part of its crew until 6 Dec 1959 when he qualified for Long Service Leave, returning to HMAS Voyager on 20 Jan 1960. On 4 Jul 1960 he was transferred to HMAS Cerberus, remaining there until 4 Oct 1960 when he was posted to HMAS Harman in Canberra until 13 Dec 1960.

Following leave, Ken was posted to HMAS Leeuwin on 4 Jan 1961, remaining there until 21 Nov 1962 when he was posted to HMAS Paluma, a small survey ship based in New Guinea waters. A third Good Conduct Badge was awarded while he was at HMAS Paluma on 21 Jan 1962, prior to his taking leave prior to discharge from 9 - 21 Mar 1963.

Post War

During 1947, Kenneth had married Margaret Scari.

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1963 Smailes Mill, Karragullen, mill hand;

Notes

Other family members who served were: Brother Harry Alfred Curtis 2/32nd Battalion; Brother Clarence Albert Curtis RAAF; Brother Stanley Gordon Curtis 2/1st Independent Company (KIA Rabaul 1942); and sister Mona Curtis RAAF. His uncle Albert Cecil Clarence Curtis 10th Garrison Battalion, and Albert's daughter Joyce Curtis AWAS also served.