No. 2 Embarkation Depot RAAF

Brief History

Six Embarkation Depots, later to be known as Personnel Depots, were established by the RAAF during World War 2. The principal function of these Depots was to house personnel awaiting embarkation for overseas posts and to ensure that, before departure, they were medically and dentally fit, vaccinated, inoculated and properly equipped. RAF. Royal New Zealand Air Force and Netherlands East Indies Air Force personnel, wives of personnel and Empire Air Training Scheme personnel were also processed through these units.

In addition personnel disembarking from the Far East passed through the Depots. After being medically examined, X-rayed, equipped and checked and having records taken, personnel were interviewed by Air Board staff and sent on disembarkation leave. Personnel who were staying at the Depots for a period of time were often detailed to work on the wharves, or to RAAF bases to assist with aerodrome defence works. Ongoing courses were run at the Depots. and covered subjects such as weapons training. unarmed defence, ship and aircraft recognition and aerodrome defence.

The No. 2 Embarkation Depot was formed at Bradfield Park, Lindfield, New South Wales, on 1 Aug 1940. The name of the unit changed to No. 2 Personnel Depot RAAF in May 1944. Tropical service and hardening courses were run at the Depot, and prisoners of war began arriving from Singapore in October 1945. The RAAF Discharge Squadron of No.2 Personnel Depot eventually moved to the Royal Agriculture Showgrounds, Moore Park, as a section of the Combined Services Dispersal Centre, to effect final discharge action. The unit ceased to function at the end of October 1946.

Un it Personnel

• John Arthur Wainwright 29 Dec 1942 - 26 Feb 1943 - No. 4 Medical Receiving Station

Personnel Proceeding Overseas

• † John Gordon Nicholson 2 Jun - 16 Jun 1941
• † Raymond Edward Norton Butcher 10 - 13 Nov 1941
• Billy Kendall Collins 10 - 13 Nov 1941
• Roy Joseph Smith 10 - 16 Nov 1941
• † Leslie John (Jock) Powell DFC 16 - 30 Mar 1942
• † William James (Jim) Morcombe 26 Jun - 23 Aug 1942
• † Thomas Douglas (Dougie) Ellis 26 Jun - 23 Aug 1942
• Phillip Herbert Martin DFC & Bar 15 - 16 Apr 1943
• William John Martin (16379) 16 - 19 May 1943
• Colin Lindsay Ottaway DFC 5 - 11 Jun 1943
• Arthur George Berry 6 - 20 Oct 1943
• † Vernon Harold Minchin 26 Nov - ?? Dec 1943
• George Henry Millett 12 Dec 1943 - 25 Jan 1944

Sent to units within Australia

• † Ernest Ronald William Oliver 16 - 26 May 1943 - 1 Embarkation Depot RAAF
• John Harold Garnett 8 Jul - 23 Jun 1943 - No. 1 Stores Depot RAAF
• Arthur George Berry 6 - 20 Oct 1943 - No 80 Squadron RAAF (Townsville)
• James Brian McGurk 30 Jan - 17 Feb 1944 - No. 4 School of Technical Training RAAF

Notes

Source of information - Units of the Royal Australian Airforce - A Concise History - Vol 9 Ancillary Units - Australian Government Publishing Service - 1995