No. 11 Works Supply Unit RAAF

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Brief History

11 Works Supply Unit was formed at Gawler, South Australia, on 16 Jan 1943. The Unit was established to provide salvage work and sawmills for refabricated building construction, to drill bores for water supply and administer general distribution of stores and fuel. On 16 Mar 1943 the Unit was moved to Pine Creek south of Darwm in the Northern Terntory under the control of North-Western Area. They provided a permanent water supply for the base and established two sawmills, one at Pine Creek and the other at Edith River to provide material for prefabricated buildings.

On 12 July 1943 the Salvage Section movesd to Darwin to undertake salvage work on RAAF Base Darwin. They also ran a farm producing tomatoes, beans, cabbage, lettuce, pumpkins, eggs and goats milk. A piggery was also established. On 1 Dec 1943 the unit moved from Pine Creek to Nine Mile Creek, while the Edith River mill continued to operate. On 18 Apr 944 a Spitfire crashed Olear Edith RJVer. An ambulance and the Commanding Officer attended the site where the body of the pilot was located. He was assumed to be from 54 Squadron. Guards were pooled at the scene until the body was recovered and an investigation held. Also m Apnl 19-14 a member of the Unit was Menhoned tn De< patch~. Serg('ant C. V Reade's citation was promulgated on th<! Commanding Officer's parade. The sergeant was respons1ble for the loadmg and unloading of slups, rail and road transpon dunng the Unit's move to the Nonhcm Territory. The speed and efficiency with which the work was carried out contributed greatly to the su~ of the vital works program. After the Umt commenced functionmg, Sergeant Reade was appointed M>nior non-commissioned officer in charge of the Equipment Section controlling the movements or all works materials in and out of the area. ·n,c lack of adequate equipment m.1dc the work arduous and unpleasant, but Sergeant Reade's example inspir~-d the men to efforts far above nonnal expectations. Up to .5()(X} tons per week were manhandled out of the dump alone and Sergeant Reade displayed outstanding loyalty, detennination and devotion to duty. On 4 September 1944 the Unit was disbanded. All records were despatched to 61 Airfield Construction Wing Headquarters. Equipment was transferred to 14 Airfield Construction Squadron.

Unit Personnel

• Albert Ernest Jolly 13 Mar 1943 - 1 Sep 1944