Frederick Arnold Griffiths
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 7 Jan 1917 |
| Place of Birth | Armadale, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 24 years, 3 months |
| Occupation | Gas engine driver |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Ora Banda, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr James Kenneally Griffiths |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | WX13310 |
| Date of Enlistment | 21 May 1941 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit/Formation | 2nd/2nd Independent Company |
| Date of Embarkation | 8 Dec 41 ‒ 12 Dec 41 |
| Ship Embarked On | SS Zealandia Darwin to Koepang |
| Date of Embarkation | 16 Jun 1943 ‒ 20 Jun 1943 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMT Duntroon Townsville to Port Moresby |
| Date of Return | 15 Jan 1943 ‒ 18 Jan 1943 |
| Ship Returned On | HNLMS Tjerk Hides East Timor to Darwin |
| Date of Return | 3 Sep 1944 ‒ 8 Sep 1944 |
| Ship Returned On | HMT Taroona Lae to Townsville |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australia Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
War Service
Enlisted at Claremont and was two days later sent to the 3rd Training Battalion at Northam camp. There, on 6 Jun 1941 he was allocated to the reinforcements for the 2/28th Battalion. On 29 Jun 1941 this changed when he was transferred to the 7th Infantry Training Centre and sent to 3rd Military District (Victoria). On arrival he was allocated to the 2/2nd Independent Company and on 16 Sep 1941 they moved to South Australia and entrained for Darwin where they arrived on 26 Oct 1941.
On 8 Dec 1941 the unit embarked for Timor aboard the SS Zealandia in company with the SS Westralia, arriving there on 12 Dec 1941, disembarking at Koepang. Following the Japanese invasion of Timor the unit was cut off, and trapped on the island, and thus on 22 Feb 1942 Fred was listed as "Missing". On 12 Jun 1942 this was changed to "With unit & well". Eventually, after months of guerilla fighting aided by the local Timorese, the unit was evacuated on 15 Jan 1943 aboard the Dutch destroyer HNLMS Tjerk Hides arriving in Darwin on 18 Jan 1943. Soon after the unit was moved to north Queensland where on 4 Jun 1943 Fred was appointed Lance Corporal.
On 16 Jun 1943 the unit boarded the HMT Duntroon in Townsville for Port Moresby where they disembarked on 20 Jun 1943. On 1 Jul 1943 Fred was advised that he now qualified for Proficiency Pay. On 3 Sep 1944 he embarked on the HMT Taroona at Lae for Townsville, arriving there on 8 Sep 1944.
On 9 Apr 1945 Fred embarked on the HMT Taroona for Jacquimot Bay on the island of New Britain. There from 5 Jul until 9 Jul 1945 he participated in a flame thrower course run by the 2/28th Battalion. On 18 Sep 1945 Fred was promoted Acting Corporal and on 26 Dec 1945 his time with the 2/2 Commandos came to an end with a transfer to the 22nd battalion. On 11 Jan 1946 at Rabaul Fred embarked on the SS Vito, disembarking in Brisbane on 16 Jan 1946. On 29 Jan 1946 he was back in Perth preparing for discharge on 5 mar 1946.
Post War
Notes
For a more complete story see "A History of the 2nd Independent Company and 2/2 Commando Squadron" compiled by C.D. Doig, 2nd Edition Hesperian Press 2009.