David Deverell
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 17 Mar 1922 |
| Place of Birth | London, England |
| Death | 22 Feb 2002, aged 79 |
| Place of Death | Kingsley, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 20 years , 5 months |
| Description |
6' 0" (1.83m) tall ; 186lbs 84.368 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair ; scars on right thigh |
| Occupation | Bread carter |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Weston street, Maddington, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr. Horace Deverell |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | W69552 & WX21923 |
| Date of Enlistment | 26 Apr 1942 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 2/24th Australian Infantry Battalion |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 4 Apr 1945 ‒ 13 Apr 1945 |
| Transport Details | USAT Fred C Ainsworth Brisbane to Morotai |
| Transfers | |
| Journey Dates | 11 May 1945 ‒ 13 May 1945 |
| Transport Details | USS LST 637 Morotai to Tarakan |
| Journey Dates | 21 Jun 1945 ‒ 25 Jun 1945 |
| Transport Details | AHS2 Wanganella Tarakan to Morotai |
| Journey Dates | 17 Aug 1945 ‒ 20 Aug 1945 |
| Transport Details | HMAS Kanimbla Morotai to Tarakan |
| Journey Dates | ‒ 8 May 1946 |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate |
Wounded in action 12 Jun 1945 Tarakan Returned to Australia |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
David sailed from London with his parents and older sister aboard the SS Beltana, departing 14 Oct 1926, and arriving at Fremantle on 28 Nov 1926. They had earlier been booked on the SS Herminius which departed on 3 Sep 1926, but had their names crossed of the list of passengers.
War Service
David enlisted in Armadale on 26 Apr 1942 and was initially allocated to the 3rd (Swan) VDC Battalion , but his records also show him as enlisted in the CMF'S 5th Australian Garrison Battalion on 26 Apr 1942. He then served with them until he enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 1 Sep 1942. As a member of the CMF he completed 187 days service. On joining the 2nd AIF he was sent to the 35th Australian Infantry Training Battalion. On 12 Dec 1942 he was transferred to the Motor Transport Training Depot at Northam, returning to the 35th Australian Infantry Training Battalion on 8 Jan 1943. In early March 1943 he was posted to the 2nd Australian Infantry Brigade's HQ element, and on 23 Jul 1943 he was transferred to Victoria.
On 11 Sep 1943 he and the rest of the 2nd Brigade HQs were transferred to the Northern Territory. While there he enjoyed a period of leave back in Western Australia before being transferred to the NSW Line of Communication in September 1944. Sent to a general re-allotment base unit, he started 1945 in Canungra undertaking a Jungle Warfare training course, and on 6 Mar 1945 he was transferred to the No 1 Australian Advanced Reinforcement Depot in Canungra.
On 4 Apr 1945 David embarked on USAT Fred C Ainsworth in Brisbane for Morotai, disembarking there on 13 Apr 1945. On 7 May 1945 he was transferred to the 2/24th Australian Infantry Battalion and with them he embarked on USS LST 637 on 11 May 1945 for Tarakan. On 12 Jun 1945 he was wounded in the right thigh with grenade fragments, and was evacuated the same day to the 110th Australian Casualty Clearing Station. On 21 Jun 1945 he was transferred from their care to the 2/2nd Australian Hospital Ship AHS2 Wanganella. Discharged from the ship in Morotai to the care of the 2/5th Australian General Hospital on 25 Jun 1945, he was subsequently transferred to the 113th Australian Convalescent Depot on 2 Jul 1945.
On 28 Jul 1945 David was released to duty from the convalescent depot, and on 17 Aug 1945 he boarded HMAS Kanimbla in Morotai for Tarakan where on 20 Aug 1945 he was able to rejoin his battalion. At Tarakan on 1 Dec 1945 he was transferred from the 2/24th Battalion to the 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion. From his records it appears that his return to Australia was on 8 May 1946, although no details of whether it was by ship or plane are included. David was discharged on 17 Jun 1946 in Western Australia.
Post War
During 1948 in the Canning district David married Fay Ashby.
Electoral Roll entries: 1949 Western street, Maddington, poultry farmer; 1954 cnr Victoria and Gladstone streets, St James Park, labourer; 1958 - 1963 at 41 Victoria street, St James Park, labourer; 1968 - 1977 at 6 Grange Place, Victoria Park, foreman; 1980 at 60 Alderley square, Wilson, supervisor.
Notes
David's only connection with the district appears to be that he enlisted in the 3rd (Swan) VDC Battalion in Armadale.
The Army Museum of Western Australia [1] has details of his Army Driving Licence and leave and equipment records from his Record of Service Book AAB 83.