Mervyn Roy Drummond

Mervyn Roy Drummond

Personal Information
Date of Birth	20 Dec 1920
Place of Birth	Moora, Western Australia
Death	12 Apr 2001, aged 80
Place of Death	Busselton, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	20 years, 3 months
Description	5'10" (1.78m) tall ; 140lbs 63.503 kg ; blue eyes ; fair hair ; appendix scar
Occupation	Farm hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	Bedfordale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr. James Rawlingson Drummond
Military Information
Reg Number	W805 & WX17522
Date of Enlistment	29 Jul 1940
Rank	Lance Corporal
Post War Details

War Service

Mervyn was a Militia member of the 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment ww2, having enlisted originally at Victoria Park on 29 Jul 1940, but he was re-attested at Bunbury on 2 Apr 1941. Between 28 Jan and 27 Apr 1941 he attended a camp at Bunbury, at the conclusion of which he was appointed Lance Corporal - 31 Jul 1941. Mervyn was called up for full time service on 5 Oct 1941 at the conclusion of a second training camp . On 3 Nov 1941 he transferred to the 2nd AIF with a new number WX17522. He was initially transferred to Northam to undertake basic recruit training and on 15 Jan 1942 he was allocated to the 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion reinforcements. He was granted pre-embarkation leave from 26 Jan - 1 Feb 1942, having been appointed as a Lance Corporal on 24 Jan 1942. On 3 Feb 1942, with the imminent fall of Singapore he was sent to an NCO training course, rejoining his reinforcement group on 27 February (his parent unit had been captured in Singapore) when he was promoted Acting Corporal. On 16 Mar 1942 he was transferred to the Recruit Training Battalion staff. Soon after he was sent to a special course at Foster in Victoria from 6 Apr until 28 May 1942, and although he returned to his unit he had performed well on the course and was marked for transfer.

On 10 Jul 1942 he was transferred to what became the 1st Australian Commando Training Squadron at Tidal River in Victoria. Five days later was sent to the Jungle Warfare Training School. On 30 Oct 1942 he reverted to Private at his own request and on 24 November, posted to the 2/4th Australian Independant Company in the Northern Territory. On 9 Dec 1942 he embarked in Darwin for overseas service on Timor and the following day taken on the strength of the 'Lancer' reinforcements. Mervyn was wounded in action on Timor on 12 Dec 1942 and was returned to Darwin on 9 Jan 1943.

On 6 May 1943 Mervyn joined the 1st Australian Commando Training Battalion, but a day later was evacuated to the 22nd Australian Camp Hospital. Discharged on 15 May he joined the 2/4th Australian Independent Company and on 9 Aug 1943 he boarded USS Henry T Allen (APA 15) in Cairns for Milne Bay where he disembarked on 11 Aug 1943. Promoted Acting Corporal on 16 Aug 1943, on 8 Oct by his own request, he reverted to Private. Mervyn was admitted to the 2/11th Australian Field Ambulance with Tinea on 23 November, and on the same day was sent on to the 2/3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. On the 28th they passed him on to the 2/11th Australian General Hospital, and then on 8 Dec 1943 he was transferred to the 2/1st Australian General Hospital. Three days later he moved again, to the 113th Australian Convalescent Depot with Dermatitis. On 1 Jan 1944 he was released to the New Guinea General Details Depot, before returning to the 2/4th Australian Independent Company

On 25 Feb 1944 Mervyn embarked at Finschhafen aboard USAT Sea Snipe for Brisbane where he disembarked on 4 Mar 1944 and joined the Kalinga Staging Camp from where on 7 Jun 1944 he was evacuated to the 2/1st Casualty Clearing Station. On 21 Jun 1944 he was well enough to be discharged to the 9th Australian Division Recreation Camp. On 6 Oct 1944 he was transferred to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot to prepare for discharge, and arrived in WA on 22 Oct 1944. Mervyn was discharged (Essential Service) on 24 Oct 1944.

During 1944 he had married Marie Marguerite Gwynne in Mt Hawthorn. However they divorced on 9 Oct 1950 with a son Trevor James having been born on 23 Dec 1944.

Post War

During 1953 Mervyn remarried, this time to Dorothy Dalby. Three children, Trevor, Jay, and Peter. In September 1974 he made application for assistance from the War Service Housing Scheme. Electoral Roll entries: 1954 - 1972 at Forest Grove, farmer; 1980 at 46 Elva street, Margaret River, retired.