Maxwell John Watson

Maxwell John Watson

Personal Information
Date of Birth	26 Jan 1920
Place of Birth	Broken Hill, New South Wales
Death	27 October 1981, aged 61
Place of Death	Boulder, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	20 years, 6 months
Description	; blue green eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	Labourer
Religion	Church of England
Address	Sixth road, Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr. John William Watson
Military Information
Reg Number	W29853 & WX21202
Date of Enlistment	30 Jul 1940
Rank	Gunner
Unit/Formation	7th Australian Infantry Training Battalion
Post War Details
Fate	Remained in Australia
Medals	War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

War Service

Enlisted in the CMF on 30 Jul 1940, and was sent to the Melville Training Depot No 1 where he was employed as a Corporal Cook Trade group II before being discharged on 6 Sep 1940 as surplus when the establishment at Melville was reduced in size with most training moving to Northam.

On 16 Mar 1942 Maxwell enlisted in the 2nd AIF at Claremont and was transferred to General Reinforcements. A week later he was transferred to the 1st Australian Armoured Division Salvage Unit, and on 1 Apr 1942 he entrained for Melbourne where the unit arrived on 7 Apr 1942 and was sent to Puckapunyal. on 6 Jul 1942 Max was charged with being AWOL from 8:15pm 3 Jul 1942 to 1:00pm on 6 Jul 1942. For this he was fined £2 ($4) and the forfeiture of three days pay. On 11 Jul 1942 the unit moved to NSW to undertake training in the Narrabri area during August withthe rest of the armoured units.

On 26 Jul 1942 at Greta, Max was charged with being AWOL from 6:00pm to 8:00pm on 20 Jul 1942. In addition he was charged with drunkenness on that date, and with Conduct to the Prejudice of Good Order and Military Discipline the same day. He was fined £3 ($6) and awarded 7 days Confined to Barracks (CB). The unit returned to Victoria between July and November 1942. However, on 5 Nov 1942 Max was transferred to artillery's 16th Australian Field Regiment, and was returned to Western Australia on 21 Nov 1942.

On 21 Feb 1943 Max was charged with driving a motor cycle without a license on 20 Feb 1943. The resulting fine was £10 ($20). Max transgressed again, on 4 Apr 1943 he was charged with Conduct to the Prejudice of Good Order and Military Discipline on 1 April, and was awarded 5 days CB. Again in trouble, on 20 Jun 1943 Max was charged with Conduct to the Prejudice of Good order and Military Discipline for which he was awarded an extra Guard Duty and 3 days CB. From 29 May until 1 Jun 1943 Max received treatment from the 3rd Australian Light Field Ambulance. Released back to his unit, on 3 Jul 1943 he was charged with having Neglected to Obey Battery Standing Orders on 2 Jul 1943. He received another 7 days CB.

From 29 Aug - 19 Sep 1943 Max attended a course for signallers, and was immediately (22 Sep 1943) transferred to artillery's 10th Australian Field Regiment. He was AWOL from 8:00am on 23 Oct 1943 until 8:00am 3 Nov 1943. An automatic forfeit of 11 days followed, along with a fine of £5 ($10). On 6 Nov 1943 he was sent to NSW to join the 25th Australian Infantry Training Battalion joining them on 20 Nov 1943. However, on 6 Jan 1944 Max was sent back to WA's Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot for discharge on 6 Mar 1944.

Post War

During 1953 Max married Mabel Jean Graham in Perth. Mabel died on 26 Feb 1976 at 4 George Cowcill street, Kambalda aged 61.

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 at Centenary Hotel, Collie, miner; 1958 at Spencers Brook, manager RRR; 1963 at 74 Macdonald street, Kalgoorlie, labourer; 1968 at 6a Austral road, Kalgoorlie, miner; 1972 - 1977 at 4 George Cowcill street, Kambalda, trades assistant; 1980 at 153 Moran street, Boulder, retired.