Eric William Wheatley
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 13 Sep 1914 |
| Place of Birth | Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Death | 18 Nov 1974 |
| Place of Death | Bayswater, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 26 years, 9 months |
| Occupation | Blacksmith |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | West Perth, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Mother , Mrs Claribel Teuma Wheatley |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | W24089 & WX14665 |
| Date of Enlistment | 25 Jun 1941 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit/Formation | 2/32nd Australian Infantry Battalion |
| Post War Details | |
Pre War
Living at 7 Francis street, Mt Lawley at time of enlistment in the 2nd AIF
War Service
Entered the Claremont Recruit Reception camp on 25 Jun 1941 before transferring to the 3rd Recruit Training Depot at Northam on 1 Jul 1941. On 14 July he was charged with having been AWOL from midnight 13 Jul 1941 until 11:15am on 14 Jul 1941. He was fined 5/- and lost a days pay (5/- or 50 cents). On 20 Aug 1941 he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Corps Physical & Recreation Training School at Ascot. On 11 Sep 1941 he was admitted to the Ascot Camp Hospital with pharingitis before being discharged to duty on 15 Sep 1941. On 21 Sep 1941 he had returned to the 3rd Training Battalion at Northam. He was transferred on 10 Oct 1941 to the General Reinforcements Pool with the 4th Training Battalion and allocated tothe 2/32nd Battalion draft. EAric was granted pre-embarkation leave from 14 - 23 Oct 1941 before embarking on 7 Nov in Fremantle for the Middle East. He had boarded either the Queen Mary or the Queen Elizabeth which sailed together to Suez via Trincomalee in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). On 22 Nov 1941 they arrived at Suez and the troops disembarked from Queen Mart and then Queen AElizabeth.
On 26 Nov 1941 Eric was admitted to the 2/1st Australian General Hospital with a fractured Manible, returning to duty on 3 Dec 1941, seemingly withthe 2nd Echelon. His Army records do not mention his embarking for Australia, but indicate that he was AWOL in Fremantle from HMT Egra from midnight 17 Mar 1942 until 12:15pm on 23 Mar 1942.
Discharged 8 Aug 1943 Medically Unfit.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries: 1958 - 1968 at 46 Salisbury street, Bayswater, blacksmith. Married to Mary.
Notes
Son of Thomas William Wheatley