Harold Philip Orton

Harold Philip Orton

Personal Information
Date of Birth	22 Apr 1914
Place of Birth	Armadale, Western Australia
Death	2 Sep 1969, aged 55
Place of Death	Bolgart, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	28 years, 2 months
Description	5'4½" (1.64m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; Hazel eyes ; fair hair ; scar on right cheek
Occupation	Farm hand
Religion	Methodist
Address	76 Parker street, Bassendean, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother , Mrs Amy Selina Orton
Military Information
Reg Number	W38761 & WX27563
Date of Enlistment	25 Jun 1942
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Australian Infantry Battalion (The Swan Regiment)
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	24 Dec 1944 ‒ 30 Dec 1944
Transport Details	SS Swartenhondt Darwin to Jacquinot Bay, New Britain
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	20 Dec 1945 ‒ 29 Dec 1945
Transport Details	SS Trienza Rabaul, New Britain to Melbourne
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Medals	1939-45 Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Father was Ebenezer R Orton.

War Service

Harold enlisted in the CMF part time at Goomalling on 24 Aug 1941 and was called up for full time duty on 21 Feb 1942 when he was posted to the 28th Australian Infantry Battalion (The Swan Regiment) at Melville camp. He enlisted in the 2nd AIF in the field at Moora on 25 Jun 1942, and on 1 Sep 1942 he was evacuated to the 8th Casualty Clearing Station's Main Dressing Station before returning to his battalion on 8 Sep 1942. However, on 16 Sep 1942 he was again in their care before being transferred on 17 Sep 1942 to the 2/1st Australian General Hospital. Harold was discharged from hospital on 23 Oct 1942 and rejoined his battalion on 30 Sep 1942.

On 27 Feb 1943 Harold entrained for Adelaide, arriving there on 7 Mar 1943. On 25 Mar 1943 after some training he entrained for the Northern Territory, arriving there on 28 Mar 1943. On 1 Jul 1943 Harold was granted profficience pay, and he remained with the battalion in the Northern Territory until they embarked aboard SS Swartenhondt in Darwin on 24 Dec 1944 for Jacquinot Bay on the south coast of New Britain. With the war over, on 19 Dec 1945 Harold was transferred to the 2/14th Field Regiment for a day before embarking in Rabaul on 20 Dec 1945 aboard SS Trienza for Melbourne where he disembarked on 29 Dec 1945. Sent back to Western Austalia he was discharged on 21 Feb 1946 by the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot.

Post War

Harold worked for the Western Australian Government Railways on several occasion : from 24 Feb until 7 Oct 1960 at Dalwallinu as a repairer, and from 31 Mar 1964 until his death as a repairer at Bolgart.

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 c/- A. Schell, Goomalling, farm hand; 1958 Goomalling, farm hand; 1963 Dalwallinu, railway employee