John Milton Hand

John Milton Hand

Personal Information
Date of Birth	19 Jan 1923
Place of Birth	Armadale, Western Australia
Death	16 Sep 1973, aged 50
Place of Death	Armadale, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	19 years, 6 months
Description	5'8" (1.73m) tall ; ; blue eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	Butcher
Religion	Congregational
Address	Bunbury road, Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother , Mrs Emily Hand
Military Information
Reg Number	W8795 & WX29865
Date of Enlistment	2 Dec 1940
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	16th Australian Infantry Battalion (Cameron Highlanders Regiment)
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	21 Nov 1944 ‒ 26 Nov 1944
Transport Details	USAT Evangaline Darwin to jacquinot Bay
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	11 JUl 1945 ‒ 11 Jul 1945
Transport Details	plane Jacquinot Bay to Lae
Journey Dates	16 Jul 1945 ‒ 16 Jul 1945
Transport Details	plane Finschaffen to Australia
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Medals	1939-45 Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

War Service

Original enlistment on 2 Dec 1940 was in the CMF on a part time basis, allocated to the 16th Australian Infantry Battalion (Cameron Highlanders Regiment). On 25 Jun 1941 John entered Melville Camp to begin basic training and on 17 Jul 1941 he was transferred to No 3 Company, having been appointed Lance Corporal two days earlier. The camp finished on 14 Oct 1941 and he returned to civilian life until called up for full time duty on 11 December. John was granted Leave without pay (LWOP) from 20 Jan 1942 to 2 Feb 1942, and again from 24 - 30 Jun 1942.

On 13 Jul 1942 John changed his enlistment to the 2nd AIF and was given the new regimental number of WX29865, probably reverting to Private at that point. On 23 Feb 1943, along with the rest of his unit, he entrained for South Australia, en-route to the Northern Territory, arriving there on 19 Mar 1943. Along the way he went AWOL from 11:10pm on 19 February to 6:00am on the 23rd. Reprimanded he also forfeited 4 day's pay. On 21 Jul 1943 John was admitted to the 107th Australian General Hospital with Otitis External, and on 24 Jul 1943 he was transferred to the 121st Australian General Hospital, remaining with them until 22 Aug 1943 when he returned to his unit. In his absence he had been reappointed Lance Corporal on 1 July. On 8 Nov 1943 John was admitted to the 12th Australian Field Ambulance's Main Dressing Station with diarrhoea, returning to his unit on 13 Nov 1943. On 6 Jan 1944 John was again in need of medical assistance, this time receiving overnight treatment from the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance for an abscess on his neck. On 1 Jul 1943 John was granted proficiency pay, and again reverted to Private on 11 Aug 1944.

On 21 Nov 1944 , along with his unit he embarked on USAT Evangaline in Darwin for Jacquinot Bay on New Britain where they disembarked on 26 Nov 1944. He was classified as Group 3 Gunlayer on 18 May 1945. On 11 Jul 1945 he was emplaned at Jacquinot Bay for Lae in New Guinea and on the 16th he deplaned at Finschaffen. On 5 Jul 1945 he was transferred to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot to be sent on 28 days LWOP. He arrived back in Australia by plane on 16 Jul 1945 and on 25 July began his LWOP. John was discharged on 30 Aug 1945.

Post War

During 1952 John married Phyllis Ivy Ewen in Perth.

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 Bunbury road, Armadale, labourer; 1954 - 1972 at 76 South West highway, Armadale, labourer