John Hartley Craddon

John Hartley Craddon

Personal Information
Date of Birth	13 May 1920
Place of Birth	Subiaco, Western AUstralia
Age at Enlistment	18 years, 8 months
Description	5'11" (1.80m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; grey eyes ; dark brown hair ; scar on left index finger
Occupation	Farm hand
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Leeland Estate, Byford, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother , Mrs Dorothy Howell
Military Information
Reg Number	279300 & W489 & WX14116
Date of Enlistment	27 Jan 1939
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	2/4th Australian Light Anti Aircraft Regiment
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	7 Nov 1941 ‒ 24 Nov 1941
Transport Details	HMT Queen Elizabeth Fremantle to Suez
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	29 Jan 1943 ‒ 19 Feb 1943
Transport Details	HMT Queen of Bermuda Egypt to Fremantle
2nd Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	12 Jul 1943 ‒ 12 Jul 1943
Transport Details	plane Mareeba to Port Moresby
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	6 Jun 1944 ‒ 8 Jun 1944
Transport Details	SS Ormiston Port Moresby to Townsville
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument(s)	ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) Byford Roll of Honour
Medals	1939-45 Star Africa Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Work as a farm hand on the family property in Byford.

War Service

An early enlistment, on 27 Jan 1939 John enlisted part time with the AMF at Cannington, and was posted to the 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment ww2. John was admitted to the Luknow Hospital on 22 Feb 1940 with a fractured right Tibia after being kicked by a horse. By 14 Mar 1940 he had recovered enough to be granted Home Leave until 15 Apr 1940. On 15 Apr 1940 he was assessed as able to resume his civil occupation. Still part time, on 8 Feb 1941 he was promoted Corporal before transferring to the 2nd AIF on 11 Jun 1941 as a General Reinforcement.

On 13 Jun 1941 John joined the Field Artillery Training Depot at Narrogin, and following training was posted to 2/3rd Australian Field Regiment reinforcements. On 19 Oct 1941 he was granted pre-embarkation leave before embarking aboard HMT Queen Elizabeth (which along with HMT Queen Mary comprised Convoy US 13), on 7 Nov 1941 at Fremantle. He disembarked at Suez on 24 Nov 1941. Soon after, on 20 Dec 1941 John was admitted to 2/1st Australian General Hospital with Mumps, and on 24 Dec 1941 he was transferred to 2/4th Australian General Hospital. On 9 Jan 1942 he was well enough to be posted to the Australian Artillery Training Regiment, and following training he was on 26 Jan 1942 posted to the 2/4th Australian Light Anti Aircraft Regiment.

On 29 Jan 1943 John embarked on HMT Queen of Bermuda (L3), disembarking at Fremantle on 19 Feb 1943. Following some leave he rejoined his unit at Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands in north Queensland, from where on 12 Jul 1943 he emplaned for Port Moresby, arriving there the same day. On 30 Dec 1943 John was charged with having been AWOL from 7:00am to 4:30pm the previous day. He was fined £5 and forfeited 2 days pay. He embarked aboard SS Ormiston in Port Moresby on 6 Jun 1944, disembarking at Townsville on 8 Jun 1944.

John was in need of medical treatment soon after, and on 15 Aug 1944 he was admitted to the 110th Australian General Hospital with suspected malaria. However, on 1 Sep 1944 he was transferred to the 118th Australian General Hospital with malaria and dermatitis. He was reclassified as B2 - Unfit for service outside Australia in hot, humid climates. On 13 Sep 1944 he was discharged to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot for reallocation to another unit, and on 13 Sep 1944 he joined the staff of 4th Australian Army Catering Service Officers Club. He then married Jean on 26 Oct 1944. On 30 Oct 1945 he was transferred to Headquarters Western Command, remaining with them until 6 Jan 1947 when he transferred to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot to prepare for his discharge which took place on 13 Jan 1947.