Marvin Redvers Cuthbert Barge

Marvin Redvers Cuthbert Barge

Personal Information
Date of Birth	25 Feb 1921
Place of Birth	Byford, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	20 years
Description	5'10" (1.78m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair ; scars on both legs
Occupation	Farm hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	Byford, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Ebenezer Barge
Military Information
Reg Number	W7981 & WX32776
Date of Enlistment	3 Aug 1942
Rank	Lance Corporal
Unit/Formation	37/52nd Australian Infantry Battalion (Henty Regiment)
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	19 Feb 1945 ‒ 24 Feb 1945
Transport Details	HMT Katoomba Brisbane to Jacquinot Bay, New Britain
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	28 Jan 1946 ‒ 4 Feb 1946
Transport Details	SS Georgetown Victory Rabaul, New Britain to Brisbane
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument(s)	Byford WW2 Honour Roll
Medals	1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

War Service

Enlisted part time in the CMF on 6 Mar 1941 and was allocated to the 11th Australian Infantry Battalion (City of Perth Regiment). On 16 Apr 1941 he was sent to the Melville Camp to begin his training which he completed on 14 Jul 1941. On 9 Oct 1941 he was transferred to the 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment ww2, later known as the 10th Reconnaissance Battalion. Marvin was transferred to Essential Services on 16 Jan 1942 to assist with the erection of Oil Tanks. On 20 Jul 1942 he was called up for full time service, allocated on 24 Jul 1942 to the 20th Defence & Employment Platoon before volunteering for the 2nd AIF on 3 Aug 1942. From 22 Nov 1942 until 20 Dec 1942 he was granted Seasonal Leave.

On 10 May 1943 Marvin was AWOL from 8:00am until 8:45am, for which he was fined 5/- and was awarded 7 days Confined to Barracks (CB). On 1 Jul 1943 he was deemed to be proficient and received Proficiency Pay. He was detached to the HQ 3rd Australian Corps from 18 Nov 1943 until 10 Dec 1943 before returning to his unit which was now known as 3rd Australian Corps Defence and Employment Platoon, and on 14 Jul 1944 he entrained for New South Wales where he was held on the strength of the 1st Australian Base Depot Personnel from 17 until 24 Aug 1944 when he was posted to the 21st Australian Infantry Training Battalion. On 3 Nov 1944 Marvin was posted to the Australian Reinforcement Training Battalion (Jungle Warfare) to prepare for service overseas.

On 11 Dec 1944 his training completed, he was transferred to the 37/52nd Australian Infantry Battalion (Henty Regiment) . With the battalion he embarked aboard HMT Katoomba in Brisbane on 19 Feb 1945, and disembarked at Jacquinot Bay on the south coast of New Britain on 24 Feb 1945. On 1 Sep 1945 he was appointed Lance Corporal, and three days later on the 4th he was detached to the 2/4th Australian Field Ambulance. On 28 Jan 1946 he was posted to the holding strength of Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot. He embarked the same day aboard the SS Georgetown Victory in Rabaul for Brisbane where he disembarked on 4 Feb 1946. On his arrival back in Western Australia he was posted to the Marrinup Prisoner of War Camp (Camp No 16) from 14 Mar until 23 Jul 1946. Marvin was discharged by the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot on 26 Jul 1946.

Post War

Marvin married Norma Grace Bradley during 1947.

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 Byford, farmhand; 1949 Tallanalla, Harvey, factory hand; 1954 - 1963 Alexandra Bridge, farmer; 1967 at 42 Raglan parade, Warrnambool, railway worker; 1972 - 1980 at 136 Princess highway, Werribee, kitchenhand; 1977 - 1980 working as a gardener.