17th Australian Advanced Ordnance Depot

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Brief History

The 17th Australian Advanced Ordnance Depot was raised at Grovely in Queensland in July 1944 as one of a number of units that would be required to support the proposed landings on Borneo in 1945. Sub units were Depot HQ, Motor Transport Spares Section, General Stores & Clothing Section, Technical Stores Section, Provision Section, Clerical Increment and three Stores Increments. In October they moved to Wallangarra while they were structured in a way that allowed sub units to be formed for different landings. In November most of the unit moved to Strathpine.

In March 1945 three detachments were in the staging area on Morotai, and they formed the 172nd Forward Ordnance Depot. By may the main body had also arrived on Morotai, leaving a small detachment behind at Strathpine in Queensland. In May 1945 the 174th Forward Ordnance Depot was formed to support the 26th Infantry Brigade Group at Tarakan. Following the landing of the 9th Infantry Division at Labuan in June, the 173rd Forward Ordnance Depot was formed to support them, and following the landing of the 7th Infantry Division at Balikpapan in July, the 175th Forward Ordnance Depot was raised to support them. Following the Japanese surrender, the 176th Forward Ordnance Depot was formed to support Macassar Force which was charged with supervising the surrender in the Celebes.

Unit Personnel

• William Leslie Roberts
• Walter Thomas Tremlett 24 Aug 1942 - 23 Jul 1946
• William James (Jim) Harrison 24 Aug - 3 Dec 1944

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 5 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 5.338 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018