Edward Trayton Elvish

Edward Trayton Elvish

Personal Information
Date of Birth	31 Dec 1916
Place of Birth	Kelmscott, Western Australia
Death	15 May 1986, aged 69
Place of Death	Willetton, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	23 years, 7 months
Description	5'6" (1.68 m) tall ; 140lbs 63.503 kg ; medium complexion ; brown eyes ; dark brown hair ; several small scars on face
Occupation	Truck driver
Religion	Church of England
Address	Donneybrook, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Nancy Bridget (Gervasi) Elvish
Military Information
Reg Number	17226
Date of Enlistment	6 Jul 1940
Rank	Corporal
Unit/Formation	No. 4 Aircraft Depot RAAF
Post War Details
Fate	Remained in Australia
Medals	Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

As his father was a Station master in the WA Government Railways he moved around the countryside during his schooling - i.e. Wonnerup and Collie State Schools and the Narrogin School of Agriculture between 1923 and 1932. At the time of his enlistment he was working for the Shell Oil Company as a Truck Driver in Geraldton.

Electoral Roll entries: 1943 at Barker street, Katanning, labourer

War Service

On enlistment Ted was mustered as a Trainee Mechanic and underwent a Recruit Drill Course at No. 1 Recruit Depot RAAF at Laverton in Victoria. Course completed, on 24 Sep 1940, he was posted to No. 1 School of Technical Training RAAF to undertake a Group II Fitter Course. On 17 Nov 1940 he moved on to the No. 1 Engineering School RAAF at Ascot Vale for further technical training. While there, on 26 Dec 1940 Ted was awarded 7 days Confined to Barracks for being AWOL for 7 hours and 15 minutes. Training as a Flight Mechanic completed he was posted to No. 4 Service Flying Training School RAAF at Geraldton in Western Australia on 2 Mar 1941, having re-mustered as a Flight Mechanic on 8 Feb 1941. While there, on 1 Jul 1941 Ted was promoted Leading Aircraftman and he undertook a Fitter II E. course. Ted was charged with being AWOL from 12 - 13 Oct 1941 and again awarded 7 days Confined to Barracks.

On 5 Jan 1942 Ted was posted to the No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School RAAF at Port Pirie in South Australia, but 10 days later on 15 Jan 1942 he was sent back to the No. 1 Engineering School RAAF and on 2 May 1942 he re-mustered as a Fitter, reverting to the rank of Aircraftman. Ted was posted again on 9 May 1942 to the No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School RAAF and, a month later after training, to the No. 4 Embarkation Depot RAAF in North Adelaide, arriving on 8 Jun 1942. On 25 Jun 1942 Ted was posted to No. 55 Operational Base Unit RAAF known then as Operational Base Birdum, in the Northern Territory where on 18 Jul 1942 Ted again transgressed against military law by leaving his place of work without being relieved, and for leaving the camp without signing out in the leave book, thus earning for himself two days Confined to Barracks, and the forfeiture of two days pay. From 8 - 12 Aug 1942 Ted was hospitalised in Daly Waters. Transferred yet again on 14 Aug 1942, this time to No. 9 Stores Depot RAAF at Daly Waters where on 1 Sep 1942 Ted was again promoted to Leading Aircraftman. On 31 Jan 1943 he was posted to the No. 1 Repair & Salvage Unit RAAF where he remained until 5 May 1943 when he was posted to No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF. While with them he was, on 1 Jun 1945 promoted Temporary Corporal

Ted was transferred for 6 days to the No. 55 Operational Base Unit RAAF on 21 Jul 1943 before being transferred to the No. 5 Embarkation Depot RAAF at Subiaco on 27 Jul 1943 and soon after he married Nancy Bridget Gervasi on 9 Sep 1943 in Perth. The same day his new posting to No. 4 Aircraft Depot RAAF was confirmed, and he remained with them until 16 Oct 1945 when his posting changed to No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF to facilitate his discharge which occurred on 17 Dec 1945.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 at 5 Walker street, South Fremantle, labourer; 1954 at 156 West Coast highway, Scarborough, 1958 at 19 Cornelian street, Doubleview; 1968 - 1972 at 55 Helm street, Maddington; 1977 - 1980 at 4 Sulex street, Willetton, dealer.

Nancy died on 9 Mar 2005 aged 87 at Woodlands.