Marie Marguerite Gwynne
From Our Contribution
 photo courtesy Jan Kramer | |
 taken on enlistment | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 25 May 1923 |
| Place of Birth | Woodanilling, Western Australia |
| Death | 14 Jul 2015, aged 92 |
| Place of Death | Canning Vale, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 19 years, 3 months |
| Description | 5'7" (1.70m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; green eyes ; fair hair |
| Occupation | clerk |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Bunbury road, Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr Spencer Gwynne DCM MID |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | WF96342 |
| Date of Enlistment | 6 Sep 1942 |
| Rank | Gunner |
| Unit/Formation | 29th Australian Heavy Anti Aircraft Battery |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate |
Remained in Australia Medical discharge (pregnancy) |
| Medals |
War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
Marie's first job was with the quarry in the Gosnell's hills. She later was a shop assistant in a Perth dress shop.
War Service
Prior to enlisting in the AWAS, Marie had participated in the local Armadale Voluntary Emergency Corps run by the local policeman Roy Fletcher. She then enlisted in Claremont on 6 Sep 1942, and on 28 Sep 1942 she was transferred to No 419 Heavy Anti Aircraft Gun Station at Buckland Hill. On 2 Nov 1942 she had qualified as an Instrument Operator TG2 and on 27 Jan 1943 she was transferred to the nearby Gun Station 418, also on Buckland Hill. From 8 - 23 May 1943 Marie was admitted to the Lucknow No 1 Hospital (a private hospital on Stirling Highway) before returning to her unit, the 29th Australian Heavy Anti Aircraft Battery.
On 15 Aug 1943 Marie was sent to an AWAS NCO Course at Claremont. Needing medical attention, on 28 Aug 1943 Marie was admitted to the 1st Australian Women's Hospital (possibly 'Knutsford' in Queenslea drive, Claremont) before returning to duty on 8 Sep 1943. On 20 May 1944 Marie's classification as Instrument operator TG2 ceased, without any reason recorded. On 2 Sep 1944 with the reforming of artillery groups in WA, Marie was transferred to the 803rd Australian Anti-Aircraft & Coastal Artillery Battery.
Marie was transferred again, this time to the 31st AWAS Barrack on 18 Oct 1944 to prepare for her discharge which occurred on 24 Oct 1944 at Claremont. Her husband, Mervyn was discharged the same day.
Post War
During 1944 Marie had married Mervyn Roy Drummond (1920 - 2001) in Mt Hawthorn. Son Trevor James was born on 23 Dec 1944 at Sister Whitehead's hospital in Armadale. They were divorced on 9 Oct 1950.
Electoral Roll entries: 1949 Bunbury road, Armadale; 1958 - 1980 at 89 Seventh road, Armadale, typist;
Notes
The first military hospitals in Perth were ‘Lucknow’, a private hospital on Stirling Highway, Claremont, which became the 10 Australian General Hospital (AGH), and another in Queenslea Drive, Claremont, known as ‘Knutsford’, which was converted to a hospital for the women’s services. Both were staffed by members of the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS). Other military hospitals in Western Australia were the 110 AGH Hollywood, 118 AGH and 38 Australian Camp Hospital (ACH) at Northam, the 39 ACH at Rottnest and the 125 AGH Guildford.