Percy Whittaker
From Our Contribution
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 29 Mar 1910 |
| Place of Birth | Wolverley, Kitterminster, Worcestershire, England |
| Death | 7 Sep 1999, aged 89 |
| Place of Death | Armadale, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 32 years, 6 months |
| Description | 5' 7½" (1.72m) tall ; ; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; black hair |
| Occupation | Truck driver |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Buckingham road, Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs Dorothy Florence Whittaker |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | W54897 & WX32005 |
| Date of Enlistment | 20 Jul 1942 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 5th Australian Ordnance Port Detachment |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 10 May 1945 ‒ 26 May 1945 |
| Transport Details | USAT Sea Barb Brisbane to Morotai |
| Transfers | |
| Journey Dates | 27 Aug 1945 ‒ 1 Sep 1945 |
| Transport Details | SS Joseph Carrigan Morotai to Labuan |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 3 Nov 1945 ‒ 21 Nov 1945 |
| Transport Details | HM LST 9 Labuan to Australia |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
On 24 May 1923, 13 years old Percy boarded the SS Ballarat in London with his older brother Thomas (a farmer) for Fremantle. In 1930 he married Dorothy Florence (Dolly) Simmons (1911 - 1985) in Kelmscott. They had two sons, Leonard John Whittaker (1931–2006), and David Ian Whittaker (1937–1984). Electoral Roll entries: 1936 - 1943 in Buckingham road, Kelmscott, labourer.
War Service
Percy was called up for full time duty in the CMF with Army Number W54897 on 20 Jul 1942, and was allocated to the 20th Defence and Employment Platoon. On 28 Sep 1942 he enlisted in the 2nd AIF where on 15 Jan 1943 he was a qualified Trade Group II Cook. On 28 Aug 1943 he was transferred tothe Australian Army Catering Corp. On 20 Sep 1943 Percy was charged with "Conduct to the Prejudice of Good Order and Military Discipline - in that he failed to keep his rifle in firing condition. He was awarded 7 days Confined to Barracks. From 2 - 24 Jan 1944 Percy was treated by the 110th Australian Base Hospital.
On 14 Jul 1944 Percy entrained in Perth for NSW, and on 26 Aug 1944 he was sent to Canungra's Australian Reinforcement Training Battalion (Jungle Warfare) although he didn't arrive until 4 Sep 1944. On 4 Dec 1944 Percy was posted to the 5th Australian Ordnance Port Detachment. On 10 May 1945 Percy and his unit boarded USAT Sea Barb in Brisbane for Morotai, disembarking there on 26 May 1945. Here the unit's four detachments staged for the landings at Tarakan (May) Labuan (June), and Balikpapan (July). The headquarters element remained on Morotai from May until August when it boarded SS Joseph Carrigan for Labuan in British North Borneo. This timing matches Percy's records and as he was a cook it appears that he moved with the HQ element. On 3 Nov 1945 Percy embarked at Labuan on HM LST 9 for Australia. He arrived on 3 Dec 1945 at Karrakatta's Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot where he was discharged on 5 Dec 1945.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries: 1954 - 1958 Buckingham road, Kelmscott, labourer; 1968 Albany highway, Armadale, machine driver; 1972 at 22 Lillian avenue, Kelmscott, machine driver; 1977 - 1980 at 3077 Albany highway, Kelmscott retired.
Notes