Arthur Donald Free
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 28 Sep 1923 |
| Place of Birth | Subiaco, Western Australia |
| Description | |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | State Brickworks, Byford,. Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr. Alfred Free |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | W61988 & WX32731 |
| Date of Enlistment | 3 Apr 1942 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 2/48th AUstralian Infnatry Battalion |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
Pre War
War Service
Arthur enlisted in the AMF (Militia) on 3 Apr 1942 in Armadale, and was posted to the 25th Australian Division, Cavalry Training Squadron reinforcements. and was called up for full time service on 13 Jul 1942. On 22 July he was transferred to the 13th Australian Infantry Training Battalion at Northam Camp and enlisted inthe 2nd AIF on 14 Sep 1942. On 25 Mar 1943 he was charged with being AWOL from 10:00am 15 March until 10:00am 18 Mar 1943 and given some exceptional circumstances was only Admonished with the automatic forfeiture of three days pay. On 27 Apr 1943 he was again charged with being AWOL, this time from midnight 24 April until 9:00am on 27 Apr 1943. Fined £3, forfeiture of a further three days pay and three days Confined to Barracks.
On 29 Jul 1943 Arthur wasa transferred to the 44th Australian Infantry Battalion (West Australian Rifle Regiment). He was again AWOL, this time from midnight 20 Oct 1943 until 10:00pm on 30 Oct 1943. Fined £5, and sentenced to 28 days in detention, with an automatic forfeiture of 10 days pay. He returned to the battalion on 26 Nov 1943 and on 11 Feb 1944 the battalion entrained for Queensland. On 5 Jul 1944 he was transferred to the 2/48th Australian Infantry Battalion. On 28 Mar 1945 he embarked in Cairns on the Van Heutz for Morotai which was being used as a staging base for the liberation of Borneo. During the voyage he was charged with having neglected to obey the ship's Standing Orders - fined £1. Arthur disembarked at Morotai on 7 Apr 1945.
On 23 Apr 1945 Arthur and his unit boarded HMT Manoora in Morotai for Tarakan, and island of the nroth west coast of Borneo. With hostilities at an end, on 25 Oct 1945 Arthur was transferred to the 2/3 Australian Pioneer Battalion until 10 Dec 1945 when he was embarked on HMAS Kanimbla at Tarakan for Morotai, disembarking there on 13 Dec 1945. On 3 Mar 1946 at Morotai Arthur embarked on the Georgetown Victory for Rabual on New Britain where on 3 May 1946 he emplaned in Rabaul for Australia, landing the following day aposted to Western Command Recruit & Reinforcement Reception Depot where he was discharged on 17 Jun 1946..
Post War
Notes