Curnow Andrew Knuckey
From Our Contribution
 | |
 The Hilarions c 1946, Curow rear left | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 27 Aug 1923 |
| Place of Birth | Victoria Park, Western Australia |
| Death | 15 Oct 2014, aged 91 |
| Place of Death | Melville, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 18 Years CMF; 19 years, 7 months 2nd AIF |
| Description |
6'0½" (1.83m) tall ; . "." is not a number. ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair |
| Occupation | Junior Clerk |
| Religion | Congregational |
| Address | Peet road, Roleystone, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr Richard Knuckey |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | W62240 & WX39163 |
| Date of Enlistment | 20 Apr 1943 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 182nd Australian Supply Depot Platoon |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 10 Apr 1945 ‒ 22 Apr 1945 |
| Transport Details | SS Winchester Victory Brisbane to Morotai |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument(s) | Roleystone Roll of Honour |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
War Service
Curnow enlisted, aged 18 in the CMF on 4 May 1942 and was a member of the 8th Supply Personnel Company from 8 May 1942 until 8 June when he was posted to 15th Detail Issue Depot where he was assessed as a Trade Group III Clerk on 3 Oct 1942. Andrew was transfered to the 37th Australian Company AASC on 18 Apr 1943, and changed his designation to 2nd AIF on 10 May 1943.
On 26 Apr 1944 he was moved to Victoria, and soon after on 28 Jun 1944 he was admitted to 48th Australian Camp Hospital for treatment of Varicella. On 2 Aug 1944 he was transferred to Stonnington Depot and on the 10th he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Reinforcement Training Battalion (Jungle Warfare) in Queensland. On 24 Aug 1944 he was admitted to the 22nd Australian Camp Hospital with an infected heel, remaining with them until 13 November when he was transferred to the 182 Australian Supply Depot Platoon.
Curnow and his unit embarked on the USAT Sea Ray in Brisbane on 10 Apr 1945, and landed at Morotai on 22 Apr 1945. His next adventure came when his unit boarded HMAS Birchgrove Park for service with Amforce on Ambon. He returned to Morotai aboard the SS Winchester Victory departing Ambon on 21 Jan 1946 and disembarking two days later in Morotai where he joined the Morotai Force Details Depot. He transferred to the HQ Morotai Force Signals from 25 Jan to 9 Mar 1946 after which he began his journey home (no detail in his records), with him joining the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot on 26 Apr 1946. He was sent to work with the 124th Australian General Transport Company until 19 Jun 1946, after which he was discharged on 21 Jun 1946.
Post War
During 1946 Curnow was a member of a musical group in Roleystone known as 'The Hilarions', and in 1950 he married Dorothy Mavis Bettenay. Dorothy died on 24 Sep 2016, aged 90 in Myaree.
Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1954 at Peet road, Roleystone, clerk; 1958 at 158 Eton street, Joondanna, accountant; 1963 - 1980 at 11 Hillview road Mt Lawley, accountant.
Notes