David Deverell

David Deverell

Personal Information
Date of Birth	17 Mar 1922
Place of Birth	London, England
Age at Enlistment	20 years , 5 months
Description	6' 0" (1.83) tall ; scars on right thigh. "scars on right thigh." is not a number. ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	Bread carter
Religion	Church of England
Address	Weston street, Maddington, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Horace Deverell
Military Information
Reg Number	WX21923
Date of Enlistment	26 Apr 1942
Rank	Private
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	4 Apr 1945 ‒ 13 Apr 1945
Transport Details	SS Fred C Ainsworth Brisbane to Morotai
Transfers
Journey Dates	11 May 1945 ‒ 13 May 1945
Transport Details	USS LST 637 Morotai to Tarakan
Journey Dates	21 Jun 1945 ‒ 25 Jun 1945
Transport Details	AHS2 Wanganella Tarakan to Morotai
Journey Dates	17 Aug 1945 ‒ 20 Aug 1945
Transport Details	HMAS Kanimbla Morotai to Tarakan
Journey Dates	‒ 8 May 1946
Post War Details
Fate	Wounded in action 12 Jun 1945 Tarakan Returned to Australia
Medals	1939-45 Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

War Service

David enlisted in the CMF (VDC) in Armadale on 26 Apr 1942. He subsequently enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 1 Sep 1942. As a member of the VDC he was posted to No 3 (Swan) Battalion where he completed 187 days service. On joining the 2nd AIF he was sent to the 35th Infantry Training Battalion. On 12 Dec 1942 he was transferred to the Motor Transport Training Depot at Northam, returning to the 35th Australian Infantry Training Battalion on 8 Jan 1943. In early March 1943 he was posted to the 2nd Australian Infantry Brigade's HWQ element, and on 23 Jul 1943 he was transferred to Victoria.

On 11 Sep 1943 he and the rest of the 2nd Brigade HQs were transferred to the Northern Territory. While there he enjoyed a period of leave back in Western Australia before being transferred to the NSW Line of Command in September 1944. Sent to a general re-allotment base unit, he started 1945 in Canungra undertaking a Jungle Warfare training course. On 6 Mar 1945 he was transferred to the No 1 Australian Advanced Reinforcement Depot in Canungra.

On 4 Apr 1945 David embarked on USNS Fred C Ainsworth in Brisbane for Morotai, disembarking there on 13 Apr 1945. On 7 May 1945 he was transferred to the 2/24 Australian Infantry Battalion and with them he embarked on USS LST 637 on 11 May 1945 for Tarakan. On 12 Jun 1945 he was wounded in the right thigh with grenade fragments, and was evacuated the same day to the 110th Australian Casualty Clearing Station. On 21 Jun 1945 he was transferred from their care to the 2/2nd Australian Hospital Ship AHS2 Wanganella. Discharged from the ship in Morotai to the care of the 2/5th Australian General Hospital on 25 Jun 1945, he was subsequently transferred to the 113th Australian Convalescent Depot on 2 Jul 1945.

On 28 Jul 1945 David was released to duty from the convalescent depot, and on 17 Aug 1945 he boarded HMAS Kanimbla in Morotai for Tarakan where on 20 Aug 1945 he was able to rejoin his battalion. At Tarakan on 1 Dec 1945 he was transferred from the 2/24 Battalion to the 2/3 Pioneer Battalion. From his records it appears that his return to Australia was on 8 May 1946, although no details of whether it was by ship or plane are included in his records. David was discharged on 17 Jun 1946 in Western Australia.

Post War

During 1948 in the Canning district David married Fay Ashby.

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 Western street, Maddington, poultry farmer; 1954 cnr Victoria and Gladstone streets, St James Park, labourer; 1958 - 1963 at 41 Victoria street, St James Park, labourer; 1968 - 1977 at 6 Grange Place, Victoria Park, foreman; 1980 at 60 Alderley square, Wilson, supervisor.

Notes

David's only connection with the district appears to be that he enlisted in the VDC in Armadale.