12th Australian Field Bakery

7 Jul 1943 Darwin. Cpl REED from 1 Platoon, raking up the wood fire in an oven. AWM photo 053481

7 Jul 1943, Darwin. Pte Malone Mixing dough AWM photo 053479

Brief History

From August 1940 a bakery detachment was incuded in the Darwin garrison. Expanded in April 1941, it was renamed 2nd Australian Field Bakery based at Vesteys. When further baking units were raised in January 1942, the unit was renamed 12th Australian Field Baking Company, baking in Darwin, Adelaide River and Katherine. The HQ element moved to Adelaide River in March 1942. By the end of 1942 they also had detachments at Pine Creek and Mataranka both of which were withdrawn in August 1943. Relieved in october 1943, 2nd Aust Field Bakery moved to Kensington to take over baking dutes for NSW based units. Incomplete records speak of bakehouses at Wagga Wagga, Bathurst, Newcastle and Tamworth, before the unit was reorganised in March 1944. HQ 12th Australian Field Bakery was disbanded in October 1944 and the Platoons reduced to three which continued baking for the rest of the war.

Individual Honours

• Mervyn Eric Doherty 16 Jul 1943 - 15 Jan 1944