13th Australian Advanced Workshop

19 Jun 1945 Brisbane At Hamilton Wharf embarking on SS Evangeline for Morotai AWN photo 109645

Brief History

The 13th Australian Advanced Workshop was raised at Chermside in Brisbane during November 1944 from existing units to support future efforts in the islands north of New Guinea. The unit was to have sections to look after: workshop machinery; armaments; armoury; wireless and signals equipment; instruments and radar; foundry, woodworking; field and base vehicles workshops; engine reconditioning and tank recovery.

In April 1945 'A' Detachment was formed and moved to the staging area on Morotai; 'B' Detachment followed in May, and the rest of the unit re-organised into separate vehicle and tank companies in June. From here 'B' Detachment was sent to Labuan in British North Borneo, and 'C' Detachment to Balikpapan while the unit HQ remained on Morotai. When the war concluded, they were in the process of sending a detachment to Ambon and extra troops to Labuan.

One member of this unit died in Australia of illnes, one in Morotai of ilness and one as a result of an accident on Morotai following the completion of hostilities.

Imdividual Awards

• 1 x Mentioned in Despatches

Unit Personnel

• Raymond Henry Butcher 4 Dec 1944 - 24 Sep 1945
• John William (Jack) Vance 5 Dec 1944 - 28 Dec 1945

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 5 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 5.596 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018