Alfred George Playle

Alfred George Playle

Ancestry.com
Personal Information
Date of Birth	11 Jan 1912
Place of Birth	Armadale, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	30 years, 1 months
Description	6'0¼" (1.84m) tall ; 168lbs 76.203 kg ; fair complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Arc welder
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Bayswater, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother , Mrs Mary Playle
Military Information
Reg Number	WX1939 & 152678
Date of Enlistment	12 Mar 1940
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	2/3rd Australian Field Company & No. 8 Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	20 Apr 1940 ‒ 18 May 1940
Transport Details	HMT Y3 Nevasa Fremantle to El Kantara, Egypt
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	15 Nov 1942 ‒ 3 Dec 1942
Transport Details	SS Mauretania Suez Canal Zone to Fremantle
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Medals	1939-45 Star Africa Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Spent seven months with the Small Arms Munition factory in Welshpool as a Machine setter and general mechanic.

War Service

Enlisted in Perth on 12 Mar 1940 and the next day joined he General Reinforcements Pool at Northam camp. Given his trade, he was transferred to the 2/3rd Australian Field Company on 3 Apr 1940, and from 8 - 16 Apr 1940 he enjoyed pre-embarkation leave at the Melville camp.

On 20 Apr 1940 Alf embarked on HMT Y3 Nevasa, disembarking in Kantara, Egypt on 18 May 1940. On 1 Jun 1940 he was admitted to the 2/1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station at Qastina with influenza, and from 7 - 25 Aug 1940 was in the care of the 2/1st Australian General Hospital. On discharge he was transferred to the 1st Australian Corps Reserve in Palestine. Between 5 Oct and 27 Nov 1940 he attended the No. 2 School's Physical and Recreational course at Kilo 89, after which he spent 10 days in the Depot Battalion, and then a month in the Training Regiment. He returned to his unit on 9 Jan 1941 and was allocated trade status as a fitter a month later.

On 2 May 1941 he was admitted to the 2/4th Australian General Hospital suffering from chemical burns to his right foot, returning to his unit on 26 Jun 1941. On 8 Nov 1941 he was charged with drunkenness, and was fined £3. From 21 - 24 Dec 1941 he was treated by the 4th British General Hospital for an infection. On 7 Apr 1942 he was seen by the 2/3rd Australian Field Ambulance who treated him for an ulcer on his lower left leg. Sent on to the 2/3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 19 Apr 1942, and then to the 2/8th Australian Field Ambulance before returning to his unit on 13 May 1942.

His contact with medical units continued on 15 Jul 1942 when he was evacuated to the 1st British General Hospital with a rash. Passed on to the 2/1st Australian Convalescent Depot on 28 Jul 1942, and then to the 2/6th Australian General Hospital on 6 Aug 1942, where on 25 Sep 1942 he was assessed as unfit for service for more then 6 months, discharged from hospital on 26 Oct 1942, and marked for return to Australia.

On 15 Nov 1942 Alf embarked from Kilo 89 in the Middle East for Australia, arriving in Fremantle on 3 Dec 1942 aboard the SS Mauretania, and he then enjoyed leave from 4 - 14 Dec 1942. On 28 Jan 1943 he was transferred from the Claremont Camp to hospital with Gastritis. Discharged as Medically Unfit on 22 Feb 1943.

At some point Alf then joined the Allied Works Council's Civil Constructional Corps working in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, and needed a discharge from that organisation before he embarked on the next chapter of his military service.

Alfred enlisted in the RAAF in Adelaide on 11 Apr 1944 and was given Regimental No. 152678, with pay of 9/- per day compared to 5/- per day for the Army. (He altered his date of birth to be 2 years younger). He undertook recruit training from 13 Apr until 15 May 1944, followed by a posting to the No. 3 School of Technical Training RAAF where he undertook the No. 31 Driver Motor Transport course. From 1 until 18 Aug 1944 he languished in the No. 2 Personnel Depot RAAF awaiting a posting, followed by time with the No. 1 Reserve Posting Pool until 22 Sep 1944. On 11 Oct 1944 he was promoted to Leading Aircraftsman.

On 23 Sep 1944 Alfred was posted to the No. 26 Repair & Salvage Unit RAAF where he remained until 30 Jun 1945 when he joined the No. 8 Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF who at that time were constructing an airfield on Tarakan Island. While with the Repair and Salvage unit he had on 13 Jun 1945 been charged with having failed to be wearing gaiters at 7:20am on 13 Jun 1945 contrary to Routine Orders. Punishment was 2 days Field Punishment and loss of 2 days pay. He had also completed a Driving Course and had been remustered as a Driver, Motor Transport. Following the end of hostilities, Alf had returned to the No. 2 Personnel Depot RAAF on 8 Nov 1945. By 31 Jan 1946 he was held on the strength of No. 1 and then No. 4 Transport & Movements Office RAAF before being posted to No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF on 21 May 1946 to undergo his discharge on 28 May.

Meanwhile, on 8 Mar 1946 at Bradfied Park, New South Wales, he had faced a District Court Martial, charged with: 1) Striking his superior officer in that he at Coogee, at approximately 6:00pm on 14 Feb 1946 struck, with his fist in the face, Flight Officer A.L. Darvall, Transport Officer No 1 Transport & Movement Office; and 2) in that he at Coogee at approximately 6:00pm on 14 Feb 1946, whilst being motor driver in charge of service vehicle No 209062, became unfit for duty by reason of previous indulgence in alcoholic stimulants. Found guilty of both charges he was given 14 days detention and the associated loss of 22 day's pay, taking into account the number of days held in close arrest.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1954 at 21 Throssell street, Collie, welder; 1963 Terminus Hotel, Rockhampton, boilermaker; 1972 at 46 Gladstone road, Rockhampton , Boilermaker; 1980 at 31 West street Rockhampton.