Arvonia (Jean) Curtis
From Our Contribution
 Arvonia (Jean) Watts | |
 Wedding of Jean Watts and Stan Curtis 1941 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 2 Feb 1919 |
| Place of Birth | Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Death | 2002 |
| Age at Enlistment | 23 years, 4 months |
| Occupation | Waitress |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Address | Fifth road, Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Husband , Mr Stanley Curtis |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | W45713 |
| Date of Enlistment | 29 Jun 1942 |
| Rank | Private |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Remained in Australia |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1945-75 |
Pre War Service
On 3 May 1941 Arvonia married Stanley Gordon Curtis. Stan was KIA on 2 Feb 1942 [From the history of the 2/1st Independent Company, it appears that Stanley was killed when on 2 Feb 1942 the schooner that they were attempting to escape on from larger Japanese forces was sighted by a Japanese plane which subsequently attacked, causing considerable damage to the vessel as well as destroying one of its lifeboats and causing a number of casualties. (Stanley was to die from wounds received).]
War Service
Jean joined the Army on 29 Jun 1942 soon after becoming aware that her husband Stan had been killed in action. Her first posting was to Camp Karrakatta (see Camp Staffs, Western Command), effectively from 29 Jun 1942 until 19 Jul 1943. On 19 Jul 1943 she was posted to the 4th Australian Ambulance Car Company. While with them she spent from 13 - 24 Nov 1943 in the 1st Australian Women's Hospital. On 15 Jun 1944 Jean was charged with being AWOL from 8:30pm on 14 Jun until 11:30pm the same night. Fined £2 ($4) and awarded 14 days Confined to Barracks.
On 21 Mar 1945 Jean was transferred to Queensland enroute to New Guinea and spent from 30 March until 2nd May with 68th AWAS Barrack before embarking in Brisbane aboard HMT Duntroon on 2 May 1945, and disembarking at Lae on 7th May. There she was posted to 71st AWAS Barrack as a member of staff. This unit was also known as AWAS Barrack, HQ First Australian Army. On 4 Feb 1946 Jean embarked on SS Marella in Lae for Sydney, disembarking on 14 Feb 1946. Sent back to Western Australia to take her discharge on 7 Mar 1946
Post War
Arvonia Jean Watts married Stanley Curtis. Following his death (See Stanley Gordon Curtis) she married Thomas William Law, and moved to NSW and had three children (triplets?), one of whom died at birth (1960).