Denys Brettell Duke

Denys Brettell Duke

Personal Information
Date of Birth	22 Nov 1907
Place of Birth	Bombay, India
Age at Enlistment	33 years, 3 months
Occupation	Dairy farmer
Religion	Church of England
Address	16 Clifton street, Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Sgt Patricia Duke RAAF
Military Information
Reg Number	W33092 & WX16055
Date of Enlistment	13 Nov 1941
Rank	Driver
Unit/Formation	2/10th Australian Armoured Regiment
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	5 Jun 1945 ‒ 13 Jun 1945
Transport Details	HMT Duntroon Brisbane to Lae, New Guinea
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	8 Nov 1945 ? ‒ 13 Nov 1945
Transport Details	unknown Lae, New Guinea to Sydney
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Medals	Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Electoral Roll entries: 1931 - 1941 at Clifton street, Kelmscott, farmer

War Service

Denys was mobilised on 6 Mar 1941 and served in the AASC until he enliste din the 2nd AIF on 13 Nov 1941 when he was sent to the 3rd Training Battalion at Northam from 18 Nov 1941 until 22 Nov 1941 when he transferred to the 2/10th Australian Armoured Regiment. The next day he entrained for Melbourne to join them.

On 13 Dec 1941 Denys was admitted to 107th Australian General Hospital at Puckapunyal with an infection, rejoining his unit on 21 Dec 1941, but was back in the hospital again from 2 Jul 1942 until 18 Jul 1942. when he was released to rejoin his unit, It had in the meantime moved to New South Wales on 2 Jul 1942. Denys rejoined them on 29 Jul 1942. From 24 Oct 1942 until 13 Nov 1942 Denys was granted Special Leave with pay, rejoining his unit on 26 Nov 1942.

On 28 Nov 1942 Denys and his unit were transferred to Western Australia, arriving there on 10 Dec 1942. On 19 Feb 1943 Denys was seen by the Main Dressing Station of the 2/14th Australian Light Field Ambulance and was admitted with Cellulitis of the foot. He rejoined his unit on 25 Feb 1943. On 2 Aug 1943 he was seen by the 103rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station with fractured Metac, left hand. Although he was discharged to rejoin his unit on 4 Aug 1943, he didn't reach them until 19 Aug 1943. On 2 Nov 1943 Denys was qualified as a TG III Gunner - Operations. On 20 Apr 1944 he was detached to the Western Command Bulk Issue Petrol and Oil Depot until 9 May 1944. On 16 Dec 1944 Denys married Sgt Patricia Curtis (RAAF).

On 26 Feb 1945 hs medical status changed to 'B 2', and on 14 Mar 1945 he was transferred to 1st Australian Base Depot - Personnel. However, by 27 Mar 1945 he had been taken on strength by the 5th Australian Army Rehabilitation Unit at Wayville in South Australia who on 29 Jul 1945 posted him to the 16th Australian Detention Barracks at Lae, in New Guinea. To reach his unit, Denys embarked in Brisbane on HMT Duntroon on 5 Jun 1945, disembarking in Lae on 13 Jun 1945. On 1 Nov 1945 Denys was posted back to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot to take his discharge. He disembarked from an unknown ship in Sydney on 13 Nov 1945, and soon after his return to Western Australia he was admitted, on 22 Jan 1946, to the 110th Australian Base Hospital. On 20 Feb 1946 he was released to the 109th Australian Convalescent Depot, remaining with them until 9 Apr 1946 when he returned to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot and took his discharge the same day, 9 Apr 1946.

Post War

During 1944 Denys had married Patricia Curtis. Electoral Roll entries: 1943 - 1958 Clifton street, Kelmscott, farmer;