Donald Roberts Scott
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 22 Oct 1904 |
| Place of Birth | Pinjarra, Western Australia |
| Death | 7 Apr 1979, aged 79 |
| Place of Death | Perth, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 35 years 4 months |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | c/- PO Byford, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Mother , Mrs Phoebe Ann Scott |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | WX3188 |
| Date of Enlistment | 22 May 1940 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit/Formation | 1st Royal Australian Engineers Training Battalion |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 25 Oct 1940 ‒ 4 Nov 1940 |
| Transport Details | HMT Aquitania Fremantle to Bombay |
| Transfers | |
| Journey Dates | 10 Nov 1940 ‒ 25 Nov 1940 |
| Transport Details | HMT Rajula Bombay to El Kantara |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 29 Jan 1942 ‒ 6 Feb 1942 |
| Transport Details | SS Île de France Port Tewfik to Bombay |
| Journey Dates | 10 Feb 1942 ‒ 25 Mar 1942 |
| Transport Details | SS Kosciusko Bombay to Port Adelaide via Colombo (25 Feb - 1 Mar) |
| 2nd Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 30 Nov 1942 ‒ 4 Dec 1942 |
| Transport Details | HMT Taroona Townsville to Fall River, New Guinea |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 21 Oct 1943 ‒ 28 Oct 1943 |
| 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
Electoral Roll entries: 1921 Fitzgerald street, Northam, railway employee; 1931 - 1936 Wynyangoo Station, Mt Magnet, station hand;
War Service
Don enlisted on 22 May 1940 and was given 8 days LWOP, reporting to Northam Camp on 30 May 1940 where he was allocated to the 2/16th Australian Infantry Battalion. On 28 Jun 1940 he was seen by the Camp Dressing Station and treated for Bronchitis. Following some training he was granted pre-embarkation leave from 27 Sep 1940 until 4 Oct 1940, before embarking on HMT Aquitania in Fremantle on 25 Oct 1940 for the Middle East. Calling at Bombay, they were transshipped to HMT Rajula which then sailed the following day for El Kantara on the Suez Canal where the battalion disembarked on 4 Nov 1940.
On 2 Jul 1941 Don was promoted Acting Sergeant, but on 5 Nov 1941 he reverted to Private, and was graded a Group 3 Clerk. On 29 Jan 1942 the battalion embarked in Suez on SS Île de France for Bombay where they arrived on 6 February before transshipping to the SS Kosciusko on 10 Feb 1942, intended for Java. However, with the rapid Japanese advance they eventually headed for Adelaide where they disembarked on 25 Mar 1942.
On 25 Jul 1942 Don was transferred to the 12th Australian Labour Company, but on 17 Aug 1942 he was transferred again, this time to the 2/3rd Australian Docks Operating Company, arriving with them on 1 Sep 1942 where he was posted to B Group. On 30 Nov 1942 they boarded HMT Taroona in Townsville for Fall River in New Guinea where they disembarked on 4 Dec 1942. On 7 Jan 1943 Don was promoted Acting Corporal, with the rank confirmed on 7 Apr 1943. On 21 Oct 1943 Don embarked on USAT President Johnson in Milne Bay for Brisbane where he disembarked on 28 Oct 1943 and proceeded on home leave from 7 November until 2 December.
On 19 Dec 1943 in New South Wales, Don was seen by a Medical Board who reclassified him 'B', leading to him being transferred to the 4th RAE Training Centre. However, it appears that a decision had been made to discharge Don, as on 1 May 1944 he was transferred to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot who discharged him the same day.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries: 1943 - 1949 Byford, Labourer; 1954 -1958 Byford, winch driver; 1968 - 1977 at 365 Bulwer street, Perth, labourer
Notes
Army records show him as being born in 1904 to improve his chances of being taken by the army - correct year appears to be 1889 (death records, birth records and electoral records). Does not appear to have married.