Eric John Peverett

Eric John Peverett

Personal Information
Date of Birth	17 Jan 1922
Place of Birth	Bermondsey, London, England
Death	18 Mar 1993, aged 71
Place of Death	Beverley Hospital, Western AUstralia
Age at Enlistment	19 years old
Description	5'10" (1.78m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	Labourer
Religion	Church of England
Address	Post Office Byford, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr William Peverett
Military Information
Reg Number	WX33376 & W3457
Date of Enlistment	23 Jan 1941
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	2/2nd Australian Port Operating Company
Post War Details
Fate	Remained in Australia
Monument(s)	ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) Byford WW2 Honour Roll
Medals	War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Arrived in Fremantle 18 Oct 1923 from London (departed 25 Aug 1923) as a 1 year old aboard SS Bendigo with his parents William 27 and Florence 22.

War Service

On 23 Jan 1941 Eric was mobilised in the Militia and allocated to the 7th Heavy Brigade RAA, and posted to Swanbourne. It appears that he had 18 months part time service in the 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment prior to this point. On 12 Mar 1941 he was posted to the Bickley Battery on Rottnest where on 14 Nov 1941 he was admitted to the 39th Australian Camp Hospital on Rottnest. On 27 Nov he was well enough to be sent on leave, having on 14 Nov 1931 volunteered for service overseas (i.e joined the AIF). On 17 Jan 1942 he was charged with disobeying a lawful command given by his superior officer at Rottnest on 15 Jan 1942. Punishment was 7 days detention and forfeiture of 42 shillings ($4.20).

Eric was again admitted to the 39th Australian Camp Hospital, receiving their help from 7 - 25 May 1942, and on 2 Jun 1942 he was sent to the 109th Australian Convalescent Depot at Point Walter, rejoining his unit on 27 Jun 1942 where on 1 Jul 1942 he qualified for Proficiency Pay. It was later to be withdrawn from him on 15 Jun 1944.

Eric was allotted a new Army Number (WX33376) on 5 Aug 1942 when he enlisted in the AIF. On 30 Sep 1942 he completed a Junior NCO's qualifying course. From 30 Nov until 6 Dec 1944 he was again a patient at the 39th Australian Camp Hospital, this time with Pediculosis (lice infested). On 31 Dec 1944 he returned to a mainland depot to await reposting and was detached to the 'K' Australian Heavy Battery (Coastal). He was found guilty of being AWOL from 8:15am on 1 Jan 1945 until 8:15am on 2 Jan 1945, forfeiting the day's wages. On 5 Feb 1945 he was detached to the Fremantle Fort until 16 Feb 1945.

On 24 Feb 1945 he was sent to New South Wales via Victoria to attend the Royal Australian Engineers Training Centre. Once there he was posted to the 3rd RAE Training Battalion and with them he passed the basic entry course on 2 Apr 1945. Following further training with the 1st RAE Training Battalion he was posted to the 1st Australian Port Maintenance Company in Queensland on 28 Jul 1945. On 14 Oct 1945 he was transferred to the 2/2nd Australian Port Operating Company in Darwin before on 15 Feb 1946 transferring out for discharge in Western Australia. Embarking on the HMAS Westralia on 29 Feb 1946 he disembarked in Sydney on 8 Mar 1946. AWOL from 11:45am on 14 Mar 1946 until 10:00am on 15 Mar 1946, he was fined £1 ($2) and forfeited a day's pay. On 21 Mar 1946 he departed for Perth, arriving there two days later and he was discharged on 28 Mar 1946.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 Oakford via Byford, dairy hand; 1968 - 1980 Oakland road, Byford, farmhand.

Never married, had brothers William, Alfred, Jack, Terry, and Noel and sisters Violet, Mary and Jean.