Eric William Taylor
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 19 Feb 1922 |
| Place of Birth | Perth, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 20 years |
| Description | 5'8½" (1.74m) tall ; ; Fair complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair |
| Occupation | Farmhand |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Fifth road, Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs Cathleen Avis Taylor |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | WX30691 & W51339 |
| Date of Enlistment | 12 Feb 1942 |
| Rank | Gunner |
| Unit/Formation | 'D' Australian Heavy Battery (Coast) |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 22 Nov 1943 ‒ 27 Nov 1943 |
| Transport Details | HMT Duntroon Townsville to Buna, Papua New Guinea |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 20 Feb 1944 ‒ 27 Feb 1944 |
| Transport Details | HMT Katoomba Buna, PNG to Bowen, Queensland |
| 2nd Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 18 Apr 1944 ‒ 20 Apr 1944 |
| Transport Details | HMT Taroona Townsville to Port Moresby |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 1 Jul 1944 ‒ 5 Jul 1944 |
| Transport Details | SS Boschfontein Port Moresby to Sydney |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
Eric married Kathleen Avis Bailey on 5 Sep 1940, prior to his enlistment. At the time of his enlistment they had one child.
War Service
Prior to enlisting in the 2nd AIF, Eric had been called up for full time duty in the CMF on 12 Feb 1942 and served in the Militia with Regimental No. W51339. He was posted to the 5th Anti Aircraft Battery initially, but soon after on 17 Feb 1942 he was posted to the HQ 7th Heavy Brigade RAA (M). He then enlisted in the 2nd AIF from 8 Aug 1942, and on 2 Oct 1942 qualified as a Technical Group 3, Gunlayer.
On 17 Nov 1942 he entrained for the Queensland Command, arriving there on 28 Nov 1942 when he was posted to 'D' Australian Heavy Battery (Coast) RAA then manning Skirmish Battery on Bribie Island, north of Brisbane. In April 1943 the battery personnel moved to Townsville and took over the Magazine Battery. On 27 Sep 1943 he was appointed as an unpaid Lance Corporal.
On 22 Nov 1943 he and his battery embarked in Townsville on HMT Duntroon for Buna in New Guinea where they disembarked on 27 Nov 1943. The battery then manned guns on Sanananda Point, known as Buna Battery tasked with defending the growing port of Buna. While there, Eric was granted leave and he embarked in Buna on 20 Feb 1944 aboard HMT Katoomba for Bowen in Queensland, arriving there on 27 Feb 1944. He returned from Townsville aboard the HMT Taroona departing on 18 Apr 1944 and arriving in Port Moresby on 20 Apr 1944. With the development of Finschaffen, Buna had become less important, and the Eric's unit had moved back to Port Moresby in March 1944, Taking up position at Bootless Bay.
No longer required in New Guinea, the unit embarked on 1 Jul 1944 aboard SS Boschfontein before disembarking in Brisbane on 5 Jul 1944. Eric appears to have spent time in the Kalinga staging post prior to being sent on an Aircraft Recognition Course from 8 - 13 Jan 1945. Having failed it he was returned to No. 1 Base Depot. On 7 May 1945 Eric reverted to the rank of Gunner before being posted to the 2nd Australian Field Artillery Training Regiment. A little more than five months later, on 23 Oct 1945 Eric marched out to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot. Arriving in Perth on 3 Nov 1945 he began the process of being discharged, with the end coming on 29 Jan 1946.
Post War
During 1974 Eric made application for a War Service Housing Loan
Notes