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Eric William Taylor

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Eric William Taylor
Taylor Eric William 1.jpg
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

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