Frederick Joseph Powell

Frederick Joseph Powell

Taken from 1934 Armadale AFL team photo
Personal Information
Date of Birth	17 Nov 1910
Place of Birth	Balbanna, Western Australia
Death	13 Jan 1996, aged 86
Place of Death	Armadale, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	31 years, 1 month
Occupation	Labourer
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Fourth road, Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Harry Powell
Military Information
Reg Number	W4878 & WX18314
Date of Enlistment	29 Dec 1941
Rank	Corporal
Unit/Formation	2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	6 Sep 1942 ‒ 8 Oct 1942
Transport Details	P4 Fremantle to Port Tewfik
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	24 jan 1943 ‒ 18 Feb 1943
Transport Details	HMT Queen Mary Port Tewfik to Fremantle
2nd Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	7 Aug 1943 ‒ 10 Aug 1943
Transport Details	USAT Charles P. Steinmetz Cairns to Milne Bay, NG
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	19 Jan 1944 ‒ 28 Jan 1944
Transport Details	SS Van Heutsz Finschhafe, NG to Townsville
3rd Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	23 Apr 1945 ‒ 1 May 1945
Transport Details	USS General J.H. McRae (AP - 149) Townsville to Morotai
Transfers
Journey Dates	1 Jun 1945 ‒ 3 Jun 1945
Transport Details	HMAS Westralia Morotai to Labuan Island
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	13 Aug 1945 ‒ 14 Aug 1945
Transport Details	plane Morotai to Australia
Post War Details
Fate	WIA 10 Sep 1943 WIA 25 Oct 1943 Returned to Australia
Medals	1939-45 Star Africa Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Electoral roll: 1931 - 1943 Fourth road, Armadale, wood cutter

War Service

Fred had enlisted in the AMF with number W4878 on 11 Sep 1940, and was allocated to the 5th Anti-Aircraft Battery (M). From 11 - 15 Jan 1941 he was admitted to the 110th Australian Base Hospital and on 5 Aug 1941 he was appointed as a Lance Bombardier. In October / November 1941 he was granted leave, returning to his unit on 7 Nov 1941. However, on 24 Nov 1941 he was granted a discharge on compassionate grounds.

On 29 Dec 1941 Fred re-enlisted, this time in the 2nd AIF. On 5 Jan 1942 he was sent to the Recruit Training Battalion at Northam. While in training, he was posted on 9 Jan 1942 to the reinforcements for the 2/16th Battalion. On 28 Feb 1942 he was promoted Acting Corporal and soon after on 18 Mar 1942 he was posted to K Battalion, 5th Military District. Ten days later he was posted to the No 1 Special Battalion to undertake special guard duties, serving for a time in the 1st and 3rd detachments.

On 20 Jul 1942 Fred was admitted to the 39th Australian Camp Hospital, and on his discharge from hospital on 12 Aug 1942 he transferred to the 2/28th Battalion reinforcements. On 6 Sep 1942 he boarded HMT P4, one of the ships in Convoy US 16 taking reinforcements to the Middle East. He disembarked in Egypt on 8 Oct 1942, and three days later reverted to Private, but was again promoted the next day to Acting Corporal at the 24th Australian Infantry Training Battalion. On 5 Nov 1942, immediately after the Battle of El Alamein, he joined the 2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion, again reverting to Private. On 24 Jan 1943 the battalion boarded HMT Queen Mary (HMT L1) in Port Tewfik for Australia and the ship sailed the following day. Fred disembarked in Gage Roads, Fremantle on 18 Feb 1943, the WA troops being carried ashore by lighters as Queen Mary was anchored outside the harbour.

On 6 Jul 1943 Fred was appointed Lance Corporal, and a month later on 7 Aug 1943, he boarded USAT Charles P. Steinmetz for Milne Bay in New Guinea, disembarking on 10 Aug 1943. Milne Bay was being used as a staging area for the landings to come at Lae. On 5 Sep 1943 the battalion landed on 'Red Beach' north of Lae and advanced to the Busu River. On 10 Sep 1943 Fred was wounded in action during the battalion's crossing of the Busu River, but quickly returned to duty, as on 25 Oct 1943 he was wounded in action a second time, this time during the advance north to Bonga and Gusika with a penetrating shell wound to his back. He was evacuated the same day to the 2/3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, and then on 28 Oct 1943 he was transferred to the 2/5th Australian General Hospital for treatment for his injury and also dermatitis to his back, groin and trunk. Released from hospital on 27 Nov 1943 to the New Guinea General Details Depot on 19 Jan 1944 Fred embarked on SS Van Heutsz in Finschhafen, and disembarked in Townsville on 28 Jan 1944. Fred had been promoted Corporal on 20 Jan 1944 and was granted proficiency Pay from 1 Jul 1943. This pay allowance stopped when he was promoted, with his rank of Corporal confirmed on 6 Apr 1944. On 20 Jul 1944 Fred was admitted to the 2/2nd Australian General Hospital for treatment for bronchitis and malaria. He was released to his battalion on 7 Aug 1944. During November he attended a Flame thrower training course.

Sent overseas for a third time, on 23 Apr 1945 Fred embarked on USS General J.H. McRae (AP - 149) in Townsville, destination Morotai where he disembarked on 1 May 1945. A fortnight later (15 May) Fred was admitted to the 2/5th Australian General Hospital before returning to the battalion on 25 May 1945. Fred and his unit embarked on HMAS Westralia for North Borneo on 1 Jun 1945. He was seen by the 2/1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 23 Jun 1945, and they transferred him on 5 Jul 1945 to AHS2 Wanganella. Fred entered the 2/9th Australian General Hospital on Morotai for medical classification review (now B2 - back). Fred returned to the battalion on 8 Aug 1945, but was emplaned on 13 Aug 1945 in Morotai for the mainland. Fred was discharged from the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot on 14 Nov 1945.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1980 Fourth road, Armadale, wood cutter (with Gwendoly Mary); 1977 18 Forrest road, Armadale, wood cutter