Herbert Andrew Thomas Alexander

Herbert Andrew Thomas Alexander

Personal Information
Date of Birth	10 Jul 1917
Place of Birth	Fremantle, Western Australia
Death	13 Jun 1972, aged 53
Place of Death	Safety Bay, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	25 Years old
Description	6'0" (1.83m) tall ; 157lbs 71.214 kg ; fair complexion ; green eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	Brickmaker
Religion	Church of England
Address	Byford, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr. George Herbert Alexander
Military Information
Reg Number	W824 & WX21856
Date of Enlistment	2 Apr 1941 (CMF)
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	16th Australian Infantry Battalion (Cameron Highlanders Regiment)
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	21 Nov 1944 ‒ 26 Nov 1944
Transport Details	USAT Evangaline Darwin to Jacquinot Bay, New Britain
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	20 Jul 1945 ‒ 26 Jul 1945
Transport Details	SS Ormiston Jacquinot Bay to Brisbane
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument(s)	ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)
Medals	Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Employed at the State brickworks, Byford

War Service

Original CMF enlistment occurred at Victoria Park on 3 Aug 1940 with his brother Douglas George Edgar Alexander in the 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment ww2. Herbert was in camp at Bunbury from 28 Jan until 27 Apr 1941 and again from 7 Jul until 4 Oct 1941 before being called up for full time duty on 17 Dec 1941. On 16 Jan 1942 Herbert was discharged on account of him working in a protected occupation. While his, and his brother Doug's records give the reason as (Oil tanks) it is probable that it was on account of brick making.

Herbert enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 20 Jul 1942, and nine days later he joined the 35th Australian Infantry Training Battalion at Northam. On 23 Aug 1942 he was transferred to the 25th Cavalry Training Squadron before returning to the 35th Australian Infantry Training Battalion on 7 Nov 1942. Initial training completed, he was sent to join the 28th Australian Infantry Battalion (The Swan Regiment) on 12 Dec 1942. However, on 28 Dec 1942 he was transferred to the 16th Australian Infantry Battalion (Cameron Highlanders Regiment). On 18 Jan 1943 Herbert was admitted to the 110th Australian Base Hospital at Hollywood with a fractured left hand. A day later he was transferred to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot's Medical wing, until he was able to return to his unit on 20 Apr 1943. The same day he entrained in Perth for Adelaide, and then the Northern Territory, detraining on 28 Apr 1943 and rejoining his unit on 7 May 1943.

On 5 Jun 1943 Herbert was admitted to the 109th Australian General Hospital for treatment until 10 June when he was released to the Northern Territory Recreation Camp. On 12 Jun 1943 he rejoined the battalion, remaining with them until 2 Oct 1943 when he was admitted to the 107th Australian General Hospital. Released to his battalion on 7 Oct 1943, he was admitted to 107th AGH again on 21 Oct 1943, this time with Diarrhoea. After rejoining his unit on 25 Oct 1943, he was granted leave in Western Australia from 12 Feb to 6 Mar 1944. Herbert was seen by the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance and treated for Gastro-enteritis on 21 Jun 1944, before being passed on to the 107th Australian General Hospital on 4 Jul 1944 with Appendicitis. Recovering, he spent some time in the 108th Australian Convalescent Depot before rejoining the battalion on 11 Sep 1944.

On 21 Nov 1944, with the rest of the battalion he embarked on USAT Evangaline in Darwin for Jacquinot Bay on the south coast of New Britain, disembarking there on 26 Nov 1944. Herbert returned to Australia on the SS Ormiston, enbarking in Jacquinot Bay on 20 Jul 1945, and disembarking in Brisbane on 26 Jul 1945. On 7 Sep 1945 he joined the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot for discharge proceedings that took effect on 15 Oct 1945.