James Wilkinson

James Wilkinson

Personal Information
Date of Birth	26 Feb 1922
Place of Birth	Beverley, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	19 years, 7 months
Description	6'1" (1.85m) tall ; ; medium complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Baker
Religion	Prebyterian
Address	Fremantle road, Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr William Wilkinson
Military Information
Reg Number	W25022 & WX32130
Date of Enlistment	13 Oct 1941 & 18 Jul 1942
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	52nd Australian General Transport Platoon
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	26 Apr 1945 ‒ 3 May 1945
Transport Details	HMT Katoomba Jacquinot Bay, New Britain to Townsville
Post War Details
Fate	Reurned to Australia
Medals	Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

War Service

James was mobilised on 1 Oct 1941 and wwas allocated tothe AASC Petrol Company. He was called up for full time service from 15 Dec 1941 in the CMF. On 3 Jul 1942 he changed his enlistment to the 2nd AIF and on 17 Aug 1942 he was posted to the 13th Australian Infantry Brigade Group at Melville and allocated to the 24th Australian Company AASC. On 8 Sep 1942 he was charged with Disobeying Standing Orders for drivers of Military Transport vehicles, and was fined a day's pay (5/-). Frtom 31 Oct 1942 until 11 Nov 1942 he enjoyed some leave.

On 6 Feb 1943 James entrained for Adelaide, arriving there on 12 Feb 1943 and then entrained again on 1 Mar 1943 for Darwin arriving there on 10 Mar 1943. On 15 Jan 1944 he received treatment from the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance for Tinea and on 17 Jan 1944 they transferred him to the 12th Australian Field Ambulance, returning to his unit on 26 Jan 1944. On 17 Aug 1944 James was transferred to the 52nd Australian General Transport Platoon.

On 21 Nov 1944 James and his unit embarked on USAT Evangaline in Darwing for Jacquinot Bay on the southern coast of New Britain where they disembarked on 26 Nov 1944. There is no entry in his records for his time on New Britain, but on 26 April 1945 he embarked aboard HMT Katoomba at Jacquinot Bay for Townsville where he disembarked on 3 May 1945. Back in Western Australia (on leave ?), on 12 Jun 1945 he was admitted to the 75th Australian Camp Hospital with Mumps, remaining with them until 22 Jun 1945, when he was released to join the 19th Australian Personnel Staging Camp in Queensland for reasignment. They immediately sent him to join the Australian Reinforcement Training Battalion (Jungle Warfare) at Canungra.

On 13 Nov 1945 with no further need for men in the islands, he was transferred to 4th Australian Ordnance Vehicle Park, remaining with them until 13 May 1946 when he was transferred to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot for his discharge which took place on 27 May 1946.