John Blair
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 23 Apr 1922 |
| Place of Birth | Pines Farm, Byford, Western Australia |
| Death | 13 Jul 1984, aged 61 |
| Place of Death | Mandurah, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 18 years, 7 months |
| Description | 5'8½" (1.74m) tall ; ; dark complexion ; green eyes ; black hair |
| Occupation | woodcutter |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Address | Byford, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr Peter Allison Blair |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | W4424 & WX26335 |
| Date of Enlistment | 12 Nov 1941 |
| Rank | Private |
| 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, New Guinea |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 1 Jul 1944 ‒ 5 Jul 1944 |
| Transport Details | SS Boschfontein Port Moresby to Brisbane |
| 2nd Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 2 Nov 1945 ‒ 13 Nov 1945 |
| Transport Details | HMT Duntroon Sydney to Singapore |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 2 Nov 1945 ‒ 13 Nov 1945 |
| Transport Details | SS Cheshire Singapore to Fremantle |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate |
Returned to Australia Assisted with POW repatriation from Singapore |
| Monument(s) |
ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) Byford WW2 Honour Roll |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
War Service
John was mobilised into the CMF at Claremont on 12 Nov 1941. He served with the Fortress Engineers, Fremantle Fixed Defences as a Sapper in the sub unit Fortress Company based on Rottnest, with Army Number W4424. On 2 Jan 1942 John was admitted to the 39th Australian Camp Hospital on Rottnest, rejoining his unit on 7 January. However he was again admitted to the Camp Hospital on 14 Jan 1942, rejoining his unit on 21 Jan 1942. John was charged having been AWOL from 10:00am on 28 Jan 1942 until 10:00am on 29 Jan 1942. Found guilty he was fined 15/- ($1.50 or three day's pay) and in addition he forfeited a day's pay. From 29 May until 5 Jun 1942 John was again admitted to the 39th Australian Camp Hospital, after which he was again AWOL, this time from 10:00am on 29 Jun 1942 until 10:00am 2 Jul 1942 for which he was fined 40/- ($4.00) and he forfeited three day's pay.
John then enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 5 Aug 1942, with Army Number WX26335. On 23 Sep 1942 John was again admitted to 39th Australian Camp Hospital this time requiring an operation for a Hernia. He was released from hospital to a convalescent house in Cottesloe on 15 Oct 1942. While there, he was charged on 31 October with having been AWOL on 18 Oct 1942 for which he was fined 5/- (50 cents), and 25 Oct 1942 for which he was awarded 5 days Confined to Barracks along with the forfeiture of a day's pay. John rejoined his unit on Rottnest on 13 Nov 1942.
On 5 Jan 1943 John entrained for Queensland, arriving there on 16 Jan 1943 where he was posted to the 4th Australian Fortress Company and transferred on 23 Jan 1943 to the 5th Australian Fortress Company. On 8 Mar 1943 at Wynum he was charged with: (1) Became unfit for duty by reason of prevous indulgence in alcoholic stimulants; (2) Did use obscene language in a public place. Period under close arrest two days - he was awarded 14 days Field Punishment and forfeiture of 16 days pay and allowances. On 1 Mar 1943 he was committed to 2/1st Australian Detention Barracks, rejoining his unit on 13 Mar 1943. On 28 Mar 1943 John was admitted to 56th Australian Camp Hospital, returning to his unit on 2 Apr 1943.
John was transferred on 1 May 1943 to 'M' Australian Heavy Battery (Coast). On 31 May he transferred to 114th CA Searchlight Sec until 9 Jul 1943 when he returned to 'M' Australian Heavy Battery (Coast). On 8 Aug 1943 John was sent to 1st Australian Heavy Training Battery and following training he transferred to 'D' Australian Heavy Battery (Coast) on 13 Sep 1943. There he was granted proficiency pay back dated to 2 Aug 1943. On 22 Nov 1943 John and his unit boarded HMT Duntroon in Townsville for Buna in New Guinea where they disembarked on 27 Nov 1943.
On 8 Mar 1944 John was admitted to 2/11th Australian General Hospital with Dengue Fever. He was released back to his unit on 17 Mar 1944, but was again admitted to hospital, this time the 2/1st Australian General Hospital on 8 May 1944, for treatment of suspected Malaria. On 23 May 1944 he was released to the New Guinea General Details Depot and returned to his unit on 26 May 1944. On 1 Jul 1944 John embarked aboard SS Boschfontein in Port Moresby for Brisbane, disembarking there on 5 Jul 1944 and he was initially held in the Kalinga Staging Camp. He was detached to HQ Sydney Fortress from 10 Oct 1944 until 29 Nov 1944. On 2 Dec 1944 John was charged with Conduct to the prejudice of good order and Military Discipline, and received an Admonishment.
On 20 May 1945 John was transferred to 1st Australian Base Depot Personnel, before being moved on to the 5th Australian Advanced Reinforcement Depot on 19 Jul 1945. On 19 Aug 1945 John was transferred to the 2/14th Australian General Hospital and on 27 Aug 1945 John was embarked aboard HMT Duntroon in Sydney for Singapore where he disembarked on 13 Sep 1945. On 2 Nov 1945 John was posted to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot, and he embarked on SS Cheshire in Singapore for Fremantle where he disembarked on 13 Nov 1945. From 16 Nov 1945 until 4 Dec 1945 he was detached to the Western Command Inter-Service Medical Wing. John was discharged on 6 Dec 1945.
Post War
During 1946 John married Roma Mary Leyshon.
Electoral Roll entries: 1954 at Prospect road, Armadale, truck driver; 1958 - 1968 at 205 Anzac road, Mt Hawthorn, bus driver; 1972 - 1980 at 26 Elizabeth street, Mandurah, bus driver.
Notes