Mervyn (Merv) James Rose
From Our Contribution
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 Merv Rose at the 2009 Pioneer Reunion. Photo by City of Armadale. | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 7 Sep 1924 |
| Place of Birth | Bunbury, Western Australia |
| Death | 22 Jul 2015, aged 90 |
| Place of Death | Redcliffe, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 18 years, 8 months |
| Description | 5' 10" (1.78m) tall ; ; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; light brown hair |
| Occupation | Salesman |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Albany road, Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr. Harold Mervyn Rose |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | W96982 & WX39343 |
| Date of Enlistment | 22 May 1943 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 102nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 18 May 1945 ‒ 25 May 1945 |
| Transport Details | HMT Duntroon Brisbane to Madang, New Guinea |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 12 Aug 1945 ‒ 24 Aug 1945 |
| Transport Details | HMAS Bungaree Madang, New Guinea to Sydney |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
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| Headstone Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 7 September 1924 |
| Age at Death | 90 years |
| Additional Names | Lilian Esme Rose |
| Transcription | In Loving Memory of Mervyn James Rose. 7 September 1924 - 22 July 2015. Loving Husband of Lilian. Father of Glenys, Allan, Keith and Neville. His Garden was his passion. |
Early Life
Born on 7 September 1924. Merv came to the district at around 5 years old with his family, in 1930. He went to Kelmscott School where he played football and cricket. He was also a boy scout, under scoutmaster Dennis Frye.
Pre War
Merv worked for a company named F.H. Faulding & Company Ltd pre-war, and returned to the same company after the war. It was located in Murray Street, Perth.
War Service
Called up for full time service from 6 Oct 1942 and sent for training as a General Reinforcement. On 12 Oct 1942 he was posted to the AAMC Training Depot at Northam. Following training he was detached on 26 Apr 1943 to 118th Australian General Hospital where on 22 May 1943 his enlistment status changed to be a member of the 2nd AIF. On 17 May 1943 Merv returned to the training unit and on 10 Jun 1943 he was classified as a Trade Group 3 Nurse. The following day Merv was transferred to General Reninforcements and on 17 Jun 1943 he was posted to the 108th Australian Casualty Clearing Station.
On 7 Jan 1944 Merv was sent to the 122nd Australian Special Hospital to take a special course, rejoining his unit on 31 Jan 1944. On 11 Apr 1944 he was sent to the 3rd Australian Corps (Jungle Warfare), returning to his unit on 3 May 1944. he then spent 10 days at Point Walter . On 7 Jun 1944 Merv was admitted to the 37th Australian Camp Hospital with a fractured left humorous. The same day, he was transferred to the 110th Australian Base Hospital, and they in turn forwarded him to the 118th Australian General Hospital on 16 Jun 1944. On 21 June he was sent to the 109th Australian Convalescent Depot to regain strength before returning to his unit on 19 Jul 1944. A short period of leave followed, and on 21 Sep 1944 he was detached to the 113th Australian General Hospital at Concord in New South Wales.
On 29 Jan 1945 Merv was transferred from the 108th Casualty Clearing Station to 101st Australian General Hospital, and then on 13 Mar 1945 to the 102nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. On 18 May 1945 he embarked with this unit on HMT Duntroon in Brisbane, disembarking at Madang in New Guinea, on 25 May 1945. Less than 3 months later, he embarked on HMAS Bungaree at Madang on 12 Aug 1945, disembarking in Sydney on 24 Aug 1945, and was immediately transferred to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot for re-allocation. On 5 Oct 1945 he was posted to the 75th Australian Camp Hospital, remaining with them until 15 Feb 1946 when he joined the staff of the 110th Australian Base Hospital. On 28 Aug 1946 Merv was sent back to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot to be discharged and that occurred on 5 Sep 1946.
Post War
During 1947 Mervyn married Lilian (Lil) Esme Wallace in Perth. Mervyn and Esme had four children: Glenys, Allan, Keith and Neville.
Mervyn was Vice President of the Kelmscott Agricultural Society in 1957-1958 and 1962-1968; and President 1969-1971. He was to become a "Life Member" of this organisation in 1977. He had initially become a member during wartime, in February 1945. Mervyn died on 22 July 2015, aged 90 years.
Notes
In his oral history, Merv stated he was in [Papua] New Guinea for around 12 months with the 102nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station,. He was in a medical unit due to his employment with FH Faulding, a company that sold medical equipment.
External Links
A PDF transcript of Merv Rose's oral history recording is available on the Library catalogue: [1]