Mervyn Roy Drummond
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 20 Dec 1920 |
| Place of Birth | Moora, Western Australia |
| Death | 12 Apr 2001, aged 80 |
| Place of Death | Busselton, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 20 years, 3 months |
| Description |
5'10" (1.78m) tall ; 140lbs 63.503 kg ; blue eyes ; fair hair ; appendix scar |
| Occupation | Farm hand |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Bedfordale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr. James Rawlingson Drummond |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | W805 & WX17522 |
| Date of Enlistment | 29 Jul 1940 |
| Rank | Lance Corporal |
| Unit/Formation | 2/4th Australian Independent Company |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 9 Dec 1942 ‒ 10 Dec 1942 |
| Transport Details | HMAS Voyager Darwin to Portuguese Timor |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 8 Jan 1943 ‒ 9 Jan 1943 |
| 2nd Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 9 Aug 1943 ‒ 11 Aug 1943 |
| Transport Details | USS Henry T Allen (APA 15) Cairns to Milne Bay |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 25 Feb 1944 ‒ 4 Mar 1944 |
| Transport Details | USAT Sea Snipe Finschhafen PNG to Brisbane |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate |
WIA Timor 12 Dec 1942 Returned to Australia |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
War Service
Mervyn was a Militia member of the 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment ww2, having enlisted originally at Victoria Park on 29 Jul 1940, but he was re-attested at Bunbury on 2 Apr 1941. Between 28 Jan and 27 Apr 1941 he attended a camp at Bunbury, at the conclusion of which he was appointed Lance Corporal - 31 Jul 1941. Mervyn was called up for full time service on 5 Oct 1941 at the conclusion of a second training camp . On 3 Nov 1941 he transferred to the 2nd AIF with a new number WX17522. He was initially transferred to Northam to undertake basic recruit training and on 15 Jan 1942 he was allocated to the 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion reinforcements. He was granted pre-embarkation leave from 26 Jan - 1 Feb 1942, having been appointed as a Lance Corporal on 24 Jan 1942. On 3 Feb 1942, with the imminent fall of Singapore he was sent to an NCO training course, rejoining his reinforcement group on 27 February (his parent unit had been captured in Singapore) when he was promoted Acting Corporal. On 16 Mar 1942 he was transferred to the Recruit Training Battalion staff. Soon after he was sent to a special course at Foster in Victoria from 6 Apr until 28 May 1942, and although he returned to his unit he had performed well on the course and was marked for transfer.
On 10 Jul 1942 he was transferred to the 1st Australian Commando Training Battalion at Tidal River in Victoria. Five days later was sent to the Jungle Warfare Training School. On 30 Oct 1942 he reverted to Private at his own request and on 24 November, he was posted to the 2/4th Australian Independent Company in the Northern Territory. On 9 Dec 1942 he embarked in Darwin for overseas service on Timor and the following day taken on the strength of the 'Lancer' reinforcements. Mervyn was wounded in action on Timor on 12 Dec 1942 and was returned to Darwin on 9 Jan 1943.
On 6 May 1943 Mervyn joined the 1st Australian Commando Training Battalion, but a day later was evacuated to the 22nd Australian Camp Hospital. Discharged on 15 May he joined the 2/4th Australian Independent Company and on 9 Aug 1943 he boarded USS Henry T Allen (APA 15) in Cairns for Milne Bay where he disembarked on 11 Aug 1943. Promoted Acting Corporal on 16 Aug 1943, on 8 Oct by his own request, he reverted to Private. Mervyn was admitted to the 2/11th Australian Field Ambulance with Tinea on 23 November, and on the same day was sent on to the 2/3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. On the 28th they passed him on to the 2/11th Australian General Hospital, and then on 8 Dec 1943 he was transferred to the 2/1st Australian General Hospital. Three days later he moved again, to the 113th Australian Convalescent Depot with Dermatitis. On 1 Jan 1944 he was released to the New Guinea Force General Details Depot, before returning to the 2/4th Australian Independent Company
On 25 Feb 1944 Mervyn embarked at Finschhafen aboard USAT Sea Snipe for Brisbane where he disembarked on 4 Mar 1944 and joined the Kalinga Staging Camp from where on 7 Jun 1944 he was evacuated to the 2/1st Casualty Clearing Station. On 21 Jun 1944 he was well enough to be discharged to the 9th Australian Division Recreation Camp. On 6 Oct 1944 he was transferred to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot to prepare for discharge, and arrived in WA on 22 Oct 1944. Mervyn was discharged (Essential Service) on 24 Oct 1944.
During 1944 he had married Marie Marguerite Gwynne in Mt Hawthorn. However they divorced on 9 Oct 1950 with a son Trevor James having been born on 23 Dec 1944.
Post War
During 1953 Mervyn remarried, this time to Dorothy Dalby. Three children, Trevor, Jay, and Peter. In September 1974 he made application for assistance from the War Service Housing Scheme. Electoral Roll entries: 1954 - 1972 at Forest Grove, farmer; 1980 at 46 Elva street, Margaret River, retired.
Notes