No. 1 Personnel Depot RAAF

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Brief History

Originally titled No. 1 Embarkation Depot RAAF, it was formed at the Melbourne Show Grounds, Ascot Vale, Victoria, on 1 Nov 1940,before moving to the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 3 Nov 1943. The name of the unit changed to No. l Personnel Depot in May 1944. As part of the training program, practice air raids were carried out, including removal of personnel, checking of blackout arrangements and fire fighting.

ln August 1944, a representative of The Sun newspaper visited the Depot in connection with press reports relating to the unsuitability of accommodation for personnel at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Depot was disbanded at Laverton, Victoria, at the end of October 1946.

Passing through

• Ernest Gordon Martin 30 May - 24 Jun 1943
• Ivan Milton Clarke 27 Feb - 5 Apr 1945
• Ernest Gordon Martin 30 May - 24 Jun 1944
• Edward Neil Parker 13 Aug - 14 Sep 1944
• Sydney Roy Smith 25 Aug - 24 Sep 1944
• Eric Green Traill-Nash 16 Sep - 9 Oct 1944 & 19 Mar - 15 Apr 1945
• Henry Frederick Wills 10 - 15 Oct 1944
• Harold Morgan 16 - 31 Dec 1944
• Gordon Kevin Johnson 4 Jan - 1 Jul 1945
• Stewart Chandler Mack 28 Mar - 24 Apr 1945

Discharge Section

• Gordon Kevin Johnson 6 Oct 1945 - 13 Mar 1946
• Albert Walmsley 14 - 27 Feb 1946
• Evelyn Yates 17 - 19 Sep 1946