Wilfred Brettell Duke

Wilfred Brettell Duke

Personal Information
Date of Birth	13 Feb 1913
Place of Birth	Bombay, India
Death	17 Jan 1981, aged 67
Place of Death	Coogee Beach, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	27 years 11 months
Occupation	Dairy Farmer
Religion	Church of England
Address	16 Clifton street, Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother , Mrs Evelyn Brettell Duke
Military Information
Reg Number	WX17309
Date of Enlistment	20 Oct 1941
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	10th Australian Ordnance Vehicle Park
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	19 Jun 1945 ‒ 29 Jun 1945
Transport Details	USAT Evangaline Brisbane to Morotai
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	24 Nov 1945 ‒ 5 Dec 1945
Transport Details	HM LST 346 Morotai to Brisbane
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia

Pre War

Wilfred had completed his education with a certificate in Agriculture from Muresk.

War Service

Wilfred first enlisted on 6 Mar 1941 in the CMF (W33093) and began his training at Claremont on 14 Apr 1941, completing it on 12 Jul 1941, posted to the 121st Reserve Motor Transport Company. On 27 Oct 1941 he was transferred to the Area to enlist in the 2nd AIF having completed the paper work on 20 Oct 1941 at the Western Command General Details Depot in Claremont. On 28 Oct 1941 Wilfred was posted to the 3rd Training Battalion, and the same day re-posted to the 2/10th Australian Armoured Regiment and moved with them to Puckapunyal in Victoria.

On 9 Dec 1941 he was admitted to the 107th Australian General Hospital for treatment, before being releaased back to his unit on 20 Dec 1941. On 11 Jul 1942 they moved to NSW to undergo further training, and on 11 Dec 1942 they moved to Western Australia. Meanwhile on 22 Nov 1942 he had been appointed as a Group II Specialist Driver/Mechanic. From 15 Oct - 30 Nov 1943 he attended a course for Driver/Mechanics at Puckapunyal. From 27 Feb until 1 Mar 1944 he was treated by the 2/14th Australian Light Field Ambulance for diarrhoea.

On 18 Nov 1944 he married Effie King who was then living at 235 Duke street, Northam. With the reduced need for Armour units, Wilfred was transferred on 15 Mar 1945 to the 3rd Australian Reinforcement Training Battalion (Jungle Warfare) as a General Hand, and on 15 May 1945 he moved again, to the 10th Australian Ordnance Vehicle Park. On 19 Jun 1945 Wilfred and his unit boarded USAT Evangaline in Brisbane for Morotai in the Netherland East Indies where Australian troops had gathered to support the troops invading Borneo. They disembarked on 29 Jun 1945. His stay was short, returning from Morotai on 24 Nov 1945 aboard HM LST 346, and disembarking in Brisbane on 5 Dec 1945. From here he was sent to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot for discharge which tok place on 20 Dec 1945.