William George Davis

William George Davis

Personal Information
Date of Birth	29 Aug 1914
Place of Birth	Yarloop, Western Australia
Death	6 Oct 1998, aged 84
Place of Death	Bayswater, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	26 years, 9 months
Description	5'8½" (1.74m) tall ; ; medium complexion ; grey eyes ; brown hair ; two moles on left cheek
Occupation	Woodcutter
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	William street, Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Robert Walter Davis
Military Information
Reg Number	WX13819
Date of Enlistment	3 Jun 1941
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	9 Sep 1941 ‒ 23 Sep 1941
Transport Details	HMT Queen Mary Fremantle to Suez, Egypt
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	16 Feb 1942 ‒ 17 Mar 1942
Transport Details	HMT Durban Castle Middle East to Adelaide
2nd Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	5 Nov 1944 ‒ 13 Nov 1944
Transport Details	HMT Katoomba Townsville to Aitape, PNG
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	15 Jan 1946 ‒ 23 Jan 1946
Transport Details	SS Suva Lae, PNG to Sydney
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia - twice
Medals	1939-45 Star Africa Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

War Service

Enlisted at Claremont camp 3 Jun 1941 and three days later he reported tothe Naval Base Training Depot. On 10 Jul 1941 he transferred to No 1 Training Battalion at Northam and five days later he was granted a week of pre-embarkation leave. On 9 September he boarded HMT Queen Mary for the Middle East via Trincomalee in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), disembarking in Suez on 23 Sep 1941. On arrival he was sent to the 19th Australian Infantry Training Battalion before being posted to the 2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion on 13 Nov 1941. With Australian troops being brought home to face the Japanese, he boarded HMT Durban Castle on 16 Feb 1942, disembarking in Adelaide on 17 Mar 1942.

On 7 Aug 1943 Bill was admitted to the 2/2nd Australian General Hospital with scabies, returning to the battalion on 18th August. On 29 Feb 1944 Bill was granted profficiency pay, backdated to 1 Jul 1943, and on 18 Sep 1944 he was appointed Lance Corporal. On 5 Nov 1944 at Townsville he embarked on HMT Katoomba, disembarking at Aitape in New Guinea on 13 Nov 1944. On 3 Feb 1945 Bill chose to revert to Private. He was seen by the 2/2nd Australian Field Ambulance on 15 Apr 1945 with a fever, later diagnosed as Dengue. They admitted him the next day to the 2/11th Australian General Hospital. On 26 Apr 1945 he was released to the 6th Division's Rest Camp, but returned to the battalion the same day. However, on 22 Jun 1945 he again needed medical help, this time from the 2/7th Australian Field Ambulance for Tinea Circinata. He was passed on the same day to the 104th Australian Casualty Clearing Station and they forwarded him the next day to the 2/11th Australian General Hospital to be treated for dermatitis. Released on 3 July it was not until 9 Jul 1945 that he rejoined the battalion.

Bill was transferred on 7 Nov 1945 to the 2/7th Australian Infantry Battalion, and a month (7 Dec 1945) later he moved on to the 2/1st Australian Field Company. Two days later he was posted to the 2nd Australian Army Troops Company, before on 30 Jan 1946 when he was sent for discharge which took place on 5 Feb 1946.