Eric James HERD

Eric enlisted in the Citizens Military Force (Reserves) on 9 Apr 1941 with Service No N108615 and posted to Ordnance Workshops as a Lorry Driver. He was posted to Darwin on 22 Apr 1941 and transferred to the A.I.F. on 21 Nov 1941 and posted to 75th Light Aid Detachment, same day. He embarked for Timor on 8 Dec 1941 and  joined the 2/2nd on Timor from 75th Light Aid Detachment, as a Private, after the fall of Koepang, approx March 1942. He was one of the former Koepang men, who moved to the village of Mape for intensive commando training and on 8 May 1942, they were formed into a new Platoon, “D” Platoon under the command of Lieutenant Turton and later under Lt Doig. After the campaign on Timor, he embarked with the unit, for Australia aboard the Royal Dutch destroyer “Tjerk Hiddes” on 16 Dec 1942.     

He transferred to 6th Advance Base Workshop, Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (AEME), Vehicle Workshop Section Type "B" on 14 Apr 1943 and then to 15th Australian Advance Workshop on 7 Nov 1944. He embarked for Morotai aboard "EVANGELINE" on 18 Jun 1945 and then to Luban aboard "JOSHUA SEMEY" on 2 Aug 1945. He transferred to 66th Australian Infantry Battalion on 27 Oct 1945 and embarked for Morotai aboard Landing Ship Troops 329 on 3 Nov 1945. He transferred to 119th Transport Platoon on 18 Nov 1945.              

He returned to Australia on 27 Jan 1946 and was discharged 25 Mar 1946.

He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below. He is now also entitled to the Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with a clasp