Jon Henry Daniel THOMAS

This man is also known as John Daniel Thomas Daniels and John Henry Thomas Daniels.

Jon (Dan and Combined Ops) enlisted on 24 Apr 1942 and was posted to No 8 Independent Company on 21 Sept 1942, he was posted to 1st Australian Commando Training Squadron on 21 Jan 1943. He embarked for New Guinea aboard "CANBERRA" on 4 Feb 1943 and joined the unit on 25 Jun 1943 as a Trooper and served in Transport Section, Headquarters Group. As the unit had no transport, the Transport Sect was used as another Section. He was Medevac to Australia aboard "KATOOMBA" on 6 Apr 1944 and after treatment, returned to New Guinea aboard "TAROONA" on 23 Jun 1944 and re joined the unit on 25 Jun 1944.

He returned to Australia with them aboard “TAROONA” on 3 Sept 1944. After leave and reorganization, he embarked for New Britain aboard “TAROONA” on 9 Apr 1945 with the unit as a Trooper in Headquarters Section, “B” Troop. Dan transferred to "D" Company, 67th Infantry Battalion on 6 Dec 1945 and embarked for MOROTAI aboard Landing Ship Troops (LST) 419 on 10 Dec 1945, he then embarked with them for KURE, Japan aboard "TAOS VICTORY" on 15 Feb 1946 for service with British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF). He was appointed paid Lance Corporal on 11 Mar 1946. Reverted to Private on 22 Jul 1946 and appointed paid Lance Corporal again on 16 Sept 1946. He returned to Australia aboard "KANIMBLA" on 16 Dec 1946 and was promoted to Corporal on 22 Feb 1947. He changed his name to John Henry Thomas Daniels on 27 Mar 1947 and was discharged from the A.I.F. on 2 Jun 1948.

For his service during WW2 he was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below. For his BCOF service he is now also entitled to the Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with a clasp "S.W.Pacific" and "JAPAN".

Dan enlisted in Citizen Military Force (Reserve) on 22 Aug 1951 with Service No 3 / 73723 and served with "A" Company, 12th Infantry Battalion reaching the rank of Sergeant. He transferred to the Australian Regular Army as a Private with Service No 6 / 1215 on 1 Oct 1958 and was promoted to Temporary Corporal on the same date. He was transferred to 20th National Service Training Battalion on 19 Nov 1958 and promoted Corporal on 28 Aug 1959. On 4 Feb 1960 he was reduce to Private and on 11 Feb 1960 was appointed Lance Corporal. On 16 Feb 1960, he transferred to 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, he served with them in Malaya from 17 Nov 1961 to 2 Aug 1963. He was promoted to Corporal on 14 Dec 1963 whilst at Royal Military College (RMC), Duntroon. He was promoted Temporary Sergeant, at RMC, then on 1 Jan 1966 he was promoted Sergeant, again whilst at RMC.

He was finally discharged in Nov 1970 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. 33 years service with 12 years overseas.

He was Middleweight Champion of 34th Australian Infantry Brigade, British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan.