Colin MCKENZIE

Colin enlisted on 23 Sept 1940 and posted to 75th Light Aid Detachment (LAD). He embarked for Timor on 17 Jan 1942 and joined the 2/2nd on Timor as a Private, from 75th LAD, 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 11 Dec 1942.

He transferred to 106th LAD on 127 Feb 1943, then 77th Anti Aircraft Workshop on 11 Jun 1943 and embarked for New Guinea aboard "DUNTROON" on 27 Sept 1943 and returned to Australia aboard "CAPE MENDOCINO" on 16 Jun 1944. He transferred to 2/1st Australian Composite Anti Aircraft Regiment Workshop on 27 Dec 1944 and embarked for Morotai on 21 May 1945 and then embarked for Balikpapan aboard Landing Ship Troops 1016 on 9 Jul 1945.

He returned to Australia on 19 Nov 1945 and was discharged on 5 Dec 1945.

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