John WARD

John, (the family claim his real name was Daniel Mannix Ward), enlisted in to the Royal Australian Navy on 1 Dec 1936, with Service No 21330 and gave his DOB as 20 Mar 1919. He was discharged from the RAN on 26 Jun 1941.

John, there is no mention of why he changed his name, enlisted into the 2nd AIF on 9 Sept 1942 and this time gave his DOB as 10 Jun 1913, both enlistment papers have place of birth as MAFFRA, Victoria. On his army attestation papers, it asks if any other military service he has answered "NO".

He was posted to the Australian Army Service Corps on 22 Sept 1942. He attended a No 1 Course Drivers MT (Motor Transport) from 24 Oct to 21 Nov 1942. He transferred to LHQ (Land Headquarters) Training Centre, Jungle Warfare on 24 Mar 1943 and was posted to 23rd Australian Infantry Training Battalion on 5 Apr 1943. He transferred to Signals, 7th Australian Division on 5 Jun 1943.

He embarked for New Guinea aboard  “CANBERRA” on 26 Jul 1943. His records have no date of joining the unit on New Guinea but after medical treatment at 2/7th Australian General Hospital and 112nd Australian Convalescent Depot, it states that he re-joined the unit on 28 Jul 1944. He is known to have served as a Trooper in Headquarters Group and 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 Group.

He was promoted Acting Sergeant on 21 Nov 1945 and transferred to 53rd Port Craft Company on 31 Dec 1945, then to 56th Port Landing Craft Company on 28 Jan 1946 and further to 13th Small Ships on 4 Feb 1946.

He returned to Australia and was discharged on 26 Feb 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 "S.W.Pacific".