Edward Willis
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William enlisted on 5 Jul 1940 and was appointed Acting Corporal on 18 May 1941. He was an original member of the unit, he was confirmed Corporal and embark for Timor aboard “ZEALANDIA” on 8 Dec 1941 for Timor as a Corporal in “Q” Staff, Headquarters group. After the campaign on Timor, he embarked with the unit, for Australia aboard the Royal Dutch destroyer “Tjerk Hiddes” on 11 Dec 1942. After leave and reorganization, he was promoted Sergeant on 10 Jun 1943 and embarked with the unit for New Guinea aboard “DUNTROON” on 17 Jun 1943 as a Sergeant in “Q” Staff, Headquarters group and returned to Australia with them aboard “TAROONA” on 3 Sept 1944. After leave and further reorganization, he embarked for New Britain aboard “TAROONA” on 9 Apr 1945 with the unit as a Sergeant with “Q” Staff, Headquarters group. He returned to Australia on 15 Sept 1945 and was discharged 22 Oct 1945. He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below.
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Albert enlisted on 6 Dec 1939 and was posted to 2/5th Battalion. He embarked for the Middle East on 14 Apr 1940 and after training was graded Group II Signaller on 18 May 1940. he transferred to Signals, 6th Australian Division on 15 Jul 1940. He embarked for Greece on 6 Apr 1941 and returned to Middle East in May 1941. He returned to Australia aboard "ANDES" on 16 Mar 1942. He was posted to Northern Territory Signals on 16 Jun 1942 and joined the 2/2nd on Timor as a Signalman in the Signals and Cypher Unit sent from Australia after contact was made with “WINNIE THE WAR WINNER”. He returned to Australia with the 2/4th Australian Independent Company on 9 Jan 1943. He was posted to Signals Recruit Training Battalion as an Instructor on 8 Apr 1943 and then to Signals, 6th Australian Division on 17 Jul 1943. He transferred to Australian Army Corps Signals on 2 Dec 1943 and then back to Signals, 6th Australian Division on 11 Apr 1944. He was discharged on 15 Jul 1945. He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below.
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The Australian War Memorial (AWM) has published a new book by Senior Historian in the Military History Section, Dr Karl James covering the history of the Australian commando units in the Pacific War 1941-45. The concise text is well illustrated with photographs and art works from the AWM collections. The 2/2 features especially in Chapter 2 covering ‘Timor and Wau’ while the striking cover photo displays four 2/2 men: Frank Thorpe, ‘Chook’ Fowler, Jack Prior and ‘Duck’ Watson. The unit’s other campaigns in New Guinea and New Britain are summarised in later chapters in the book. The book costs $39.99 and can be purchased at most bookshops or online ( https://www.newsouthbooks.com.au/books/double-diamonds/ ). Additional background relating to the book can be found on the AWM web site: https://www.awm.gov.au/media/releases/backgrounder-double-diamonds/. This new publication complements the re-issue Paul Cleary’s best-selling account of the Timor campaign ‘The men who came out of the ground’ by Hachette Australia. Ed
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Further to my earlier post, John 'Curly' Papworth is featured in a new Australian War Memorial publication - Double Diamonds: Australian commandos in the Pacific War https://www.newsouthbooks.com.au/books/double-diamonds/ The Australian Commando Association, Victoria http://www.austcdoassocvic.com could also be contacted for information about him. Ed
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Hi Jamie: RE: PAPWORTH, FRANCIS JOHN: Service Number - VX66806: Date of birth - 09 May 1915 : Place of birth - ST KILDA VIC : Place of enlistment - ROYAL PARK VIC : Next of Kin - PAPWORTH LORNA Please see linked file below for some reference sources for your father; I hope you there is something useful there for you. Ed Willis Papworth sources.docx
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Hachette Australia has reissued Paul Cleary's book in a new paperback format. https://www.hachette.com.au/books/detail.page?isbn=9780733636608
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The July 2016 edition of the Courier is now available for download here.
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Hi Jane: Hope the following info about Norman Demmery helps: Listed as one of the 1st Reinforcements on Timor; see 'Historically yours! War clouds gather' Courier, November 1959, p.9 (attached) Listed as participant in Safari; see Courier, June 1968, p.14 https://doublereds.org.au/couriers/1968-06%20-%20Courier%20June%201968.pdf Listed in 2/2/ nominal roll, Ayris, All the Bull's men, p.493. Service record photo: http://www.sparrowbook.com/#!nx39548--demmery,-norman-francis/zoom/c50a/image_mv6 Nice little wartime anecdote about Norm found on Trove database: http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/112521201?searchTerm=%22Norm%20Demmery%22&searchLimits=exactPhrase=Norm+Demmery|||anyWords|||notWords|||requestHandler|||dateFrom|||dateTo|||sortby Worth searching Trove under all variations of Norm's name: http://trove.nla.gov.au Burial reference for Norman Francis Demmery (1924-1998), Grafton, N.S.W cemetery http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=48616268 If you're a member of Ancestry.com or can get access to it through your local library, there are also references to him there. Regards Ed Willis Courier_November_1959.pdf
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Several good topical stories and photos on this Blog; thanks to Colleen for passing this on: http://veteranvisit2016.org/blog-1/
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Good move Louis!!!
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The March 2016 edition of the Courier is now available for download here.
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