Peter Epps

Gilbert enlisted on 1 Jul 1940 and was appointed Acting Warrant Officer 2 class (WO II) same day. He was posted to 75th Light Aid Detachment, Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (75 LAD, AEME) on 24 Oct 1940. He served in Darwin from 15 Apr 1941 to 8 Dec 1941, when he embarked for Dutch Timor with 75 LAD as part of Sparrow Force. After the surrender of Sparrow Force, he was one of the 190 men who escaped to the Portuguese Timor and met up with the 2/2nd. He served in Headquarters until he returned to Australia on 25 Sept 1942. He attended No 1 NCO Instructor Course from 23 Jan to 3 Aug 1943 and posted to 6th Advance Workshop Company. His rank of WO II was confirmed on 30 Sept 1943 and he was promoted Warrant Officer First class (WO I) 14 Dec 1943. He transferred to 6th Australian Advance Workshop on 15 Jan 1944 and discharged on 14 Nov 1945 He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below.