Peter Epps
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Hi Graham It is a fact of life that many acts of bravery during all conflicts in our history have gone unrewarded. The military have a quota system of so many awards per so many troops and when that quota is reached, bad luck. Sometimes soldiers can get recognition in an "End of War List" that usually come out after the conflict is finished, but then only if a person was recommended for an award during the conflict but not recognised at the time. I have not seen or heard of there being a list of recommendations for WW2 as there is for WW1. I am afraid you will get nowhere with your claim if there is not a recommendation for an unrecognised award for Cyril, especially as all the members of the unit are no longer with us. I am the historian for the 2/2nd and realise Cryil did something very special on that first day on Timor, as did a lot of other members and they all cannot be recognised for their bravery. A very select few of were given awards for Timor. If you have any questions feel free to call me on 0415 441 325 Peter Epps
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Hi Darlene We all are proud of what our fathers did, it's a pity the story can't get out there for the rest of Australia to know. But they were a very small unit in a very big conflict, doing exceptional things for this country and their mates.
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All the above came from his service record, you could also read the unit histories and each time they mention "B" Platoon or Troop then he would more than likely have been involved. Histories of unit All the Bulls Men by Cyril Ayris History of 2nd Independent Company and 2/2 Commando Squadron by C D Doig Peter
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Hi Ann It is how we entered each man's name. ie. First name Upper case then lower but all of the Surnames are all Upper case. If you look at any of the men's bio page you will see what I mean My Dads page Kind regards Peter
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All members of "B" Platoon. NOTE Demmery has a .303 Sniper Rifle, the other two have standard .303 Rifle. Miller was one of the Sparrow Force men to make their way to East Timor and continue fighting with the unit after commando training at MAPE under Lt Turton. Rear L to R NX39548 Norman Francis Demmery, TX3328 Maxwell Lawrence Miller, WX12001 George Hamilton Smith, Front L to R WX12281 Thomas Francis Daniel Towers, WX10832 Francis Patrick Cunningham. -
HMAT ZEALANDIA transported the unit to Timor 8 Dec 1941 -
Australian Transport ship TAROONA. Used to transport unit home from New Guinea on 3 September 1944 and transport to New Britain on 9 Apr 1945 -
Australian Transport ship TAROONA. Used to transport unit home from New Guinea on 3 September 1944 and transport to New Britain on 9 Apr 1945 -
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.
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Good luck on your trek, hope it is not too taxing. Enjoy. Peter
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Left NX19547 Ronald Denva Host: Right SX15579 Lyle Henry Litchfield Both men are carrying Australian Designed and made OWEN Sub Machine Guns, 9mm calibre. -
Rear Left NX120986 Thomas Leslie O'Brien: Right VX122341 Stanley William Weppner Front Left SX16836 William James Bowe: Right WX10469 Walter Edward Monk -
8 Section, "C" Platoon prior to leaving Australia. Standing L to R WX12590 Frederick Napier, WX12583 William Sheehan, WX11372 Stan Sadler, WX13365 Merv (Doc) Wheatley, WX13731 William Wallace, WX9540 Gordon Rowley, WX12592 George Thomas, WX8527 William Taylor, WX11374 Charles Sadler, WX11493 Steven Rogers, WX11477 George Timms, WX12781 James Smailes. Seated L to R WX5537 Andrew Smeaton, WX11473 Gerald Otoole, WX9531 Alexander Stewart. -
TIMOR 1942 Signed by WX13213 JC Penglase, WX10278 SE Payne, WX13168 TH Martin, WX13212 FR Wilkes, TX3328 ML Miller -
TIMOR Note 1942 signed by WX10834 WA Drage, WX JPS Spencer, WX13310 FA Griffiths, WX10323 MS Herbert, WX13481 EW Thornander, WX13252 RD Harrington -
ANZAC Day Perth 1955. 1. unknown, 2. Ray Parry with his MM and USA Presidential Unit Citation for Korea, 3. unknown, 4. Clarrie Turner, 5. Dave Ritchie, 6. Arthur Smith, 7. unknown, 8. Bill Epps, 9. unknown. Please let us know any men recognised. -
L to R WX12592 George Thomas, WX9531 Alexander Stewart, WX8464 Albert Walsh, WX3488 Herbert Hewett, WX5537 Andrew Smeaton -
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The last page of the Unit's War Diary 24 Feb 1946
