Peter Epps

Warwick was an original member of the unit, embarking aboard SS Zealandia on 8 Dec 1941 for Timor as a Private in No 9 Section, “C” Platoon. After the campaign on Timor, he embarked with the unit, for Australia aboard the Royal Dutch destroyer Tjerk Hiddes on 16 Dec 1942. After leave and reorganisation he embarked with the unit for New Guinea as a Lance Corporal in No 7 Section, “C” Troop aboard SS Duntroon on 17 Jun 1943 and returned to Australia with them aboard Taroona on 3 Sept 1944. After further leave and reorganisation, he embarked for New Britain aboard Taroona on 9 Apr 1945 with the unit as an Acting Corporal in “I” Section, Headquarters Group. He was promoted to Corporal on 30 May 1945 and transferred to 22nd Infantry Battalion on 26 Dec 1945. He returned to Australia aboard VITO on 16 Jan 1946. Later served with Service No WX501085. He was discharged on 11 Mar 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".

Alfred enlisted on 9 May 1941 and was an original member of the unit, embarking aboard “ZEALANDIA” on 8 Dec 1941 for Timor as a Private in Headquarters Group of “B” Platoon. He took part in the raid on Dili, on night of 15-16 May 1942. After the campaign on Timor, he embarked with the unit, for Australia aboard the Royal Dutch destroyer “Tjerk Hiddes” on 16 Dec 1942. After leave and reorganization, Alfred embarked with the unit for New Guinea aboard “DUNTROON” on 17 Jun 1943 as a Trooper in No 4 Sect, “B” Troop and returned to Australia aboard “TAROONA” on 25 Aug 1944. After further leave and reorganization, he embarked for New Britain aboard “TAROONA” on 9 Apr 1945 with the unit as a Trooper in No 4 Sect, “B” Troop He transferred to 2/2nd Forestry Company on 2 May 1945 and returned to Australia aboard “TAROONA” on 18 Mar 1946. He was discharged on 17 Apr 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

William enlisted on 6 May 1941 and was an original member of the unit, embarking aboard “S.S. ZEALANDIA” on 8 Dec 1941 for Timor as a Private in No 3 Sect, “A” Platoon. After the campaign on Timor, he embarked with the unit, for Australia aboard the Royal Dutch destroyer “Tjerk Hiddes” on 16 Dec 1942. Transferred to 44th Battalion on 4 Jul 1943, was promoted Acting Corporal, 14 Oct 1943 and reverted to Private on 3 Dec 1943. He transferred to 2/11th Battalion on 5 Jul 1944 and embarked for New Guinea aboard "KATOOMBA" on 5 Nov 1944 and returned to Australia on 30 Nov 1945, transferring to 17th Australian Maintenance Battalion, 17 Dec 1945. He was discharged on 15 Aug 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

John enlisted on 6 may 1941 and was an original member of the unit, embarking aboard “ZEALANDIA” on 8 Dec 1941 for Timor as a Private in No 9 Sect, “C” Platoon. In Jul 1942 he was part of “H” Force which comprised 2 Officers and 10 men to source food and patrol the east end of the island for Japanese infiltration. After the campaign on Timor, he embarked with the unit, for Australia aboard the Royal Dutch destroyer “Tjerk Hiddes” on 16 Dec 1942. He was appointed Lance Corporal on 8 Jun 1943 and embarked with the unit as a Lance Corporal in No 9 Sect, “C” Troop for New Guinea aboard “DUNTROON” on 17 Jun 1943. He was then appointed Paid Lance Corporal on 1 Jul 1943 and returned to Australia with them aboard “TAROONA” on 3 Sept 1944. He was promoted Acting Corporal on 30 Jan 1945. John was Mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette, 8 March 1945, Commonwealth Gazette, No 54, 15 March 1945, for Distinguished Service in the South West Pacific (New Guinea). After leave and reorganization, he embarked for New Britain aboard “TAROONA” on 9 Apr 1945 with the unit, as a Corporal in No 9 Sect, “C” Troop. he was confirmed as Corporal on 30 Apr 1945. John left the 2/2nd on 26 Dec 1945 and returned to Australia aboard "TAOS VICTORY" on 29 Jan 1946, he was discharged on 19 Mar 1946. He served for many years on the Association Committee & was made a Life Member of the Association in 1958. He was awarded Centenary Medal 1 Jan 2001 Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 11 Jun 2001 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

Frederick enlisted on 2 Feb 1941 and was an original member of the unit, embarking aboard “S.S. ZEALANDIA” on 8 Dec 1941 for Timor as a Private in No 7 Section, “C” Platoon. He was Killed in Action, 20 Feb 1942, when the Ration Truck was caught in an ambush, during the first landing of the Japanese on Timor. He is commemorated on the Northern Territory Memorial, Panel 3. He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below.

Prior to joining the unit Donald served with 24th Anti Tank. He was an original member of the unit, embarking aboard “S.S. ZEALANDIA” on 8 Dec 1941 serving as a Private in No 7 Section, “C” Platoon. Donald was Killed in Action, 20 Feb 1942, when the section was caught in an ambush during the first landing of Japanese on Timor. He is commemorated at the Northern Territory Memorial, Panel 3. Son of Robert and Hilda Mary Airey, of Shenton Park, Western Australia. He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below

Bernard enlisted on 2 May 1941 and was an original member, aboard “S.S. ZEALANDIA” on 8 Dec 1941 for Timor as a Private in No 3 Sect, “A” Platoon. He was medevac'd at “Betano” for Darwin aboard “KURU” on 2 Sept 1942 as a Private. After medical treatment he transferred to 13th Australian Infantry Training Battalion on 6 Sept 1943 and was appointed Lance Corporal on 31 Sept 1943. He transferred to 44th Australian Infantry Battalion on 13 Oct 1943 and promoted to Acting Corporal on 1 May 1944. He reverted to Private on 24 Jun 1944 and transferred to 2/24th Battalion on 5 Jul 1944. He embarked for MOROTAI with them on 8 Apr 1945 and was wounded in action, Mine blast, Face, on 2 May 1945. After medical treatment, he returned to 2/24th on 5 May 1945 and embarked with them for TARAKAN aboard "WESTRALIA" on 22 Sept 1945. He returned to Australia aboard "HMS GLORY" on 12 Dec 1945 and was discharged on 16 Apr 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

Gerald enlisted in Citizens Military Force (Reserves) on 23 Jul 1933 and was posted to 13th Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers with Service No 246604. He transferred to 11th Battalion on 26 Feb 1940 and promoted to Sergeant on 2 Sept 1940. His Service No changed to W6810. He transferred to the A.I.F. on 29 Apr 1941 and was promoted to Acting Sergeant on 12 May 1941. His promotion to Sergeant was confirmed on 8 Dec 1941. He was an original member of the unit, embarking aboard “S.S. ZEALANDIA” on 8 Dec 1941 for Timor as the Platoon Sergeant, Engineers Section, Headquarters Group. The Sapper Section, which combined with members of the 1st Reinforcements and the former soldiers from the Koepang area and on 8 May 1942, a new Platoon, “D” Platoon, was formed, under the command of Lieutenant Turton and later under Lt Doig. Gerald was commissioned in the field on 4 Jul 1942 as Acting Lieutenant and took command of the Sapper Section, 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 embarked with the unit for New Guinea as a Lieutenant, Officer Commanding, Engineer Section, Headquarters Group aboard S.S. “DUNTROON” on 17 Jun 1943 and at Bululo, he flew to Australia on 27 Jun 1944 to attend Land Headquarters School of Military Intelligence Course No 17 . He re-joined the unit on 14 Nov 1944. He was Mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette, 8 Mar 1945 and in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 15 Mar 1945. After leave and further reorganization, he embarked for New Britain aboard “TAROONA” on 9 Apr 1945 with the unit, as a Lieutenant, Officer Commanding, Intelligence Section, Headquarters Group. He flew back to Australia on 18 Sept 1945 and was discharged on 15 Jul 1946. He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below.

William enlisted into the Australian Military Forces in Perth, with Service No W4134 on 29th Aug 1940 and served with 13th Field Company Engineers, Royal Australian Engineers, he then enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces, Recruit Training Depot at Claremont, W.A. on 29 Apr 1941 with Service No WX12125. Bill entrained from Claremont, W.A. for 7th Infantry Training Centre, Foster, Vict for Commando Training, on 4 May 1941. After training at Foster, joined the 2nd Independent Company on the 15 Jul 1941. He was promoted Acting Corporal on 1 Aug 1941 and was confirmed as a Corporal on 8 Dec 1941, the day the unit a sailed for Timor. As an original member of the unit, he embarked aboard “ZEALANDIA” on 8 Dec 1941 for Timor as a Corporal in the Engineers Section, Headquarters Group. He was involved with blowing the Bridge over the Glano River, when the Japanese landed on 20 Feb 1942. On 8 May 1942, the Engineers Section, with the selected soldiers from the Koepang area, were formed into a new Platoon, “D” Platoon under the command of Lieutenant Turton and later under Lieutenant Doig. After the campaign on Timor, he embarked with the unit, for Australia aboard the Royal Dutch destroyer “Tjerk Hiddes” on 11 Dec 1942. The unit went to camp in Qld on 23 Jan 1943 and then on leave. Promoted to Lance Sergeant on 10 Apr 1943. After leave and reorganization, he did not embark with the unit for New Guinea, as he was the Engineer Sergeant, in charge of the Unit stores, which he accompanied, aboard U.S. Navy ship “CITY OF FORT WORTH” on 20 Jun 1943 and re-joined the unit on 26 Jun 1943. Bill was not known as a sailor, he could not go on the Ferry over the Swan River without being sea sick and when on the US Navy ship with all their very good food compared to the Australian Navy, he spent the whole time hanging over the railings. This became a family joke. He transferred out of the unit from New Guinea on 13 Jun 1944 and flew out of NABZAB, landing in Townsville on 19 Jun 1944. Bill was promoted to Sergeant on 14 Aug 1944 and attended a Second Australian Army Junior Leaders School, "To train personnel posted as instructors to staff training units (not Infantry) in drill & weapon training" from 14 Aug to 26 Aug 1944. He was posted as an Instructor at 3rd Training Section, Royal Australian Engineers, Kapooka, N.S.W. on 27 Aug 1944. Bill returned to Claremont Leave and Transit Depot on 5 Dec 1944 for leave and was discharged on 13 Oct 1945 at Karrakatta, W.A.. He was a committee member for many years, which included being Vice President and President, he maintained the Association Area of Kings park for many years and he was made a Life Member of the Association in 1963. His wife Jess was made a Life Member in 1975 and his son Peter in 1991. He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below.

John (Chook) enlisted on 5 Apr 1941 and was an original member of the unit, embarking aboard “S.S. ZEALANDIA” on 8 Dec 1941 for Timor as a Private in No 2 Sect, “A” Platoon. He was involved in the defence of the Dili Airstrip where he was awarded a Mention in Despatches for his distinguished service. After the campaign on Timor, he embarked with the unit, for Australia aboard the Royal Dutch destroyer “Tjerk Hiddes” on either 11 Dec 1942 or 16 Dec 1942, as the embarkation rolls do not differentiate. He was Mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette, 25 May 1943 and in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No 119-3 Jun 1943. These are the two Gazettes for the Timor Campaign. After leave and reorganization he embarked with the unit as a Corporal in No 2 Sect, “A” Troop for New Guinea aboard S.S. “DUNTROON” on 17 Jun 1943. John was medevac'd to Australia 21 May 1944 and after medical treatment he was transferred to Land Headquarters Tactical School on 11 Aug 1944. He was discharged on 31 Aug 1945. John was made a Life Member of the Association in 1985. He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below.