Peter Epps

Raymond enlisted in the Citizens Military Force (Reserve) on 9 Jan 1941 with Service No W11211 and posted to 44th Infantry Battalion. He was promoted Corporal on 31 Jan 1940, Sergeant on 27 Mar 1940 and Lieutenant (Probationary) on 13 Feb 1941. He was confirmed Lieutenant on 29 Apr 1941 and transferred to the A.I.F. on 30 Apr 1941. He was an original member of the unit, embarking aboard “S.S. ZEALANDIA” on 8 Dec 1941 for Timor as a Lieutenant, Officer Commanding, No 9 Sect, “C” Platoon. Embarked at “Betano” for Darwin aboard “KURU” on 16 Nov 1942 as a Lieutenant. Transferred as Adjutant to 1st Australian Commando Training Squadron, Canungra, Queensland on 1 Jun 1943 then to 4th Australian Reinforcement Training Battalion (Jungle Warfare) on 24 Sept 1943. He was discharged on 7 Nov 1944. He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below.

Charles served as 52043 Private, 28th Battalion, A.I.F. from 8 Jan 1918 to 28 Feb 1919. He was an original member of the unit, embarking aboard “S.S. ZEALANDIA” on 8 Dec 1941 for Timor as a Captain, Officer Commanding, Australian Army Medical Corps Section, Headquarters Group. He was the unit Doctor. At “Ainaro”, he, with the help of his very competent Australian Army Medical Corps personnel, set up a field hospital and convalescent depot, which was a truly remarkable feat, for the unit was fighting a guerrilla action. The hospital was moved many times over the course of the campaign. Stragglers from the Koepang area and many sick and wounded men were nursed back to health, enabling them to take their place in the field again. After the campaign on Timor, he embarked with the unit, for Australia aboard the Royal Dutch destroyer “Tjerk Hiddes” on 11 Dec 1942 . 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. He was awarded a Commander in Chief Commendation Card for service in Timor, Authority, Army Order 69/43 for Bravery and Distinguished Service on 22 Apr 1943. See A Spence Bio page for example He was transferred to 118th Australian General Hospital on 23 Mar 1943, then 60th Camp Hospital on 17 Jun 1943. He was appointed Officer Commanding, (OC) 40th Australian Camp Hospital on 20 Oct 1943, he was promoted Major, 10 Dec 1943. He was posted to Headquarters W.A. Lines of Communication as Deputy Assistant Director, Medical Services (DADMS) on 7 Feb 1944. He was appointed Commanding Officer (CO) of 109th Convalescing Hospital on 3 Jan 1945, then as Deputy Assistant Director, Medical Services (DADMS), Headquarters 8th Australian Base Subarea on 9 Mar 1945. He was transferred to Queensland Lines of Communication Area on 17 Mar 1945 and embarked for LABUAN on 3 Apr 1945. He was appointed as Assistant Director, Medical Services (ADMS), Advance Headquarters, Australian Military Forces on 12 Nov 1945 and enplaned at LABUAN for MOTORAI on 30 Oct 1945, then appointed Assistant Director, Medical Services (ADMS), Headquarters MOROTAI Force on 13 Dec 1945. He returned to Australia aboard HMAS "PLATAPUS" on 15 Dec 1945 and was discharged on 7 Jan 1946. He was entitled to the a British War Medal, Victory Medal, 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". He was appointed a Serving Brother of the Most venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem in London Gazette dated 26 Jun 1964.

Colin served with 25th Light Horse Machine Gun Regt, 1938-1941 with Service No W1314 and he was commissioned, Lieutenant, on 23 Oct 1940. He transferred to the A.I.F. on 7 Apr 1941 and was an original member of the unit, embarking aboard “S.S. ZEALANDIA” on 8 Dec 1941 for Timor as a Lieutenant, Officer Commanding, No 5 Sect, “B” Platoon. Colin commanded "D" Platoon which consisted of the men who escaped from the Koepang end and were trained up to be commandos plus the original Engineers Section. 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. Aug 1942 he took command of "H" Force and in Oct 1942, George Boyland took over command of “H” Force from him. 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 as a Lieutenant, Officer Commanding, No 5 Sect, “B” Troop, for New Guinea aboard S.S. “DUNTROON” on 17 Jun 1943 and returned to Australia with them aboard “TAROONA” on 3 Sept 1944. Colin was promoted to Captain on 7 Mar 1945 and after leave and further reorganization, he embarked for New Britain aboard “TAROONA” on 9 Apr 1945 with the unit as a Captain, Officer Commanding, “A” Troop. He returned to Australia aboard "MANUNDA" on 19 Dec 1945 and was discharged on 26 Apr 1946. Colin was the first Life Member of the Association in 1950 and was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1988. 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

George was an original member of the unit, embarking aboard “S.S. ZEALANDIA” on 8 Dec 1941 for Timor as a Signaller in Signals Section, 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. He left the unit on 16 Jun 1943 and joined the 44th Infantry Battalion on 4 Jul 1943, he then transferred to 2/32nd Infantry Battalion on 5 Jul 1944. George transferred to 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion on 21 Feb 1945 and embarked for MOROTAI aboard "SEA BARB" on 16 Mar 1945, then embarked for TARAKAN on 22 Apr 1945. He embarked for BALIKAPAN aboard Landing Ship Troop 703 on 23 Jun 1945. George transferred to 2/12th Infantry Battalion on 10 Oct 1945 and returned to Australia aboard "STANFORD VICTORY" on 10 Jan 1946 and was discharged on 25 Jan 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".

Francis enlisted on 15 Jan 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 4 Sect, “B” 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 medical treatment and leave, he was transferred as an instructor to 1st Australian Commando Training Battalion on 19 Apr 1943, then to 29th Australian Infantry Training Battalion on 27 Apr 1943, then to 18th Australian Infantry Training Battalion on 15 Jun 1943. He was appointed Paid Lance Corporal on 11 Sept 1943 and reverted to Private on 3 Nov 1943. He embarked from Townsville for New Guinea aboard "CANBERRA" on 14 Jan 1944 and re-joined the unit as a Trooper in No 6 Sect, “B” Troop on 15 Nov 1943. He 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 No 6 Sect, “B” Troop. He transferred out of the unit on 8 Jan 1946 and returned to Australia aboard "SALAMAUA" on 18 Jan 1946. He was discharged on 7 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

Francis (Frank) 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 Sect 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.

John enlisted on 18 Oct 1940 and during training was promoted Temporary Corporal from 6 Dec 1940, to to Lieutenant 1 Mar 1941. He was an original member of the unit, embarked aboard “S.S. ZEALANDIA” on 8 Dec 1941 for Timor as a Lieutenant, Officer Commanding No 8 Section, “C” Platoon. After his campaign on Timor, he embarked at “BETANO” for Darwin aboard the “KURU” on 16 Nov 1942 as a Lieutenant. John transferred to 1st Australian Commando Training Squadron on 20 Apr 1943 as an Instructor and then to 4th Australian Recruit Training Battalion as an Instructor on 24 Sept 1943. He then transferred to 2/7th Australian Cavalry Commando Regiment on 1 Nov 1943. He was discharged 7 Nov 1944. John was made a Life Member of the Association in 1952. He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below.

Douglas was an original member of the unit, embarking aboard “ZEALANDIA” on 8 Dec 1941 for Timor as a Lance Corporal in No 1 Section, “A” Platoon. He was given a field commission on 4 Jul 1942 and took over command of No 1 Section. 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 officially promoted to Lieutenant on 24 Dec 1942. After leave and reorganization he embarked with the unit for New Guinea as a Lieutenant, Officer Commanding No 2 Section, “A” Troop aboard “DUNTROON” on 17 Jun 1943 and returned to Australia with them aboard “TAROONA” on 3 Sept 1944. After further leave and reorganization, he embarked for New Britain aboard “TAROONA” on 9 Apr 1945 with the unit as a Lieutenant, Officer Commanding No 8 Section, “C” Troop. He returned to Australia aboard "KATOOMBA" on 16 Dec 1945 and was discharged on 7 Feb 1946. Doug was made a Life Member of the Association in 1987. 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 "PNG".

George was an original member of the unit, embarking aboard “S.S. ZEALANDIA” on 8 Dec 1941 for Timor as a Captain, Officer Commanding “C” Platoon. In Oct 1942, George took over command of “H” Force from Lt Doig. After the campaign on Timor, he embarked with the unit, for Australia aboard the Royal Dutch destroyer “Tjerk Hiddes” on 16 Dec 1942. George transferred to 1st Australian Commando Training Squadron as an Instructor on 1 Jun 1943, then to 4th Australian Reinforcement Training Battalion (Jungle Warfare) on 24 Sept 1943. He was discharged on 7 Nov 1944. He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below. George passed away on 14 June 1974. See 'Courier' August 1974, p.3-4. https://doublereds.org.au/couriers/1974/Courier August 1974.pdf BOYLAND GEORGE : Service Number - WX6490.pdf