Difference between revisions of "Len Malarkey"
From Our Contribution
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On 25 Jun 1941 Len was transferred to the 2nd/16th Australian Infantry Battalion reinforcements, and he embarked with them on 9 Sep 1941 on [[HMT Queen Mary]] in Fremantle for the Middle East, disembarking on 23 Sep 1941. The battalion had most recently been involved in fighting the Vichy French in Lebanon and Syria and was still there as part of the garrison forces. On 20 Dec 1941 Len was admitted to the [[1st Australian General Hospital]] with measles, and was released to the 21st Australian Infantry Training Battalion before rejoining the 2/16th Battalion on 19 Jan 1942. | On 25 Jun 1941 Len was transferred to the 2nd/16th Australian Infantry Battalion reinforcements, and he embarked with them on 9 Sep 1941 on [[HMT Queen Mary]] in Fremantle for the Middle East, disembarking on 23 Sep 1941. The battalion had most recently been involved in fighting the Vichy French in Lebanon and Syria and was still there as part of the garrison forces. On 20 Dec 1941 Len was admitted to the [[1st Australian General Hospital]] with measles, and was released to the 21st Australian Infantry Training Battalion before rejoining the 2/16th Battalion on 19 Jan 1942. | ||
− | Len and the rest of the battalion boarded the [[SS Île de | + | Len and the rest of the battalion boarded the [[SS Île de France]] at Suez for Adelaide, but transhipped to the [[SS Kosciusko]] at Adda Atoll in the Maldives on 11 Feb 1942. Originally the purpose was for them to reinforce the British in Burma (Myanmar) but on their way there they were turned around and sent to Australia by the Prime Minister following a confrontation with Churchill. Len disembarked in Adelaide on 25 Mar 1942. During the voyage Len had failed to appear at a parade for which he was awarded 3 days Confined to Barracks (CB), or extra duties. |
− | Soon after their arrival in Adelaide the battalion was placed on trains for Queensland and, soon after their arrival there, they on 6 Aug 1942 were embarked at Brisbane on [[SS James Fenimore Cooper]] for Port Moresby, disembarking on 13 Aug 1942. Sent immediately to the Kokoda Track where a desperate fighting withdrawal was under way against overwhelming Japanese forces. On 12 Sep 1942 Len was evacuated to the Infectious Diseases Hospital with Dysentery, before being released to the 113th Australian Convalescent Depot on 19 Sep 1942. He rejoined the battalion on 24 Sep 1942 as they prepared to attack the Japanese positions at Gona and Buna. On 8 Dec 1942 Len was wounded in action with a gun shot wound to the shoulder. Evacuated to the [[2nd/9th Australian General Hospital]] at Port Moresby on 10 Dec 1942, he was embarked on [[HMAHS Ship Manunda], and on 24 Dec 1942 he was admitted to the [[102nd Australian General Hospital]] at Holland Park in Brisbane. On 24 Jan 1943 he was placed on Ambulance Train No 2 for the 112th Australian Convalescent Depot in NSW. Discharged on 24 Feb 1943, and transferred to WA. While in WA he was charged with being AWOL from 5:00pm on 20 Apr 1943 until 10:30am on 23 Apr 1943, being fined £5 and the loss of three days pay. | + | Soon after their arrival in Adelaide the battalion was placed on trains for Queensland and, soon after their arrival there, they on 6 Aug 1942 were embarked at Brisbane on [[SS James Fenimore Cooper]] for Port Moresby, disembarking on 13 Aug 1942. Sent immediately to the Kokoda Track where a desperate fighting withdrawal was under way against overwhelming Japanese forces. On 12 Sep 1942 Len was evacuated to the Infectious Diseases Hospital with Dysentery, before being released to the 113th Australian Convalescent Depot on 19 Sep 1942. He rejoined the battalion on 24 Sep 1942 as they prepared to attack the Japanese positions at Gona and Buna. On 8 Dec 1942 Len was wounded in action with a gun shot wound to the shoulder. Evacuated to the [[2nd/9th Australian General Hospital]] at Port Moresby on 10 Dec 1942, he was embarked on [[HMAHS Ship Manunda], and on 24 Dec 1942 he was admitted to the [[102nd Australian General Hospital]] at Holland Park in Brisbane. On 24 Jan 1943 he was placed on Ambulance Train No 2 for the 112th Australian Convalescent Depot in NSW. Discharged on 24 Feb 1943, and transferred to WA. While in WA he was charged with being AWOL from 5:00pm on 20 Apr 1943 until 10:30am on 23 Apr 1943, being fined £5 and the loss of three days pay. |
+ | |||
+ | In August 1943 he was back with his unit's echelon in Queensland, and on 6 Aug 1943 he boarded the [[SS Duntroon]] in Townsville for Port Moresby, arriving there on 8 Aug 1943 before being sent to the Lae area. Granted Proficiency Pay on 24 Oct 1943 He was treated by the 111th Australian Casualty Clearing Station =for malaria, returning to the 2nd/16th Battalion on 4 Dec 1943. On 1 Feb 1944 he was evacuated to the [[2nd/5th Australian General Hospital]] who treated him for malaria and discharged him to the 7th Division's Rest Camp. On 23 Mar 1944 he was embarked on the | ||
+ | [[SS ntolin]] for Townsville, disembarking there on 26 Mar 1944 | ||
Discharged 25 Feb 1946 | Discharged 25 Feb 1946 | ||
Revision as of 01:49, 7 April 2019
Personal Information | |
---|---|
Date of Birth | 11 Dec 1920 |
Place of Birth | Wandering, Western Australia |
Age at Enlistment | 20 years |
Description | 5'6½" (1.67m) tall ; ; Medium complexion ; brown eyes ; dark hair |
Occupation | Farm hand |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Address | PO Byford, Western Australia |
Next of Kin | Father , Mr Harry Malarkey |
Military Information | |
Reg Number | WX10494 |
Date of Enlistment | 20 Dec 1940 |
Rank | Private |
Unit/Formation | 2nd/16th Australian Infantry Battalion |
Date of Embarkation | 9 Sep 1941 |
Date of Embarkation | 6 Aug 1942 |
Date of Return | ‒ 25 Mar 1942 |
Date of Return | ‒ 24 Dec 1942 |
Fate |
Wounded in Action 1942 Returned to Australia |
Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
War Service
Len enlisted at Claremont on 20 Dec 1940, and on 3 Jan 1941 was transferred to the 2nd Training Battalion at Northam camp. Following training he was granted pre-embarkation leave from 24 Apr 1941 until 3 May 1941, and on his return from leave he was posted to the 9th Division Salvage Company. On 10 Jun 1941 Len was charged with being AWOL from midnight 9 Jun until 10:00pm 10 Jun 1941 for which he was reprimanded, and lost the day's pay.
On 25 Jun 1941 Len was transferred to the 2nd/16th Australian Infantry Battalion reinforcements, and he embarked with them on 9 Sep 1941 on HMT Queen Mary in Fremantle for the Middle East, disembarking on 23 Sep 1941. The battalion had most recently been involved in fighting the Vichy French in Lebanon and Syria and was still there as part of the garrison forces. On 20 Dec 1941 Len was admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital with measles, and was released to the 21st Australian Infantry Training Battalion before rejoining the 2/16th Battalion on 19 Jan 1942.
Len and the rest of the battalion boarded the SS Île de France at Suez for Adelaide, but transhipped to the SS Kosciusko at Adda Atoll in the Maldives on 11 Feb 1942. Originally the purpose was for them to reinforce the British in Burma (Myanmar) but on their way there they were turned around and sent to Australia by the Prime Minister following a confrontation with Churchill. Len disembarked in Adelaide on 25 Mar 1942. During the voyage Len had failed to appear at a parade for which he was awarded 3 days Confined to Barracks (CB), or extra duties.
Soon after their arrival in Adelaide the battalion was placed on trains for Queensland and, soon after their arrival there, they on 6 Aug 1942 were embarked at Brisbane on SS James Fenimore Cooper for Port Moresby, disembarking on 13 Aug 1942. Sent immediately to the Kokoda Track where a desperate fighting withdrawal was under way against overwhelming Japanese forces. On 12 Sep 1942 Len was evacuated to the Infectious Diseases Hospital with Dysentery, before being released to the 113th Australian Convalescent Depot on 19 Sep 1942. He rejoined the battalion on 24 Sep 1942 as they prepared to attack the Japanese positions at Gona and Buna. On 8 Dec 1942 Len was wounded in action with a gun shot wound to the shoulder. Evacuated to the 2nd/9th Australian General Hospital at Port Moresby on 10 Dec 1942, he was embarked on [[HMAHS Ship Manunda], and on 24 Dec 1942 he was admitted to the 102nd Australian General Hospital at Holland Park in Brisbane. On 24 Jan 1943 he was placed on Ambulance Train No 2 for the 112th Australian Convalescent Depot in NSW. Discharged on 24 Feb 1943, and transferred to WA. While in WA he was charged with being AWOL from 5:00pm on 20 Apr 1943 until 10:30am on 23 Apr 1943, being fined £5 and the loss of three days pay.
In August 1943 he was back with his unit's echelon in Queensland, and on 6 Aug 1943 he boarded the SS Duntroon in Townsville for Port Moresby, arriving there on 8 Aug 1943 before being sent to the Lae area. Granted Proficiency Pay on 24 Oct 1943 He was treated by the 111th Australian Casualty Clearing Station =for malaria, returning to the 2nd/16th Battalion on 4 Dec 1943. On 1 Feb 1944 he was evacuated to the 2nd/5th Australian General Hospital who treated him for malaria and discharged him to the 7th Division's Rest Camp. On 23 Mar 1944 he was embarked on the
SS ntolin for Townsville, disembarking there on 26 Mar 1944
Discharged 25 Feb 1946
Post War
Notes