Keith Butcher

Keith Butcher

Trooper K. Butcher with his horse in July 1943.
Personal Information
Date of Birth	10 Jun 1918
Place of Birth	Kelmscott, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	22 years, 1 month
Description	5'10" (1.78m) tall ; 163lbs 73.935 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	Farm hand
Religion	Methodist
Address	Mount Kokeby, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Roy Butcher
Military Information
Reg Number	W708 WX26104
Date of Enlistment	6 Jul 1940
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	64th Australian Infantry Battalion
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	10 Jun 1945 ‒ 25 Jun 1945
Transport Details	SS Both Brisbane to Morotai
Transfers
Journey Dates	21 Sep 1945 ‒ 23 Sep 1945
Transport Details	HMAS Westralia Morotai to Ambon
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	4 Jan 1946 ‒ 10 Jan 1946
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Medals	1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

War Service

Initial enlistment was at Beverley on 6 Jul 1940 in the CMF with regimental number of W708, and served as a trooper with No 4 Troop, B Squadron of the 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment ww2. On 18 Dec 1941 Keith was called up for full time service, and on 8 Jul 1942 Keith enlisted in the AIF. As a part time member of the 10th Light Horse Regiment he attended camp at Bunbury from 7 Jul until 4 Oct 1941. Between 8 and 21 Jan 1942 he was hospitalised at Bunbury.

From 30 Aug until 29 Sep 1942 he was granted leave without pay, and as this is repeated for the next two years (24 Aug to 24 Sep 1943, and 23 Nov 43 until 4 Jan 1944) it would appear to be to assist with harvesting the crops on the farm. Following his last period of leave without pay he was admitted to the 122nd Australian Special Hospital from 4 until 15 Jan 1944. From 20 Mar until 31 Mar 1944 he received treatment in the 110th Australian Base Hospital for a fractured left clavicle, broken while on duty. On 21 Mar 1944 he was transferred to the 118th Australian General Hospital at Northam, and on 30 Apr 1944 to the 109th Australian Convalescent Depot at Point Walter where he rested until 1 May 1944 before rejoining the 10th Light Horse Regiment.

In late May 1944 he was transferred to New South Wales, and on 6 Jun 1944 he was sent to train with the 16th Australian Infantry Training Battalion, transferring to the 23rd Australian Infantry Training Battalion on 30 Jul 1944. On 17 Aug Keith was admitted to the 104th Australian General Hospital in Bathurst with a broken ankle. On 26 Aug 1944 he was released to a convalescent home, but on 8 Sep 1944 he was returned to the 104th Australian General Hospital with his injury, and then again sent to the convalescent home on 14 Sep 1944. Still not recovered he was sent a third time to the 104th Australian General Hospital between 29 Sep and 6 Oct 1944. On 20 Oct he was readmitted for three days before again spending time in a convalescent home. Finally on 21 Nov 1944 he was deemed fit for duty, and returned to the training battalion.

On 12 Apr 1945 Keith arrived at Canungra to undertake a jungle training course, completing it and being transferred to a Staging Depot on 29 May 1945. On 10 Jun 1945 he boarded the SS Both in Brisbane and on 25 Jun 1945 he disembarked in Morotai, where he was posted to the 64th Australian Infantry Battalion. On 21 Sep 1945 the 64th Battalion embarked on the HMAS Westralia for Ambon, and on 10 Jan 1946 he disembarked in Brisbane having embarked in Ambon on 4 Jan 1946. By 20 Jan 1946 he had returned to Western Australia and was held in a depot unit until his discharge on 22 Mar 1946.