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Frederick Arnold Griffiths

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Frederick Arnold Griffiths
Griffiths Frederick Arnold.jpg
Personal Information
Date of Birth 7 Jan 1917
Place of Birth Armadale, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment 24 years, 3 months
Occupation Gas engine driver
Religion Church of England
Address Ora Banda, Western Australia
Next of Kin Father , Mr James Kenneally Griffiths
Military Information
Reg Number WX13310
Date of Enlistment 21 May 1941
Rank Corporal
Unit/Formation 2nd/2nd Independent Company
Date of Embarkation 8 Dec 41 ‒ 12 Dec 41
Ship Embarked On SS Zealandia Darwin to Koepang
Date of Embarkation 16 Jun 1943 ‒ 20 Jun 1943
Ship Embarked On HMT Duntroon Townsville to Port Moresby
Date of Return 15 Jan 1943 ‒ 18 Jan 1943
Ship Returned On HNLMS Tjerk Hides East Timor to Darwin
Date of Return 3 Sep 1944 ‒ 8 Sep 1944
Ship Returned On HMT Taroona Lae to Townsville
Medals 1939-45 Star
Pacific Star



Pre War

War Service

Enlisted at Claremont and was two days later sent to the 3rd Training Battalion at Northam camp. There, on 6 Jun 1941 he was allocated to the reinforcements for the 2/28th Battalion. On 29 Jun 1941 this changed when he was transferred to the 7th Infantry Training Centre and sent to 3rd Military District (Victoria). On arrival he was allocated to the 2/2nd Independent Company and on 16 Sep 1941 they moved to South Australia and entrained for Darwin where they arrived on 26 Oct 1941.


On 8 Dec 1941 the unit embarked for Timor aboard the SS Zealandia in company with the SS Westralia, arriving there on 12 Dec 1941, disembarking at Koepang. Following the Japanese invasion of Timor the unit was cut off, and trapped on the island, and thus on 22 Feb 1942 Fred was listed as "Missing". On 12 Jun 1942 this was changed to "With unit & well". Eventually, after months of guerilla fighting aided by the local Timorese, the unit was evacuated on 15 Jan 1943 aboard the Dutch destroyer [HNLMS Tjerk Hides]] arriving in Darwin on 18 Jan 1943. Soon after the unit was moved to north Queensland where on 4 Jun 1943 Fred was appointed Lance Corporal.


On 16 Jun 1943 the unit boarded the HMT Duntroon in Townsville for Port Moresby where they disembarked on 20 Jun 1943. On 1 Jul 1943 Fred was advised that he now qualified for Proficiency Pay. On 3 Sep 1944 he embarked on the HMT Taroona at Lae for Townsville, arriving there on 8 Sep 1944.


On 9 Apr 1945 Fred embarked on the HMT Taroona for Jacquimot Bay on the island of New Britain. There from 5 Jul until 9 Jul 1945 he participated in a flame thrower course run by the 2/28th Battalion. On 18 Sep 1945 Fred was promoted Acting Corporal and on 26 Dec 1945 his time with the 2/2 Commandos came to an end with a transfer to the 22nd battalion. On 11 Jan 1946 at Rabaul Fred embarked on the SS Vito, disembarking in Brisbane on 16 Jan 1946. On 29 Jan 1946 he was back in Perth preparing for discharge on 5 mar 1946.

Post War

Notes

For a more complete story see "A History of the 2nd Independent Company and 2/2 Commando Squadron" compiled by C.D. Doig, 2nd Edition Hesperian Press 2009.


External Links

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