Harold Frank Pyke

Harold Frank Pyke

Personal Information
Date of Birth	8 Jul 1903
Place of Birth	London, England
Age at Enlistment	38 years old
Description	5'9" (1.75m) tall ; ; medium complexion ; grey eyes ; brown hair ; scar on left forearm
Occupation	Pipe fitter
Religion	Church of England
Address	Church avenue, Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Mabel Irene Pyke
Military Information
Reg Number	WX33493
Date of Enlistment	19 Sep 1941
Rank	Staff Sergeant
Unit/Formation	13th Australian Field Company
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	25 Nov 1944 ‒ 3 Sec 1944
Transport Details	SS Jane Adams Darwin to Jacquinot Bay, New Britain
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	8 Dec 1945 ‒ 13 Dec 1945
Transport Details	HMAS Westralia Rabaul to Brisbane
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Medals	1939-45 Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Prior to enlistment in the 2nd AIF on 22 Jul 1942 Frank was serving with the CMF W4052 Lance Sgt in the 13th Field Company RAE from 17 Sep 1940 until 19 Sep 1941 part time and then full time from 19 Sep 1941 until 21 Jul 1942.

War Service

Called up for full time service on 19 Sep 1941 at Claremont with the 13th Field Company. On 21 Nov 1941 he was appointed a Lance Sergeant and on 21 Jan 1942 he was detached to the Mobile Force at Melville camp. On 19 Feb 1942 he was sent to the Water School and on 28 May 1942 he was granted five days leave after which he returned to the Field Company where on 14 Aug 1942 he was promoted Sergeant, having converted to the 2nd AIF on 22 Jul 1942.

On 17 Feb 1943 he was transferred to the School of Military Engineering (Field) in Liverpool, NSW to undertake specialised training before returning to WA briefly on leave in May 1943. Following his leave he was detached to the 112th Anti-Aircraft Battery until 3 Nov 1943 when he rejoined his unit which at this time was in the Northern territory. On 31 Aug 1944 he was sent to the No 1. Australian Training centre at Canungra in Queensland to undertake a Jungle Warfare Training Course after which he returned to his unit in Darwin.

On 25 Nov 1944 he and his unit boarded the SS Jane Adams for Jacquinot Bay in New Britain, disembarking on 3 Dec 1944. On 12 Jun 1945 he was promoted Staff Sergeant and he remained with his unit until 7 Dec 1945 when he was transferred out of the unit for discharge in Australia. He boarded the HMAS Westralia in Rabaul on 8 Dec 1945, and disembarked in Brisbane on 13 Dec 1945. returned to WA he was discharged on 15 Jan 1946.