Alexander Rhone

Alexander Rhone

Personal Information
Date of Birth	2 Dec 1920
Place of Birth	Subiaco, Western Australia
Death	16 Dec 1996, aged 76
Place of Death	Sale, Victoria
Age at Enlistment	21 years 10 months
Description	5'7" (1.70m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; grey eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	Gardener
Religion	Church of England
Address	Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Albert Rhone
Military Information
Reg Number	WX34132
Date of Enlistment	13 Oct 1942
Rank	Signaler
Unit/Formation	22nd Lines of Communication Signals
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	13 Mar 1945 ‒ 24 Mar 1945
Transport Details	SS Sea Ray Brisbane to Morotai
Transfers
Journey Dates	4 May 1945
Transport Details	HMAS Westralia (F95) Morotai to Tarakan
Journey Dates	5 Jul ‒ 12 Jul 1945
Transport Details	SS William H Ashley Tarakan to Morotai
Journey Dates	27 Aug 1945 ‒ 1 Sep 1945
Transport Details	SS Joseph Carrigan Morotai to Labuan
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	7 Feb 1946 ‒ 16 Feb 1946
Transport Details	SS Lake Charles Victory Labuan to Brisbane
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Medals	1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

War Service

Enlisted full time in the CMF at Melville camp on 18 Jul 1941 until 12 Oct 1942 when he resigned to join the AIF. At enlistment he was sent to HQs Balledonia Sub area (Esperance), before being posted to Kalamunda on 5 Jun 1942. On 11 Sep 1942 he was detached to Kalgoorlie where he switched to the AIF. On 2 Nov 1942 he was detached again, this time to the North West Sub Area Line of Command. On 15 Apr 1942 he was charged with having been AWOL from mid day 9 Apr until 8:30am on 15 Apr 1942. For this he was Admonished and forfeited 6 days pay. On 6 Nov 1943 he disembarked in Fremantle from the MV Koolinda ex North West area, and on 11 Dec 1943 he entrained for Victoria and the 1st Australian Signal Training Battalion, joining them on 15 Jan 1944.

On 5 Feb 1944 he was admitted to the 106th Australian General Hospital with an infection, rejoining his unit on 10 Feb 1944. Alex then attended a Marconi School of Wireless Operator's Course, followed by participating in the Signals Operators Course No 12 before returning to the 1st Australian Signals Training Battalion on 26 May 1944. Trade tested on wireless and line, he qualified as an operator and on 15 Sep 1944 marched out to the 5th Australian Reinforcement Depot. On 10 Nov 1944 he was transferred to the 18th Australian Operations Section where on 7 Mar 1945 he was regraded as a Group 1 Operator Signaler.

In Brisbane on 13 Mar 1945 Alex embarked on the SS Sea Ray for Morotai, disembarking there on 24 Mar 1945. On 4 May 1945 he embarked on HMAS Westralia (F95) for Tarakan in north east Borneo. Return trip was aboard SS William H Ashley, embarking in Tarakan on 5 Jul 1945 and disembarking at Morotai on 12 Jul 1945. On 27 Aug 1945 he embarked on the SS Joseph Carrigan at Morotai for Labuan in British North Borneo, disembarking on 1 Sep 1945. There he joined the 9th Division Signals Company and on 7 Feb 1946 he embarked on the Victory Ship SS Lake Charles Victory for Brisbane, disembarking on 16 Feb 1946. Alex was discharged on 11 Apr 1946 in Victoria.

Post War

On 30 Mar 1946 Alex married Norma Catherine Harrington (1923 - 1988) in Victoria.