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Alfred George Playle

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Alfred George Playle
Playle Alfred George.jpg
Ancestry.com
Personal Information
Date of Birth 11 Jan 1910
Place of Birth Armadale, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment 30 years, 1 months
Description 6'0¼" (1.84m) tall ; 168lbs
76.203 kg
; fair complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair
Occupation Fitter
Religion Roman Catholic
Address Bayswater, Western Australia
Next of Kin Mother , Mrs Mary Playle
Military Information
Reg Number WX1939 & 152678
Date of Enlistment 12 Mar 1940
Rank Private
Unit/Formation 2/3rd Field Company Royal Australian Engineers
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates 20 Apr 1940 ‒ 18 May 1940
Transport Details HMT Y3 Nevasa Fremantle to El Kantara, Egypt
Return to Australia
Journey Dates 15 Nov 1942 ‒ 3 Dec 1942
Transport Details SS Mauretania Suez Canal Zone to Fremantle
Post War Details
Fate Returned to Australia
Medals 1939-45 Star
Pacific Star
War Medal 1939-45
Australian Service Medal 1939-45



Pre War

Spent seven months with the Small Arms Munition factory in Welshpool as a Machine setter and general mechanic.

War Service

Enlisted in Perth on 12 Mar 1940 and the next day joined he General Reinforcements Pool at Northam camp. Given his trade, he was transferred to the 2/3rd Field Company Engineers on 3 Apr 1940, and from 8 - 16 Apr 1940 he enjoyed pre-embarkation leave at the Melville camp.


On 20 Apr 1940 Alf embarked on HMT Y3 Nevasa, disembarking in Kantara, Egypt on 18 May 1940. On 1 Jun 1940 he was admitted to the 2/1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station at Quastina with influenza, and from 7 - 25 Aug 1940 was in the care of the 2/1st Australian General Hospital. On discharge he was transferred to the 1st Australian Corps Reserve in Palestine. Between 5 Oct and 27 Nov 1940 he attended the No. 2 School's Physical and Recreational course at Kilo 89, after which he spent 10 days in the Depot Battalion, and then a month in the Training Regiment. He returned to his unit on 9 Jan 1941 and was allocated trade status as a fitter a month later.


On 2 May 1941 he was admitted to the 2/4th Australian General Hospital suffering from chemical burns to his right foot, returning to his unit on 26 Jun 1941. On 8 Nov 1941 he was charged with drunkenness, and was fined £3. From 21 - 24 Dec 1941 he was treated by the 4th British General Hospital for an infection. On 7 Apr 1942 he was seen by the 2/3rd Australian Field Ambulance who treated him for an ulcer on his lower left leg. Sent on to the 2/3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 19 Apr 1942, and then to the 2/8th Australian Field Ambulance before returning to his unit on 13 May 1942.


His contact with medical units continued on 15 Jul 1942 when he was evacuated to the 1st British General Hospital with a rash. Passed on to the 1st Australian Convalescent Depot on 28 Jul 1942, and then to the 2/6th Australian General Hospital on 6 Aug 1942, where on 25 Sep 1942 he was assessed as unfit for service for more then 6 months, discharged from hospital on 26 Oct 1942, and marked for return to Australia.


On 15 Nov 1942 Alf embarked in the Middle East from Kilo 89 for Australia, arriving on 3 Dec 1942 at Fremantle aboard the SS Mauretania, and then enjoyed leave from 4 - 14 Dec 1942. On 28 Jan 1943 he was transferred from the Claremont camp to hospital with Gastritis. Discharged as Medically Unfit on 22 Feb 1943.


At some point Alf then joined the Allied Works Council's Civil Constructional Corps working in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, and needed a discharge from that organisation before he embarked on the next chapter of his military service.


Alfred enlisted in the RAAF at No 5 Recruiting Centre in Adelaide on 11 Apr 1944 and was given Regimental No. 152678, with pay of 9/- per day compared to 5/- per day for the Army. (He altered his date of birth to be 2 years younger). He undertook recruit training from 13 Apr until 1 May 1944, followed soon after by a Driving course, after which he mustered as a Driver Motor Transport. On 11 Oct 1944 he was promoted to Leading Aircraftsman.


Alf's RAAF records are difficult to decipher, and although it documents that he served in Adelaide and Darwin, it also notes he was entitled to the Pacific Star, so it is likely he also served in New Guinea or similar. On 13 Jun 1945 Alf was charged with having failed to be wearing gaiters at 7:20am on 13 Jun 1945 contrary to Routine Orders. Punishment was 2 days Field Punishment and loss of 2 days pay.


On 8 Mar 1946 at Bradfied Park, New South Wales, he faced a District Court Martial, charged with: 1) Striking his superior officer in that he at Coogee, at approximately 6:00pm on 14 Feb 1946 struck, with his fist in the face, Flight Officer A.L. Darvall, Transport Officer No 1 T&MO; and 2) in that he at Coogee at approximately 6:00pm on 14 Feb 1946, whilst being motor driver in charge of service vehicle No 209062, became unfit for duty by reason of previous indulgence in alcoholic stimulants. Found guilty of both charges he was given 14 days detention and the associated loss of pay. This led to his quick demobilisation from the RAAF on 28 May 1946 in South Australia.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1954 at 21 Throssell street, Collie, welder; 1963 Terminus Hotel, Rockhampton, boilermaker; 1972 at 46 Gladstone road, Rockhampton , Boilermaker; 1980 at 31 West street Rockhampton.

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