Douglas Edward Cleave Steer

Douglas Edward Cleave Steer

Personal Information
Date of Birth	9 Feb 1910
Place of Birth	Sydney, New South Wales
Death	1 Jan 1988, aged 77
Place of Death	Floreat, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	30 years 4 months
Occupation	Unemployed
Religion	Church of England
Address	Albany road, Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Doreen Chester Steer
Military Information
Reg Number	WX6990
Date of Enlistment	30 Jul 1940
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit/Formation	13th Australian Small Ship Company
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	3 Jan 1941
Post War Details

War Service

Enlisted on 30 Jul 1940 at Claremont camp and on 2 Aug 1940 was drafted to the Motor Transport Depot. However, on 15 Aug 1940 he was transferred to the 2nd/28th Battalion at Melville camp. Between 30 Sep 1940 and 9 Nov 1940 he was detached to the 24th Anti Tank Company, but then returned to the 2nd/28th Battalion where he was granted pre-embarkation leave from 27 Nov until 3 Dec 1940.

On 3 Jan 1941 the 2/28th Battalion embarked on , disembarking in Port Tewfik on 2 Feb 1941. On arrival in Egypt the battalion was transported to Khassa north of Gaza in Palestine. Soon after arrival, on 17 Feb 1941 Doug was transferred to the 24th Anti Tank Company. On 2 May 1941 Doug was wounded in action, an evacuated to the 4th Australian General Hospital with a gun shot wound to the left forearm. Five days later on 7 May 1941 he was transferred to the 2nd Australian General Hospital, and following treatment was returned to his unit through the 24th Infantry Training Battalion and the Staging Camp on 18 Jul 1941. During this time the battalion was a part of the defence of the port of Tobruk.

On 30 Aug 1941 he was again treated by the 4th Australian General Hospital, this time for tonsillitis, returning to his unit on 7 Sep 1941 as they were withdrawn from Tobruk. He was transferred to the 3rd Australian Anti Tank Regiment on 16 Oct 1941. On 31 Oct 1941 Doug was again in need of medical attention, this time from the 7th Australian General Hospital for 1 day only before returning to the 3rd Australian Anti Tank Regiment. The best part of a year later, spent as part of the garrison in Syria and Lebanon, on 21 Jul 1942, Doug was transferred back to the 2nd/28th Australian Infantry Battalion who then participated in the disastrous attack on Ruin Ridge where the battalion took heavy casualties and 500 or more were captured by German forces. Early in Aug 1942 Doug was qualified as a Technical Storeman at the Kilo 89 camp, and on 16 Jan 1943 he was promoted Acting Corporal. On 24 Jan 1943 he embarked with the battalion on

Appointed acting Lieutenant on 22 Feb 1944 with the 51st Australian Water Transport Company. On 1 May 1944 he was posted as Master of craft. On 22 Jan 1945 he was transferred to the 13th Australian Small Ship Company as Mate of Craft. Middle East 3 Jan 41 to 18 Feb 43 - Tobruk and El Alamein with 2/28th South West pacific 27 Feb 1945 to 5 Jul 1945 Discharged 7 Feb 1946