Forrest John Spencer Robertson

Forrest John Spencer Robertson

Personal Information
Date of Birth	9 Dec 1910
Place of Birth	Cannington, Western Australia
Death	23 Sep 1999, aged 88
Place of Death	Perth, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	30 years, 6 months
Description	6'2" (1.88m) tall ; ; medium complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	Labourer
Religion	Church of England
Address	36 Mile, Albany road, Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Amy Joan Robertson
Military Information
Reg Number	WX14063
Date of Enlistment	11 Jun 1941
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	65th Australian Bulk Issue Petrol & Oil Depot Platoon
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	26 Sep 1941 ‒ 20 October 1941
Transport Details	SS Marnix van Sint Aldegonde Fremantle to Port Tewfik via Colombo
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	30 Jan 1942 ‒ 8 Feb 1942
Transport Details	? Egypt to Bombay
Journey Dates	13 Feb 1942 ‒ 24 Mar 1942
Transport Details	SS Esperance Bay Bombay to Adelaide via Colombo
2nd Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	17 Jan 1943 ‒ 21 Jan 1943
Transport Details	SS Cleveland Abbe Townsville to Milne Bay PNG
Transfers
Journey Dates	10 Feb 1943 ‒ 14 Feb 1942
Transport Details	? Milne Bay to Oro Bay
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	29 Feb 1944 ‒ 4 Mar 1944
Transport Details	HMT Taroona Milne Bay PNG to Townsville
3rd Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	6 Jun 1944 ‒ 9 Jun 1944
Transport Details	HMT Taroona Townsville to Milne Bay
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	27 Aug 1944 ‒ 2 Sep 1944
Transport Details	SS Juan Pablo Duarte Milne Bay to Brisbane
4th Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	10 Apr 1945 ‒ 22 Apr 1945
Transport Details	USAT Sea Ray Brisbane to Morotai
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	24 Nov 1945 ‒ 5 Dec 1945
Transport Details	HM LST 346 Morotai to Brisbane
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia (three times)
Medals	1939-45 Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Electoral Roll entry: 1943 at 36 Mile Albany road, Armadale, farmer.

War Service

Forrest enlisted on 11 Jun 1941 and two days later was posted to the Naval Base Recruit Training Depot. A week later he transferred again, this time to the 3rd Training Battalion, and on 1 July this changed yet again when he joined the 2nd Training Battalion as a member of the 6th Division Cavalry reinforcements. From 29 Jul to 12 Aug 1941 he attended a training course at the Western Command Motor Transport Training Depot, before enjoying pre-embarkation leave from 26 Aug - 1 Sep 1941.

Forrest embarked on SS Marnix van Sint Aldegonde which was part of Convoy 12B on 26 Sep 1941, and following a two day layover in Colombo, disembarked at Port Tewfik, Egypt on 20 Oct 1941. On 13 Nov 1941 Forrest was admitted to the 2/1st Australian General Hospital with Rubella, returning to the reinforcement pool on 15 Nov 1941. On 21 Jan 1942 he was transferred to the 2/1st Australian Petrol Depot which was then being formed at Barbara in Palestine before moving to Kantara in Egypt, and then returning to Adelaide in March 1942. Soon after arrival it moved to Victoria.

Back in Australia, Forrest was granted a Leave of Absence from 11:00am 7 May 1942 until 11:59pm 15 May 1942. His unit was transferred to Townsville on 16 Aug 1942 from Broadmeadows in Victoria, and there he was allocated to the detachment then forming for service in New Guinea as the 6th Section, New Guinea Line of Command Area BIPOD which was to be located at Oro Bay. On 17 Jan 1943 they boarded SS Cleveland Abbe in Townsville, disembarking in Milne Bay on 21 January, and then departing on 10 Feb 1942 for Oro Bay where they disembarked on 14 February. From 13 - 19 Mar 1943 Forrest was treated for dysentery by the 10th Australian Field Ambulance. On 26 Jun 1943 he was again admitted to 10th Australian Field Ambulance this time with malaria and dysentery. On 29 Jun 1943 he was transferred to the 2/9th Australian General Hospital for treatment until he was released on 10 Jul 1943 to the 1st Australian Convalescent & Rehabilitation Camp (?) where he remained until 5 Aug 1943. On 1 Dec 1943 Forrest was admitted to the 2/8th Australian Field Ambulance with a bruised large toe. A week later on 8th December he returned to his unit where on 14 Jan 1944 he was reclassified as a Group III Tinsmith. Granted home leave, Forrest boarded SS Taroona on 29 Feb 1944 for Townsville where he arrived on 9 Mar 1944.

On 6 Jun 1944 Forrest returned to Milne Bay in New Guinea from Townsville, disembarking on the 9th. On 11 Jul 1944 he was transferred to the 69th Australian BIPOD Platoon, and with them embarked on the SS Juan Pablo Duarte on 27 Aug 1943 for Brisbane, disembarking there on 2 Sep 1944. On 6 Nov 1944 he was again transferred, this time to the 65th Australian BIPOD Platoon. On 5 Mar 1945 Forrest was admitted to the 128th Australian General Hospital with malaria. His records don't mention his date of return to his unit, but on 10 Apr 1945 he boarded the USAT Sea Ray in Brisbane for Morotai where he disembarked on 22 Apr 1945. On 4 May 1945 Forrest was admitted to the 2/5th Australian General Hospital with a ruptured Urethra, before being released back to his unit a week later on 11 May. On 24 Nov 1945 he embarked on HM LST 346 at Morotai for Brisbane, disembarking on 5 Dec 1945. Forrest then returned to WA to take his discharge on 20 Dec 1945.

Post War

During discharge procedures Forrest advised that he had 5 children under 16 and one over 16 years old. During 1957 Forrest married Catherine Alice McGregor. Forrest was on one of those properties within the Wungong Catchment forced to move when the dam was built.

In September 1976 his medals were posted to 21 Canterbury terrace, East Victoria Park.

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1958 at 36 mile, Albany road, Armadale, farmer; 1963 - 1980 at 21 Canterbury terrace, driver.