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Difference between revisions of "Lawrence Gerald McDonough"

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On 25 May 1942 he was transferred back to Western Australia, to the Recruit Training Battalion. Following training and a week's leave he was posted to the 2/28th Battalion's reinforcements on 17 Jul 1942, and on 6 Sep 1942 he boarded "P4", a ship in Convoy US 16 for the Middle East where he disembarked on 8 Oct 1942. Sent to the Staging Camp on arrival he was taken on strength by the 2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion on 5 Nov 1942. However his ingrowing toe nail was again a problem in need of medical attention on 10 Nov 1942 when he was admitted to the 2/3rd Australian Field Ambulance. He rejoined the battalion a fortnight later on 24 Nov 1942. On 16 Dec 1942 his NOK was changed to his daughter Ida who was living at 229 Cambridge street, Wembley.
 
On 25 May 1942 he was transferred back to Western Australia, to the Recruit Training Battalion. Following training and a week's leave he was posted to the 2/28th Battalion's reinforcements on 17 Jul 1942, and on 6 Sep 1942 he boarded "P4", a ship in Convoy US 16 for the Middle East where he disembarked on 8 Oct 1942. Sent to the Staging Camp on arrival he was taken on strength by the 2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion on 5 Nov 1942. However his ingrowing toe nail was again a problem in need of medical attention on 10 Nov 1942 when he was admitted to the 2/3rd Australian Field Ambulance. He rejoined the battalion a fortnight later on 24 Nov 1942. On 16 Dec 1942 his NOK was changed to his daughter Ida who was living at 229 Cambridge street, Wembley.
  
On 24 Jan 1943 he embarked with his battalion on 'L1' [[HMT Queen Mary]] in Port Tewfik for Fremantle where they arrived on 24 Jan 1943. Following leave, they were transferre to South Australia
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On 12 Nov 1942 he was made Acting Corporal. On 24 Jan 1943 the battalion embarked on [[HMT Queen Mary]] for Fremantle. The Operation Pamphlet convoy comprised  ''HMT Queen Mary,  HMT Aquitania, SS Île de France, SS Nieuw Amsterdam'', and ''HMT Queen of Bermuda''. Port Tewfik couldn't handle them all at once so in sequence they loaded, sailed down the Red Sea to Massawa where they anchored until all of the convoy had loaded. The Queen Mary, also carrying the 2/32nd Battalion was there for a week before it was able to set sail for Australia.  Rather than travel via Colombo as expected by the troops, the ships set a course for the central Indian Ocean and on 9 Feb 1943 entered what was then known as Port T, a secret naval base unknown to the Japanese in the Addu Atoll, the southernmost land of the Maldives. On 10 Feb the convoy set sail for Fremantle, arriving there on 18 Feb 1943 and disembarked the Western Australian troops. Following leave, they were transferred to South Australia.
  
  

Revision as of 01:07, 12 November 2019

Lawrence Gerald McDonough
Unknown.png
Personal Information
Date of Birth 13 Jan 1910
Place of Birth Armadale, Western Australia
Death 1 Jan 1960
Age at Enlistment 30 years, 2 months
Occupation Truck driver
Religion Roman Catholic
Address 33 Napoleon street, Cottesloe, Western Australia
Next of Kin Wife , Mrs Kathleen McDonough
Military Information
Reg Number 16077 (RAAF) & WX16380 (Army)
Date of Enlistment 20 Mar 1940 & 8 Sep 1941
Rank Driver
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates 6 Sep 1942 ‒ 8 Oct 1942
Transport Details Ship P4 in Convoy U 16 Fremantle to Middle East
Post War Details
Medals 1939-45 Star
Africa Star
Pacific Star
War Medal 1939-45
Australian Service Medal 1939-45



Pre War

War Service

Initial enlistment was with the RAAF (records not available), enlisting on 20 Mar 1940 in Perth, and he was discharged on 8 Jun 1941 while an Aircraftman 1 at the 1st Aircraft Depot in Laverton, Victoria. He appears to have returned to Western Australia, as his enlistment in the Army on 8 Sep 1941 was from an address in Cottesloe. A week after enlisting in the army he was allotted to the 10th Armoured Regiment at Northam camp.


On 23 Nov 1941 he and his unit were transferred to Victoria. There on 5 Dec 1941 he was charged with Conduct to the prejudice of good order and Military discipline. The next day he was charged with failing to appear at a place of parade. The penalty for each of the two offences was 3 days confined to barracks. On 14 Dec 1941 he was admitted to the 7th Australian General Hospital in Puckapunyal with an infection and remained with them for a week, being discharged to his unit on 17 Dec 1941. On 28 Dec 1941 he was posted to the 2/2nd Independent Light Tank Squadron at Foster, Victoria. During February 1942 he was hospitalised in the Foster Camp Hospital with an in-growing toenail. Lawrence was AWOL from midday 4 Mar 1942 to 10:30am 5 Mar 1942 earning him 7 days confined to barracks. He was AWOL again from 11:00am until 1:30pm on 28 Mar 1942, earning a £1 fine, and then on 24 Apr 1942 he was AWOL from 11:15 am until 2:10pm. In addition he was charged with Neglecting to obey Standing Orders by delaying his return to the unit, and for leaving his vehicle unattended. This time he was fined £2.


On 25 May 1942 he was transferred back to Western Australia, to the Recruit Training Battalion. Following training and a week's leave he was posted to the 2/28th Battalion's reinforcements on 17 Jul 1942, and on 6 Sep 1942 he boarded "P4", a ship in Convoy US 16 for the Middle East where he disembarked on 8 Oct 1942. Sent to the Staging Camp on arrival he was taken on strength by the 2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion on 5 Nov 1942. However his ingrowing toe nail was again a problem in need of medical attention on 10 Nov 1942 when he was admitted to the 2/3rd Australian Field Ambulance. He rejoined the battalion a fortnight later on 24 Nov 1942. On 16 Dec 1942 his NOK was changed to his daughter Ida who was living at 229 Cambridge street, Wembley.

On 12 Nov 1942 he was made Acting Corporal. On 24 Jan 1943 the battalion embarked on HMT Queen Mary for Fremantle. The Operation Pamphlet convoy comprised HMT Queen Mary, HMT Aquitania, SS Île de France, SS Nieuw Amsterdam, and HMT Queen of Bermuda. Port Tewfik couldn't handle them all at once so in sequence they loaded, sailed down the Red Sea to Massawa where they anchored until all of the convoy had loaded. The Queen Mary, also carrying the 2/32nd Battalion was there for a week before it was able to set sail for Australia. Rather than travel via Colombo as expected by the troops, the ships set a course for the central Indian Ocean and on 9 Feb 1943 entered what was then known as Port T, a secret naval base unknown to the Japanese in the Addu Atoll, the southernmost land of the Maldives. On 10 Feb the convoy set sail for Fremantle, arriving there on 18 Feb 1943 and disembarked the Western Australian troops. Following leave, they were transferred to South Australia.


On 6 Jul 1944 his NOK was altered to reflect his second wife, Elizabeth Mary who he had married on 10 May 1944 and who was living at 94 Westbury street, St Kilda.


Discharged on medical grounds - sinusitis with bronchial asthma on 28 Mar 1945.

Post War

Notes

Lawrence's Africa Star came with the 8th Army Clasp.


External Links

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