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Vernon Wallace Marsh

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Vernon Wallace Marsh
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Personal Information
Date of Birth 26 Aug 1916
Place of Birth Kelmscott, Western Australia
Death 16 Mar 2010, aged 93
Age at Enlistment 24 years, 1 month
Next of Kin Wife , Mrs Dulcie Marsh
Military Information
Reg Number W1022 & 38897
Date of Enlistment 10 Oct 1940
Rank Trooper & Leading Aircraftsman
Unit/Formation 10th Light Horse Regiment & No. 42 Squadron RAAF
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates 1944 ‒ 1944
Transport Details SS Luis Arguello Darwin to Morotai
Post War Details
Fate Returned to Australia
Medals 1939-45 Star
Pacific Star
Defence Medal
War Medal 1939-45
Australian Service Medal 1939-45


Headstone Information
Date of Birth 28 August 1916
Age at Death 93 years
Transcription In Loving Memory of Vernon Wallace Marsh Born 28/08/1916 Died 16/03/2010 Aged 93 Years
Grave Details
Burial Date 16 March 2010
Panel P10
Row C
Grave 5
Location Columbarium Wall


Pre War

War Service

Vern was discharged from the Militia on 24 Mar 1941 in order to join the RAAF on 5 Jun 1941. His militia service had been with the 10th Light Horse Regiment based in Bunbury.


Initial RAAF posting was to Pearce where he undertook basic induction training for six weeks - primarily drill and basic weapons training. This was followed by some basic technical training as a trainee flight mechanic. Nest step was North Terrace in Adelaide (4STT) where he undertook a three months course to qualify as a Basic Fitter (108 Squad). On completion he was posted to Melbourne where he began a three month course designed to train them on aero engines, with the trainees beginning with basic engines and working to more advanced ones if they passed each step. On conclusion of the hanger training, they spent time learning how to maintain and service planes on the airfield.


Graduation was followed by a posting to Mallala in South Australia, a pilot training school where aircrew were responsible to maintain the aircraft (Avro Ansons). Three months later he was posted to 1 Aircraft Depot at Sale in Victoria where he worked on Fairy Battles, and was given a course on maintaining Merlin engines after which he was remustered as a Fitter with a 50% increase in pay from 6/- per day to 9/-. During this time Vern's wife to be travelled to Victoria and they were married in a church in Swanston street, Melbourne.


Prior to being posted into a war zone Vern undertook a two week toughening up course in the ranges outside Melbourne. He was then posted to 42 Squadron RAAF which was equipped with Catalina Flying Boats, and was based on Melville Bay in Arnhem Land. Travel was via train to Adelaide, and then north by train to Alice Springs before travelling north in a convoy of trucks to Birdum where they were again able to board a train to Adelaide River where they stayed in an RAAF transit camp, before joining 42 Squadron in Melville Bay, via a stay in Darwin.


42 Squadron was later relocated to Darwin where they operated as before dropping sea mines into waters thought to be used by Japanese shipping in the Indonesia archipelago. At the time that 42nd Squadron were relocated to Leyte in the Philippines, Vern was reposted to No. 21 Squadron RAAF, part of 82 Bomber Wing, which flew Liberators from an airbase at Fenton, south of Darwin. Several weeks later they were shipped to Morotai in the North Celebes aboard the SS Luis Arguello from Darwin. At the completion of the war, the Liberators were used to fly ex-POWs, and surplus personnel, back to Australia. Eventually Vern was sent back to Australia for discharge from the RAAF which occurred on 13 Feb 1946.

Post War

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