Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot

[[File:]]

Brief History

In March 1940 W Comd Gen Details Camp was raised at Melville to look after stragglers and those left behind by the convoys passing through Fremantle for the Middle East. In April it moved to Northam and then in June to the Fremantle Artillery Barracks. In September they moved to Claremont and their role was widened to handle all troops passing through Perth.

In January 1941 a Disch & Recp Depot was frmed within the unit to process soldiers returning from the Middle East for discharge. In November they also took on those attending the W Comd Cooking School and apprentices undergoing trade training. In May 1942 the unit was renamed WA L of C Area GDD and they shared a HQ with the neighbouring RRD until August 1943. In November 1942 a separate WA L of C LTD was formed to handle troops passing through Perth on leave. The number of troops in WA hadf reduced substantially by May 1944 and the GDD amalgamated with the RDD to form WA L of C Area RR & GDD at Claremont.

In October 1944 the unit became Western Command Recruit reception & General Details depot before moving to Karrakatta in December where it remained until the war's conclusion. In September 1945 it formed Western Command Discharge Depot to facilitate demobilisation.

Unit Personnel

• John Henry Clark
• Joseph Craven 23 Apr 1942 - 6 Feb 1946

Passing through

• Robert Henry Fletcher 26 Oct - 3 Nov 1945