Difference between revisions of "William Alfred George Bettesworth"
From Our Contribution
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| enlistmentdate = 12 Jun 1944 | | enlistmentdate = 12 Jun 1944 | ||
| rank = Able Seaman | | rank = Able Seaman | ||
| − | | unit = | + | | unit = HMAS Gascoyne |
| − | | 1stembarkationdatefrom= | + | | 1stembarkationdatefrom= 10 May 1945 |
| − | | 1stembarkationdateto= | + | | 1stembarkationdateto= 2 Apr 1946 |
| 1sttransportembarked= HMAS Gascoyne (F354) | | 1sttransportembarked= HMAS Gascoyne (F354) | ||
| fate1 = Returned to Australia | | fate1 = Returned to Australia | ||
| − | |||
| monument1 = | | monument1 = | ||
| monumentnote1 = | | monumentnote1 = | ||
Revision as of 01:57, 17 November 2019
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 10 Feb 1927 |
| Place of Birth | Perth, Western Australia |
| Death | 21 Jan 2000, aged 72 |
| Place of Death | Pinjarra, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 17 years, 4 months |
| Description | 5'7½" (1.72m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; hazel eyes ; fair hair ; scars on left buttocks, right ankle |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Dawson avenue, Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Mother , Mrs Hilda May Elizabeth Bettersworth |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | F5357 |
| Date of Enlistment | 12 Jun 1944 |
| Rank | Able Seaman |
| Unit/Formation | HMAS Gascoyne |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 10 May 1945 ‒ 2 Apr 1946 |
| Transport Details | HMAS Gascoyne (F354) |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
War Service
Following enlistment Bill was posted to HMAS Cerberus in Victoria. Basic training completed, he was posted to a series of mainland bases before joining the crew of HMAS Gascoyne (F354) in Melbourne undergoing a refit on 10 May 1945. Gascoyne was a River class frigate. Following he refit the Gascoyne returned to New Guinea where she undertook further escort duties, and in July 1945 she participated in the seizure of Balikpapan on Borneo, providing bombardment support to the troops that had landed.
In the final month of the war she was again escorting convoys to Borneo, and took part in the Japanese surrender there in September. She returned to Sydney on 5 Jan 1946. On 10 Feb 1946 while serving on HMAS Gascoyne Bill was rated as an Able Seaman.
On 3 Apr 1946 Bill was posted to HMAS Leeuwin in Fremantle where his discharge or demobilisation occurred on 1 Jul 1946.
Post War
In 1947 Bill married Fay Victoria Hammer. Fay died in Gosnells on 8 Apr 2018 aged 90.
Electoral Roll entries: 1949 at 37 Coldstream street Leederville, grocer; 1954 - 1968 at Fourth road, Armadale, carpenter; 1977 Cooke Point Caravan Park, Port Hedland, manager; 1980 at 1/15 Sexty street, Armadale, carpenter.
Notes