Edward Maurice Trew
From Our Contribution
 Ancestry | |
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 25 May 1922 |
| Place of Birth | Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Death | 5 Nov 1988 |
| Place of Death | Sawyers Valley, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 19 years, 2 months |
| Description | 5'4" (1.63m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair ; scars on both shins |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Sawyer's Valley, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr Edward Maurice Trew |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | WX15561 |
| Date of Enlistment | 4 Aug 1941 |
| Rank | Trooper |
| Unit/Formation | 2/6th Australian Commando Squadron |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 8 Dec 1942 ‒ 12 Dec 1942 |
| Transport Details | HMT Taroona Townsville to Port Moresby |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 1 Mar 1943 ‒ 5 Mar 1943 |
| Transport Details | SS Both Port Moresby to Townsville |
| 2nd Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 31 Jul 1943 ‒ 2 AUg 1943 |
| Transport Details | HMT Duntroon Townsville to Port Moresby |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 26 Apr 1944 ‒ 12 May 1944 |
| Transport Details | HMT Katoomba Lae, PNG to Sydney |
| 3rd Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 27 May 1945 ‒ 13 Jun 1945 |
| Transport Details | USS LST 1016 Cairns to Morotai |
| Transfers | |
| Journey Dates | 18 Jun 1945 ‒ 22 Jun 1945 |
| Transport Details | USS LST 454 Morotai to Macassar, Southern Sulawesi |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 2 Feb 1946 ‒ 12 feb 1946 |
| Transport Details | USAT Winchester Victory Macassar to Brisbane |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia (3 times) |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
War Service
Ted enlisted in Claremont on 4 Aug 1941, and on 12 Aug 1941 he joined the 3rd Training Battalion at Northam. On 9 Sep 1941 he had completed his initial drill training and was posted to the 1st Training Battalion for infantry training. On 17 Nov 1941 he was meant to embark on Convoy US 13, but failed to do so, with no reason recorded. On 10 Dec 1941 he was back with the training battalion, this time allocated to the 10th reinforcment draft for the 2/16th Battalion. Again he enjoyed some pre-embarkation leave, and on 13 Mar 1942 he was appointed Lance Corporal. On 28 Mar 1942 he was transferred to the No 1 Special Battalion at Fremantle, before joining the 116th Australian Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment on 26 May 1942. Still not settled, he was transferred on 19 Sep 1942 to the reinforcements for the Independent Commando Company, and he then entrained for Victoria to join his new unit the 2/6th Australian Independent Company. On arrival he spent 2 days in a Camp Hospital, and again from 21- 22 Oct 1942 he was treated after dental surgery.
In late November the unit moved to Queensland, and on 8 Dec 1942 he embarked in Townsville on the HMT Taroona for Port Moresby, disembarking there on 12 Dec 1942. On 18 Jan 1943 he was back with his unit until he was embarked on SS Both in Port Moresby on 1 Mar 1943, disembarking at Townsville on 5 Mar 1943. On 31 Jul 1943 he embarked on HMT Duntroon in Townsville for Port Moresby, disembarking there on 2 Aug 1943. On 20 Dec 1943 he was admitted to the 2/6th Australian Field Ambulance with Malaria. On Christmas eve he was passed on to the 111th Australian Casualty Clearing Station, and on 3 Jan 1944 he was released back to his unit, now known as the 2/6th Australian Cavalry Squadron. On 1 Jul 1943 he was deemed proficient and awarded proficiency payment. On 26 Apr 1944 he was embarked on HMT Katoomba at Lae for Sydney, disembarking there on 12 May 1944.
On 14 Jul 1944 Ted was charged with having failed to appear at a place of parade appointed by his CO at 7:30pm, and for having been AWOL from that time until 9:00am on 17 Jul 1944. Fined £5 ($10) with automatic forfeiture of 5 days pay. On 27 Jul 1944 Ted was evacuated to the 2/4th Australian General Hospital, and three days later he was transferred to the 2/12th Australian General Hospital with Malaria, On 6 Aug 1944 he had recovered enought to be released to the 102nd Australian Convalescent Depot. Ten days later he was sent to the Queensland Line of Communication Recruit Reception & General Details Depot who returned him to his unit on 3 Sep 1944. On 8 Sep 1944 he was admitted to the 2/6th Australian General Hospital, returning to the Squadron on 15 Sep 1944. On 31 Oct 1944 Ted was charged with having been AWOL from 2:00pm on 30 Oct 1943 until 6:00am on the next day. He was fined 10/- ($1) and lost a days pay.
On 27 May 1945 Ted embarked in Cairns on USS LST 1016 for Morotai, disembarking there on 13 Jun 1945. He was then embarked on USS LST 454 in Morotai during 18 Jun 1945 for Balikpapan, landing there on 22 Jun 1945. On 20 Nov 1945 Ted was transferred to the 2/27th Australian Infantry Battalion, and on 18 Dec 1945 he was admitted to the 2/6th Australian Field Ambulance. While with them he was deemed to be AWOL for an hour - from 7:00pm until 8:00pm on Christmas Day while in Macassar on South Sulawesi. He was fined £1 (equal to 4 days pay) and returned to the battalion on 6 Jan 1946. Ted boarded USAT Winchester Victory at Macassar on 2 Feb 1946, and disembarked in Brisbane on 12 Feb 1946.
On 2 Feb 1946 he had been posted to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot for discharge. Ted arrived back in WA on 17 Apr 1946 and was discharged on 23 Apr 1946.
Post War
On 22 May 1948 Ted married Kathleen May Ellis (b. 1928) in the Fremantle district.
Notes