John Bennett Prentice
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 4 Nov 1915 |
| Place of Birth | Perth, Western Australia |
| Death | 26 Jun 1998, aged 83 |
| Place of Death | USA (address prior to death was Bentley, Western Australia) |
| Age at Enlistment | 28 years 6 months |
| Description | 5'8" (1.73m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; hazel eyes ; brown hair ; scar on left thigh |
| Occupation | Clerk |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | c/- Post Office Armadale |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs Iris Emily Prentice |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | W8020 & WX40976 |
| Date of Enlistment | 29 May 1944 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit/Formation | 11th Australian Infantry Battalion (City of Perth Regiment) |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 25 Nov 1944 ‒ 3 Dec 1944 |
| Transport Details | USAT Jane Addams Darwin to Jacquinot Bay |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 20 Dec 1945 ‒ 29 Dec 1945 |
| Transport Details | SS Trienza Rabaul to Melbourne |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
John married Iris Emily Lilleyman on 3 May 1941 in Cottesloe. They had four sons including, Milton (1942 - 2012), and Gregory Bennett (1959 - 1978), and two daughters. Iris was born in 1915, and she died on 31 Mar 1999 aged 83.
War Service
On 19 AUg 1940 John enlisted on a part time basis in the CMF and was allocated to the 11th Australian Infantry Battalion (City of Perth Regiment). From 16 April until 14 July 1941 he attended a camp at Melville, before beiong detached to the 44th Australian Infantry Battalion (West Australian Rifle Regiment) from 16 July until 13 October 1941. He was called up for full time duty on 15 Dec 1941 and was classified as a Trade Group II Signaller on 9 Apr 1942. On 14 Jul 1942 he was charged with wilfull defiance anad was fined £2 ($4). From 15 - 29 Oct 1942 John was detached to HQ 13th Australian Infantry Brigade. With the battalion, on 16 Feb 1943 he entrained in Perth for South Australia, and then on 1 Mar 1943 from South Australia to the Northern Territory, arriving there on 5 Mar 1943.
From 5 Nov 1943 until 22 Apr 1944 he was absent from the uit undertaking a course at the Marconi School of Wireless in Sydney, followed by leave in Western Australia. Soon after he rejoined the battalion, on 6 May 1944, he was appointed Lance Corporal, and on 29 May signed on with the 2nd AIF. On 4 Oct 1944 John was admitted to the 107th Australian General Hospital with a fractured right zygoma (cheekbone), deemed to have been accidental by an investigation on 4 Oct 1944. He boarded USAT Jane Addams in Darwin on 25 Nov 1944 for Jacquinot Bay on the south coast of New Britain, disembarking there on 3 Dec 1944. On 20 Dec 1944 he was promoted Acting Corporal, with is reank confirmed on 20 Mar 1945.
With hostilities over, John was transferred to the 2/14th Field Regiment on 19 Dec 1945 and the following day he embarked on SS Trienza in Rabaul, New Britain for Melbourne, disembarking there on 29 Dec 1945, after which on 30 December he was posted to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot for discharge. John was discharged on 10 Jan 1946.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1980 at 11 Ashburton street, Welshpool, telephone linesman.
Notes