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John William (Jack) Vance

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John William (Jack) Vance
Vance John William 1.jpg
Vance John William 2.jpg
Personal Information
Date of Birth 4 Aug 1919
Place of Birth Katanning, Western Australia
Death 16 Mar 2012, aged 92
Place of Death Brisbane, Queensland
Age at Enlistment 21 years, 8 months
Description 5'5" tall ; 151 lbs
68.492 kg
; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair
Occupation Farm hand
Religion Roman Catholic
Address Roleystone, Western Australia
Next of Kin Father , Mr John William Vance
Military Information
Reg Number WX13653
Date of Enlistment 28 May 1941
Rank Craftsman
Unit/Formation 13th Australian Advanced Workshop
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates 19 Jun 1945 ‒ 29 Jun 1945
Transport Details USAT Evangaline Brisbane to Morotai
Return to Australia
Journey Dates 28 Dec 1945 ‒ 4 Jan 1946
Transport Details SS Georgetown Victory Morotai to Brisbane
Post War Details
Fate Returned to Australia
Medals 1939-45 Star
Pacific Star
War Medal 1939-45
Australian Service Medal 1939-45



Pre War

War Service

Prior to enlisting in the 2nd AIF on 28 May 1941, John had been a member of the 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment ww2's Motor Transport Company (W904) from 10 Aug 1940. On joining the 2nd AIF he was sent to the No. 1 Training Battalion at Northam, where on 10 Jun 1941 he was identified as a reinforcement for the 2/16th Battalion. However, on 9 Jul 1941 he was transferred back to Claremont to join the Australian Army Service Corps, and following basic training with them he was granted pre-embarkation leave from 4 to 10 Dec 1941.


On 13 Jan 1942 John was detached to the "Spencers Brook Supply Depot" near Northam. His next move came on 21 Mar 1942 when he was posted to the 1st Armoured Division's 2nd troop, 3rd Section. At the end of the month he entrained for 3 Military District in Victoria, but on 9 Apr 1942 was taken on strength of the 1st Armoured Division Section, Armoured Corps Ordnance Workshop in Sydney. On 24 Apr 1942 he was AWOL for 2 hours 40 minutes , for which he received 72 hours Confined to Barracks. On 23 Nov 1942 he was graded as a Group III Driver Motor Transport with the 1st Australian Armed Division's Workshops RAEME.


On 19 Jan 1943 he was posted back to WA, arriving on 30 Jan 1943 when he was granted 20 days home leave before being attached to the 2/96th Australian Light Aid Detachment from 11 May 1943. On 28 Jan 1944 he was again AWOL, this time from 1:15pm on 24 Jan until 5:45am on 25 Jan 1944. Awarded 5 days Confined to Barracks, he also forfeited a day's pay. On 12 Jun 1944 he was detached to the Vehicle Park Recovery unit before entraining for Queensland on 3 Nov 1944. On 5 Dec 1944 John was transferred again, this time from the Armoured Corps to the 13th Australian Advanced Workshops.


On 19 Jun 1945 he embarked in Brisbane on USAT Evangaline for Morotai, disembarking 10 days later on 29 Jun 1945. Following the conclusion of hostilities, on 28 Dec 1945 he was posted back to Brisbane and boarded the SS Georgetown Victory the same day, arriving in Brisbane on 4 Jan 1946. By 12 Feb 1946 he was back in Western Australia, and on 14 Feb 1946 he was admitted to the 110th Australian Base Hospital at Swanbourne with Chronic Otitis Media. On 22 Feb 1946 he was reclassified as B2 - suitable for base job only, and on 13 Mar 1946 he was discharged from hospital. John spent another 8 months in base units before being discharged on 7 Nov 1946

Post War

On 26 Dec 1947 Jack married Theresa May Eileen Dempsey (1921 - 2008). They had four children.

Electoral Roll entries: 1954 - 1963 at 359 Verney road, East Graceville, Queensland, truck owner driver; 1968 - 1977 at 121 Mt Gravatt Capalaba Road, Wishart, Queensland, owner-driver;

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