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Marie Marguerite Gwynne

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Marie Marguerite Gwynne
Gwynne Marie Maarguerite.jpg
photo courtesy Jan Kramer
Gwynne Marie Marguerite 1.jpg
taken on enlistment
Personal Information
Date of Birth 25 May 1923
Place of Birth Woodanilling, Western Australia
Death 14 Jul 2015, aged 92
Place of Death Canning Vale, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment 19 years, 3 months
Description 5'7" (1.70m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; green eyes ; fair hair
Occupation clerk
Religion Church of England
Address Bunbury road, Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin Father , Mr Spencer Gwynne DCM MID
Military Information
Reg Number WF96342
Date of Enlistment 6 Sep 1942
Rank Gunner
Unit/Formation 29th Australian Heavy Anti Aircraft Battery
Post War Details
Fate Remained in Australia
Medical discharge (pregnancy)
Medals War Medal 1939-45
Australian Service Medal 1939-45



Pre War

Marie's first job was with the quarry in the Gosnell's hills. She later was a shop assistant in a Perth dress shop.

War Service

Prior to enlisting in the AWAS, Marie had participated in the local Armadale Voluntary Emergency Corps run by the local policeman Roy Fletcher. She then enlisted in Claremont on 6 Sep 1942, and on 28 Sep 1942 she was transferred to No 419 Heavy Anti Aircraft Gun Station at Buckland Hill. On 2 Nov 1942 she had qualified as an Instrument Operator TG2 and on 27 Jan 1943 she was transferred to the nearby Gun Station 418, also on Buckland Hill. From 8 - 23 May 1943 Marie was admitted to the Lucknow No 1 Hospital (a private hospital on Stirling Highway) before returning to her unit, the 29th Australian Heavy Anti Aircraft Battery.


On 15 Aug 1943 Marie was sent to an AWAS NCO Course at Claremont. Needing medical attention, on 28 Aug 1943 Marie was admitted to the 1st Australian Women's Hospital (possibly 'Knutsford' in Queenslea drive, Claremont) before returning to duty on 8 Sep 1943. On 20 May 1944 Marie's classification as Instrument operator TG2 ceased, without any reason recorded. On 2 Sep 1944 with the reforming of artillery groups in WA, Marie was transferred to the 803rd Australian Anti-Aircraft & Coastal Artillery Battery.


Marie was transferred again, this time to the 31st AWAS Barrack on 18 Oct 1944 to prepare for her discharge which occurred on 24 Oct 1944 at Claremont. Her husband, Mervyn was discharged the same day.

Post War

During 1944 Marie had married Mervyn Roy Drummond (1920 - 2001) in Mt Hawthorn. Son Trevor James was born on 23 Dec 1944 at Sister Whitehead's hospital in Armadale. They were divorced on 9 Oct 1950.

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 Bunbury road, Armadale; 1958 - 1980 at 89 Seventh road, Armadale, typist;

Notes

The first military hospitals in Perth were ‘Lucknow’, a private hospital on Stirling Highway, Claremont, which became the 10 Australian General Hospital (AGH), and another in Queenslea Drive, Claremont, known as ‘Knutsford’, which was converted to a hospital for the women’s services. Both were staffed by members of the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS). Other military hospitals in Western Australia were the 110 AGH Hollywood, 118 AGH and 38 Australian Camp Hospital (ACH) at Northam, the 39 ACH at Rottnest and the 125 AGH Guildford.


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