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Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot

From Our Contribution

WA LoC HQ.jpg
Unit's colour patch


Brief History

In March 1940 W Comd Gen Details Camp was raised at Melville to look after stragglers and those left behind by the convoys passing through Fremantle for the Middle East. In April it moved to Northam and then in June to the Fremantle Artillery Barracks. In September they moved to Claremont and their role was widened to handle all troops passing through Perth.


In January 1941 a Discharge & Reception Depot was formed within the unit to process soldiers returning from the Middle East for discharge. In November they also took on those attending the Western Command Cooking School and apprentices undergoing trade training. In May 1942 the unit was renamed WA L of C Area GDD and they shared a HQ with the neighbouring WA L of C Area RRD until August 1943. In November 1942 a separate WA L of C LTD was formed to handle troops passing through Perth on leave. The number of troops in Western Australia had reduced substantially by May 1944 and the GDD amalgamated with the RDD to form Western Australian L of C Area RR & GDD at Claremont.


In October 1944 the unit became Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot before moving to Karrakatta in December where it remained until the war's conclusion. In September 1945 it formed Western Command Discharge Depot to facilitate demobilisation.


Unit Personnel

General Details Depot

Personnel between postings.

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945

1946

Returnees Depot

Personnel returning from the Middle East or New Guinea needing a new posting - not yet for discharge.

Medical Wing

Western Command Discharge Depot

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945

1946

1947

1949

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 6 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 6.414 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018


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