morrie

morrie · 01-01-2008, 03:40 AM

Hi, this is my first apperance on this forum. I am researching my late Fathers military history and would appreciate any assistance. His name is John Morrison and joined the Army in Mackay in 1941. He served in New Guinea until 1944 with the 49th Batallion AIF. He was later discharged medically unfit. I have some records from the National Archives but would really appreciate any further assistance. Also are there any unit histories that relate to the 49th. He also spoke about spending time with the Coastwatchers in New Guinea but there is no record of this. Kindest regards, Allan.

Slipdigit · 01-01-2008, 04:59 AM

Good to have you here, Morrie. Some of the Ozzies can help you here, as I know very little of the Australian Army.

51highland · 01-01-2008, 09:20 AM

Hello and welcome Morrie, no doubt Spidge will be along to enlighten both you and us.!!!!!!

Owen · 01-01-2008, 10:16 AM

Welcome to the forum Morrie and Happy New Year.

Gage · 01-01-2008, 11:13 AM

Welcome mate. Enjoy. Happy New Year.

Peter Clare · 01-01-2008, 11:24 AM

Welcome to the forum Morrie, hope you enjoy it here.

jacobtowne · 01-01-2008, 02:30 PM

Welcome. The Australian War Memorial may help in your research.

Collection Databases

JT

spidge · 02-01-2008, 12:53 PM

Welcome to the forum Morrie and a Happy New Year.

The Coastwatching association could have been on Thursday Island.

49th Battalion (Stanley Regiment): Australian War Memorial

The first lot below from Digger History:
Militia (CMF) all the details of 'The Chockos'

By 7 December 1941, the AIF had units in the Middle East, Malaya, Australia, the islands and the United Kingdom.
The role of the militia changed on the 19th February 1943, when the Defence (Citizen Military Forces) Act was passed. Commonly known as the Militia Bill, it defied the area by which those units could be stationed. It also allowed for Militia units to pass to AIF control if more than 75% of the units strength or 65% of the authorized "war establishment", whichever was greater, had volunteered to join the AIF.
By this time 15 AIF and 8 Militia Battalions had gained battle experience in New Guinea. The militia battalions belonged to the 7th Brigade (9th, 25th and 61st Battalions) in the successful defence of Milne Bay; the 30th Brigade (3rd, 39th and 55th/53rd Battalions) which had fought over the Kokoda Trail and the 14th Brigade (36th and 49th Battalions) which had joined the four AIF Brigades in the attack on Gona and Sanananda.

The next detail I assume you already have had sent to you because it is not listed as digitised.
http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/Item...O=0&M=20&F=141

The other is a bit more detail from Digger History.
New Guinea Force

Christos · 03-01-2008, 01:58 PM

Morrie...I have a question....which area of New Guinea was he serving in?.....North Coast from the sounds of it......there was a campaign as part of a larger operation called CARTWHEEL that was designed to not only encircle Raubaul (and bypass, though this was not planned at first.).......Macarthur's landing in the Admiralty Islands was matched by a push around the Northern Papuan Coast, in an effort to clear the approaches to Rabaul, and aiming eventually for the Island of BIAK.......

morrie · 04-01-2008, 02:48 AM

Hi Spidge, many thanks for your kind assistance. In reference to your question, I recall Dad saying he was involved in fighting in Buna and Gona. Only this morning I gained some info from my elder Brother who relates an incident where Dad contracted Malaria while in New Guinea. Two Military officers visited him in hospital and indicated that although he couldn,t carry a rifle he could be trained as a Coastwatcher where the natives would assist him carrying eqpt etc. He also remembers that in Mackay the mail from servicemen arrived every 2 weeks. Several weeks went by with no mail and my Mother made enquiries with Military personnel. Eventually mail did arrive which my Brother remembers was heavily censored with most of the letter blacked out.Regardless of this Mum was ecstatic at just making contact. After the war Dad made a comment to me as I had just joined the regular army. He said don't ever volunteer and went on to tell me of his experiences as a coastwatcher.
Although all of his service with this group would be security sensitive, I would love to find out where he served during this time. I purchased a Book on the net this morning, History of the 49th which should give me more insight into his service. I am so very proud of all our servicemen who went through two world wars and laid down their lives so that we may enjoy the freedom which we have today.Sadly when I read the newspapers and watch TV and see the mindless violence that exists daily, I wonder if those old solders would be turning in their grave. Spidge, I have prattled on for too long, thanks once again for all your help. You are a gentleman. Kindest regards Allan.

01-01-2008, 03:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
morrie Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Cleveland Qld Autralia Posts: 14	morrie Hi, this is my first apperance on this forum. I am researching my late Fathers military history and would appreciate any assistance. His name is John Morrison and joined the Army in Mackay in 1941. He served in New Guinea until 1944 with the 49th Batallion AIF. He was later discharged medically unfit. I have some records from the National Archives but would really appreciate any further assistance. Also are there any unit histories that relate to the 49th. He also spoke about spending time with the Coastwatchers in New Guinea but there is no record of this. Kindest regards, Allan.

01-01-2008, 04:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
Slipdigit The Dixie Division Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Not far enough in the woods Posts: 1,630	Good to have you here, Morrie. Some of the Ozzies can help you here, as I know very little of the Australian Army. __________________ Warmest Regards, Jeff The Bonnie Blue Flag *

01-01-2008, 09:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
51highland Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ipswich Posts: 745	Hello and welcome Morrie, no doubt Spidge will be along to enlighten both you and us.!!!!!! __________________ 51 highland www.keep-em-moving.com Là á Bhlàir's math na Càirdean (Friends are good in the day of battle) Na diobair caraid's a charraid (Forsake not a friend in the fray) Cuimhnichibh na suinn nach maireann . Mairidh an cliu beo gu brath. (In memory of the Heroes who are no more. May their Fame live on forever)

01-01-2008, 11:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
Gage Angels one-five Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Somewhere in Time Posts: 1,263	Welcome mate. Enjoy. Happy New Year. __________________ 'There I stood at the bar, wearing a Mae West, no jacket, and beginning to leak blood from my torn boot. None of the golfers took any notice of me - after all, I wasn't a member!' Kenneth Lee - after being shot down on the 18th August 1940. In the USAAF in World War II, over three times as many men were killed as wounded. Donald L. Miller. Avatar: SOE (F Section) agent Andree Borrel murdered at Natzweiler Camp 6th July 1944.

01-01-2008, 11:24 AM	#6 (permalink)
Peter Clare Legendary Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Windsor UK Posts: 5,204	Welcome to the forum Morrie, hope you enjoy it here. __________________ On weald of Kent I watched once more Again I heard that grumbling roar Of fighter planes; yet none were near And all around the sky was clear Borne on the wind a whisper came 'Though men grow old, they stay the same' And then I knew, unseen to eye The ageless Few were sweeping by

01-01-2008, 10:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 8,995	Welcome to the forum Morrie and Happy New Year.

01-01-2008, 02:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
jacobtowne Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New England, U.S.A. Posts: 618	Welcome. The Australian War Memorial may help in your research. Collection Databases JT

02-01-2008, 12:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
spidge Legendary Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 8,049	Welcome to the forum Morrie and a Happy New Year. The Coastwatching association could have been on Thursday Island. 49th Battalion (Stanley Regiment): Australian War Memorial The first lot below from Digger History: Militia (CMF) all the details of 'The Chockos' By 7 December 1941, the AIF had units in the Middle East, Malaya, Australia, the islands and the United Kingdom. The role of the militia changed on the 19th February 1943, when the Defence (Citizen Military Forces) Act was passed. Commonly known as the Militia Bill, it defied the area by which those units could be stationed. It also allowed for Militia units to pass to AIF control if more than 75% of the units strength or 65% of the authorized "war establishment", whichever was greater, had volunteered to join the AIF. By this time 15 AIF and 8 Militia Battalions had gained battle experience in New Guinea. The militia battalions belonged to the 7th Brigade (9th, 25th and 61st Battalions) in the successful defence of Milne Bay; the 30th Brigade (3rd, 39th and 55th/53rd Battalions) which had fought over the Kokoda Trail and the 14th Brigade (36th and 49th Battalions) which had joined the four AIF Brigades in the attack on Gona and Sanananda. The next detail I assume you already have had sent to you because it is not listed as digitised. http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/Item...O=0&M=20&F=141 The other is a bit more detail from Digger History. New Guinea Force __________________ Spidge, ------------------------------------------------------- My Avatar is the memorial to the 22 Commonwealth Coastwatchers at the Temakin Cemetery on Betio (Tarawa Atoll) who were beheaded by the Japanese on 15th October 1942. http://www.dva.gov.au/media/publicat...mem_beito.html "You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war." (Winston Churchill made this prophetic pronouncement in a House of Commons speech in 1938, just after Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich agreement with Hitler. Chamberlain returned from Germany with the signed agreement in hand, proclaiming that "peace in our time" had been achieved. Churchill attacked Chamberlain's "politics of appeasement" in this and many other speeches.) What did the Australians do in ww2 and other conflicts? Check out this site: http://www.diggerhistory.info/00-pag...ster-index.htm

03-01-2008, 01:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
Christos Discharged Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 485	Morrie...I have a question....which area of New Guinea was he serving in?.....North Coast from the sounds of it......there was a campaign as part of a larger operation called CARTWHEEL that was designed to not only encircle Raubaul (and bypass, though this was not planned at first.).......Macarthur's landing in the Admiralty Islands was matched by a push around the Northern Papuan Coast, in an effort to clear the approaches to Rabaul, and aiming eventually for the Island of BIAK.......

04-01-2008, 02:48 AM	#10 (permalink)
morrie Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Cleveland Qld Autralia Posts: 14	Hi Spidge, many thanks for your kind assistance. In reference to your question, I recall Dad saying he was involved in fighting in Buna and Gona. Only this morning I gained some info from my elder Brother who relates an incident where Dad contracted Malaria while in New Guinea. Two Military officers visited him in hospital and indicated that although he couldn,t carry a rifle he could be trained as a Coastwatcher where the natives would assist him carrying eqpt etc. He also remembers that in Mackay the mail from servicemen arrived every 2 weeks. Several weeks went by with no mail and my Mother made enquiries with Military personnel. Eventually mail did arrive which my Brother remembers was heavily censored with most of the letter blacked out.Regardless of this Mum was ecstatic at just making contact. After the war Dad made a comment to me as I had just joined the regular army. He said don't ever volunteer and went on to tell me of his experiences as a coastwatcher. Although all of his service with this group would be security sensitive, I would love to find out where he served during this time. I purchased a Book on the net this morning, History of the 49th which should give me more insight into his service. I am so very proud of all our servicemen who went through two world wars and laid down their lives so that we may enjoy the freedom which we have today.Sadly when I read the newspapers and watch TV and see the mindless violence that exists daily, I wonder if those old solders would be turning in their grave. Spidge, I have prattled on for too long, thanks once again for all your help. You are a gentleman. Kindest regards Allan.

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