As per recent posts and with sound advice from fellow forum users I would like to request for further information on the below Soldiers. I have their Service Certificates, I am searching for possible photo's / information that may be out there and that may relate to my Pops story....... My Pop: Walter Smith WX289 (I am researching his memoir) has named the below men: Colonel Thomas Steane Louch WX2 I have Colonel Louch's Service Certificate and a fantastic article titled 'Veteran was Fine Leader of Battalion' from the West Australian. Places mentioned: Northam W.A, MV Nevasa Troopship, MV Straithard Captain Walter William Gook WX16 (noted in memoir as Platoon Officer) I have Captain Gook's Service Certificate Places mentioned: Northam W.A Sergeant Arthur William Albert Vicary WX402 I have Service certificate. Places mentioned: Northam W.A, Kilo 89 Camp Gaza Ridge Pop writes that the above men had great leadership skills. Alfred Stanley Hedges WX415 I have Alf's full service records, Alf was killed in action in Greece. Places mentioned: Barbara Camp Palestine, MV Cameronian to Athens I have found Alf's remaining family who are also searching for photo's. If you can help I am looking for possible photo's of the platoon or from above places. Thank you again and kind regards
Alfred Stanley Hedges WX415 I have Alf's full service records, Alf was killed in action in Greece. Places mentioned: Barbara Camp Palestine, MV Cameronian to Athens I have found Alf's remaining family who are also searching for photo's. ******************************* According to the AWM ROH, Alf died in Austria in March 1945 - he must have been taken POW in Greece and died towards the end of the war (NAA file shows him dying in an Allied Aerial bombing. File also has a negative of his enlistment photo).
Captain Walter William Gook WX16 (noted in memoir as Platoon Officer) I have Captain Gook's Service Certificate Places mentioned: Northam W.A Sergeant Arthur William Albert Vicary WX402 I have Service certificate. Places mentioned: Northam W.A, Kilo 89 Camp Gaza Ridge Pop writes that the above men had great leadership skills. ***************************** Captain Gook was also taken POW, he was a pre-war regular who enlisted in 1933 just shy of his 17th birthday. He stayed in the army post-war (discharged Nov 1946). He has another service number on the WW2roll, which is either his pre-war number or a post-war type which would make him the first WW2 army officer I have seen who was issued with a new-style number (this was common for RAAF officers though). The WX series was for West Australians who enlisted in the 2nd AIF and the numbers were pretty much issued sequentially. Oddly enough, I can’t find a service record for him at the National Archives. I know that the army still administers post-WW2 records so staying in until late 1946 must be enough to ensure his file doesn’t go to the archives. ********************************************** Vicary was discharged in 1944 as a Private, I wonder if he had acting rank in the desert which he lost when he returned to Australia? The early discharge might also mean that he was injured or otherwise unable to be sent overseas again. (his NAA file hasn't been digitized as yet)
Colonel Thomas Steane Louch WX2 I have Colonel Louch's Service Certificate and a fantastic article titled 'Veteran was Fine Leader of Battalion' from the West Australian. Places mentioned: Northam W.A, MV Nevasa Troopship, MV Straithard ********************************************** LtCol Louch was discharged in February 1943, he would have been the better part of 49 years old (born in 1894). He previously served in WW1 (wounded at Gallipoli, later earned an MC and an MiD) and re-enlisted at the outbreak of WW2. His WW1 file has been amalgamated with his WW2 file (haven't seen that before). SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 20 SEPTEMBER, 1919 War Office, 20th September, 1919. The following are among the Decorations and medals awarded by the Allied Powers at various dates to the British Forces for distinguished services rendered during the course of the campaign: — His Majesty the King has given unrestricted permission in all cases to wear the Decorations and medals in question. DECORATlONS CONFERRED BY HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF ROUMAINIA Captain Thomas Steane Louch, M.C., 51st Battalion, Australian Imperial Forces. He earned an MiD during WW2 too, it looks like for his work in Greece. Attached image shows an award I had never heard of (WW1)
Thank you DaveB! I also questioned Alf's place of death as the last page of his war records has place of casualty as Greece however the Roll of Honour states Austria and accidental. I found relatives of Alf during my research and they told me that he was killed in Greece by the Germans??? I have found a few conflicting issues re Military Records & the Roll of Honour. Really appreciate your help DaveB and thank you again!
He was definitely a Sergeant in 1940, I wonder what happened to his rank?? *************************************** Sergeant Arthur William Albert Vicary WX402 I have Service certificate. Places mentioned: Northam W.A, Kilo 89 Camp Gaza Ridge Vicary was discharged in 1944 as a Private, I wonder if he had acting rank in the desert which he lost when he returned to Australia? The early discharge might also mean that he was injured or otherwise unable to be sent overseas again. (his NAA file hasn't been digitized as yet)
Quote{He has another service number on the WW2roll, which is either his pre-war number or a post-war type which would make him the first WW2 army officer I have seen who was issued with a new-style number (this was common for RAAF officers though).}End Quote Hi mate, my uncle Major M.R. Windsor was a pre and post war Regular he had three or four numbers. They appear on different parts of his records. Army Number 192583 This number is his Universal Training and Militia number and is on such documents dated from 1925 to 1936 he enlisted in the PMF in 1936. PMF = Permanent Military Forces, the Universal Training was something that most men of certain age groups had to it was a way to have large amounts of people with very basic army training. It was stopped during the 1930's. Militia was close to being the 1920's 1930's equivalent of Army Reserve PMF Number VP 3750; 1936 to 1939 2nd AIF number VX 3041; 1939 to 1945/46 These two above numbers appear through out his files depending on what year it was. Often one number has been placed next to the other number however their is one final number that has been placed near his 2nd AIF number and PMF number through out his entire file. ARA number 3/188. (1946 to 1961) (?) It is placed in a place where it says "Army Number" mainly on pages from the post war era. though it has been added in writing next to his PMF and AIF numbers his PMF and AIF numbers have often had a line put through them and this number written next to the AIF and PMF numbers. So i think it is his post WW2 serial number though it could be a number that identifies his records. This file has many pages more than most I have seen, so I have not read it through out for quite some time and have just briefed through the main pages today. Major was the rank he was authorised to have after he retired
Attached image shows an award I had never heard of (WW1) It appears to say "Order of the Crown of Roumainia" (Chevaleir) L.G List 8 Date 28/10/1919 At the end of the war many of the European nations including smaller European nations awarded Royal and national awards to officers and men of all the Allied forces including Australians. It did not seem to matter that the man or his nations troops may never have stood on the soil of, or fought along side the troops of the country who awarded the award.
I also questioned Alf's place of death as the last page of his war records has place of casualty as Greece however the Roll of Honour states Austria and accidental. I found relatives of Alf during my research and they told me that he was killed in Greece by the Germans??? I have found a few conflicting issues re Military Records & the Roll of Honour. Some more info on Alf, a photo from the newspaper plus articles concerning his POW status in Germany plus his death there in 1945 commemorated by his family until at least 1949
