Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Reginald signed up for the army on the 28/5/1943 and went to Bathurst for rookie training, then being placed in the 5th ITB (Infantry Training battalion) and receiving his army number which was NX 173963.
Reginald was sent to the 19th ITB at Dubbo to continue rookie training. After about 5 weeks he boarded a troop train to Canungra, arriving on the 19/12/1943. Here he was transferred to the 2nd IRTB (Infantry Recruit Training Battalion) and did 4 weeks Jungle Warfare training.
After doing the 4 weeks training, he was told to do an NCO course and became a Corporal. While at Canungra he volunteered for the "Z Special Unit" and was accepted into this unit on the 18/8/1944. With this unit came another army number which was SRD AK 197, SRD stands for "Services Reconnaissance Department" which was a cover name for SOA "Special Operations Australia". Reginald trained at Fraser Island with the "Z Special Unit" before being sent to Darwin.
At Darwin the "Z Special Unit" cover name was the "Lugger Maintenance Section".
Reginald did a 3-week parachute training course at Richmond Air Force, after more training he qualified for his "Wings".
On Wednesday 15th August 1945 Reginald was ready to depart Darwin to start operation "Salmon 3" for which he had been training for. The unit was to leave Brisbane via submarine to Sukan Island, but the war ended before this operation could start. From Brisbane Reginald was sent to Sydney where the "Z Special Unit" was quickly disbanded. Reginald was then attached to the "No1 Australian Security Company" doing duty on docks guarding supplies.
Reginald volunteered for the "British Commonwealth Occupation Force" (BCOF)
and in March 1946 he was accepted into "J Company" 2/1 Guards Regiment, 34th Brigade. Reginald was stationed at Kure on the southern end of Honshe Island.
Reginald arrived back to Sydney from Japan on the 18/10/1947 and was discharged from the army on the 27/10/1947.
Reginald joined the CMF in 1957 where he received his 3rd army number 2217128, and was in the 13th Infantry Battalion, Macquarie Regiment.
Reginald worked for NSW Government Railways from 1947 till he retired on the 12/1/1984. He passed away on the 23rd of October 2020. A life well lived.