GRAYSON, Harold William
| Service Numbers: | V58755, VX149916 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 November 1944 |
| Last Rank: | Warrant Officer Class 2 |
| Last Unit: | 23/21 Infantry Battalion AMF |
| Born: | Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia, 10 July 1919 |
| Home Town: | Warrnambool, Warrnambool, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Warrnambool High School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Pre war Law Clerk Post war - Pay Master |
| Died: | Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia, 14 February 2020, aged 100 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Warrnambool Public Cemetery, Victoria Lawn Area, Row D8, Grave 006 |
| Memorials: | Warrnambool Memorial Pavers and Touch Screen |
World War 2 Service
| 4 Dec 1936: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Staff Sergeant, V58755, 23/21 Infantry Battalion AMF | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Nov 1944: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Warrant Officer Class 2, VX149916 | |
| 3 Feb 1948: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Warrant Officer Class 2, VX149916 |
HAROLD WILLIAM “BILL” GRAYSON (Service Number: V58755)
HAROLD WILLIAM “BILL” GRAYSON was born on 10th July 1919 in Warrnambool, Victoria.
He lived with my parents and the family in Warrnambool and was a Law Clerk when he enlisted in the AMF on December 4th 1936. |
Bill was posted to 4/19th Light Horse Regiment E Coy and completed training camps at Ocean Grove, Mt Martha and Balcombe prior to being posted to 23/21 Battalion. Bill began Full Time Duty at Drysdale on July 30th 1941 and after training served with 23/21 Battalion. On May 9th 1942 he arrived in the Northern Territory with the 23/21 Battalion which had carried out defensive duties in Victoria before deploying to the territory. He served with the 23 /21 BTN until July 25th 1943 when he returned to Victoria for reallocation. The 23/21 was disbanded on August 28th 1943. On January 17th 1944 I transferred to 16 Australian War Graves Regiment and moved to Queensland.
Bill was transferred from the CMF to the AIF on November 3rd 1944 at Townsville. He was allotted Army Number VX149916 and posted to HQ Aust War Graves Group (Central Pacific). Bill then served with the War Graves Unit from 1945 until he was demobilised in 1948. He served in the islands in the Central Pacific. I was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer 2 on October 1st 1946. In February 1947 he was granted compassionate leave when his father was gravely ill. Sadly, he died on March 12th 1947and I returned to my unit at Makassar in May 1947. Bill returned to Australia with the unit on December 1st 1947 and was discharged on February 3rd 1948.
He later rejoined the CMF in Warrnambool to continue to serve and defend his country.
Bill died in Warrnambool on 14th February 2000.
Submitted 10 April 2026 by Janet Floyd
Biography contributed by Janet Floyd
HAROLD WILLIAM “BILL” GRAYSON (Service Number: V58755) was born on 10th July 1919 in Warrnambool, Victoria.
He lived with my parents and the family in Warrnambool and was a Law Clerk when he enlisted in the AMF on December 4th 1936. He was posted to 4/19th Light Horse Regiment E Coy and completed training camps at Ocean Grove, Mt Martha and Balcombe prior to being posted to 23/21 Battalion. Bill began Full Time Duty at Drysdale on July 30th 1941 and after training served with 23/21 Battalion.
On May 9th 1942 he arrived in the Northern Territory with the 23/21 Battalion which had carried out defensive duties in Victoria before deploying to the territory. He served with the 23 /21 BTN until July 25th 1943 when he returned to Victoria for reallocation.
The 23/21 was disbanded on August 28th 1943. On January 17th 1944 Bill transferred to 16 Australian War Graves Regiment and moved to Queensland.
Bill was transferred from the CMF to the AIF on November 3rd 1944 at Townsville. He was allotted Army Number VX149916 and posted to HQ Aust War Graves Group (Central Pacific).
Bill then served with the War Graves Unit from 1945 until he was demobilised in 1948. He served in the islands in the Central Pacific. Bill was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer 2 on October 1st 1946.
In February 1947 he was granted compassionate leave when his father was gravely ill. Sadly, he died on March 12th 1947and Bill returned to my unit at Makassar in May 1947. He returned to Australia with the unit on December 1st 1947 and discharged on February 3rd 1948.
Bill later rejoined the CMF to continue to serve his country.