GAIN, John Charles
| Service Number: | NX15989 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 May 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Henty, New South Wales, Australia , 1 March 1916 |
| Home Town: | Yerong Creek, Lockhart, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tractor Driver |
| Died: | 13 February 2002, aged 85 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Moorland General Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Yerong Creek & District Memorial Honour Roll |
World War 2 Service
| 21 May 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lance Sergeant, NX15989, 2nd/13th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1940: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lance Sergeant, NX15989, 2nd/13th Infantry Battalion, Embark HMT Queen Mary for Middle East | |
| 13 Nov 1940: | Promoted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lance Corporal, 2nd/13th Infantry Battalion, Appointed Lance Corporal | |
| 5 Jul 1941: | Promoted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, 2nd/13th Infantry Battalion, Promoted to Acting Corporal | |
| 30 Dec 1941: | Promoted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, 2nd/13th Infantry Battalion, Rank of Corporal confirmed. | |
| 2 Jan 1942: | Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Sergeant, Infantry Training Battalions, Promoted to Acting Sergeant and transferred to HQ 20AITB. | |
| 9 Mar 1942: | Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Sergeant, Infantry Training Battalions, Transferred to HQ Composite Special Infantry Training Battalion. | |
| 10 Jun 1942: | Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Sergeant, Infantry Training Battalions, Transferred back to 20AITB. | |
| 6 Jul 1942: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Sergeant, NX15989, Infantry Training Battalions, Attended "tank destruction school" from 6/7/42 to 19/7/42. | |
| 7 Aug 1942: | Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lance Sergeant, 2nd/13th Infantry Battalion, Transferred back to 2/13th bn. Appointed as Lance Sergeant. | |
| 26 Jan 1943: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lance Sergeant, NX15989, 2nd/13th Infantry Battalion, Embark Aquitania, Suez, Egypt. Bound for Sydney. | |
| 3 Dec 1943: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lance Sergeant, NX15989, 2nd/13th Infantry Battalion | |
| 3 Dec 1943: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lance Sergeant, NX15989, 2nd/13th Infantry Battalion, Discharged - required for essential occupation (tractor driver/agriculture). |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Tim Parkes
John Charles "Charlie" Gain was born in the Urana/Lockhart/Holbrook region of NSW. His father was William Patrick Gain (1890-1962) the son of Irish Immigrants; and his mother was Elfreda/Elfleda Margaret Gain nee Milthorpe (1887-1947).
Charlie grew up in the Yerong Creek area before his enlistment at Paddington in 1940. He served with the 2/13th battalion in Africa and New Guinea, gradually reaching the rank of Lance Sergeant. The only transgression listed in his record occurs in 1943, when he returned from leave one day late. His punishment: "Reprimanded by CO and forfeit 1 day pay."
In contrast to this minor misstep, his time in the 2/13th battalion's transport section saw him driving trucks thousands of miles across the North African Desert, attending special schools in "tank destruction", undergoing training to assume a leadership role, and facing many of the hardships that our ANZACs are known for; hard tack, lack of water, desert heat, tropical disease, and the danger of the ever-present enemy.
His discharge in December, 1943, is recorded as being due to his skills in an "essential role". In his attestation documents, he is listed as a tractor driver. Thus, he returned to Australia to work.
In 1947, Charlie married Annie Laurel Cross in Taree, NSW (NSW BDM 12258/1947).
Records indicate that Charlie was involved with Maruice Smeaton (his brother-in-law) in the running of the "Smeaton and Gain" farming supply store in Yerong Creek for many years. He passed away on February 13th, 2002 (aged 85), and is buried Moorland General Cemetery with his wife.
Lest we forget.
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