John William Kenneth (Ken) WHITROW

WHITROW, John William Kenneth

Service Numbers: S110679, 122107
Enlisted: 19 December 1941
Last Rank: Aircraftman
Last Unit: RAAF Ground Training Schools
Born: Eastwood, SA, 19 September 1911
Home Town: Hindmarsh, Charles Sturt, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Postman
Died: Natural Causes, South Australia, 27 August 1988, aged 76 years
Cemetery: Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia
Derrick Gardens, Path 22D, Grave 22D
Memorials: City of West Torrens WW2 Boulevard of Honour
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World War 2 Service

19 Dec 1941: Enlisted Private, S110679, Lines of Communication Units, Hindmarsh, SA
19 Dec 1941: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, S110679
15 Jan 1943: Involvement Signaller, S110679, Lines of Communication Units, Homeland Defence - Militia and non deployed forces
16 Jan 1943: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 122107, RAAF Ground Training Schools, Adelaide
16 Jan 1943: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 122107

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of John Herbert WHITROW and Lottie nee WHITE

Husband of Martha Ellen Charlotte nee ROGERS OF 77 Hayward Avenue, Torrensville, SA

Biography contributed by Steve Larkins

John William Kenneth Whitrow (1915-?)

John Whitrow, like most 'eligible' men in WW2, was initially drafted into the Militia  / CMF for Homeland Defence duties.  His early 'S' serial number confirms this;  'S' indicating he was enlisted in SA  and the absence of an 'X' means he was not identified for overseas service in the 2nd AIF ; at least initially.   John would have been 'eligible' from the outset, being 28 years old when war broke out. 

However the Government was struggling to cope with the sheer numbers involved and so intake was quite often deferred, and his entiail enlistment date into the Militia is revelaed in his nominal roll extract as 19 Dec 1941.

After an initial period of service in the Militia, and like many of his colleagues, he decided to transfer to either the RAAF the 2nd AIF or in some cases the Navy.  John chose the Air Force.  His service number beginning with '1' suggests he was identified for his technical background and he was streamed into groundcrew courses and assignments.

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