Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Cecil David (Dave) Westwood was born on the 18th June 1923 and was the son of a Gallipoli veteran (Sgt Cecil Roy Westwood) who landed at dawn on 25 April 1915.  Cecil David grew up in the suburb of Unley in South Australia and attended Unley High School in 1936/37/38.

When war was declared in 1939, Cecil David signed up for the Citizens Military Force (CMF) when he was still 16 and later in 1941 joined the Australian Military Forces when he turned 17 years of age.  Cecil David was trained as a cook and was posted to the 11th Field Hospital.  On 27th of December 1941 he was embarked on HMT "Pa" to be landed in New Guinea during the defence of the Kokoda Track. Cecil was evacuated 5 times to a Hospital ship suffering from Malaria and Dengue Fever during his deployment and each time was returned "fit" to his station.  After nearly 2 years in New Guinea, in 1943, 19 year old Cecil David was embarked on HMV Duntroon at Port Moresby and disembarked at Cairns in Queensland for promotional training.

Whilst in Cairns, Cecil David applied for leave and finally had time to visit his family in Adelaide.  On the 3rd of August 1943, just after his 20th birthday, Cecil David Westwood married his childhood sweetheart, Beryl Olive Jones at the Adelaide Cathedral in North Adelaide. Cecil David returned to Cairns shortly after the marriage and continued his jungle training in North Queensland.

Cecil David's military whereabouts are a bit confusing after this point and Cecil reappeared on military records on 5th March 1945 when he embarked on the "Carlos Carillos" at Cairns and disembarked 23 days later on the island of Morotoi.  Cecil celebrated VJ day on that Pacific Island and embarked on the vessel "Inverell" on the 29th November 1945 and arrived back in Cairns on 14 December 1945.

Cecil was discharged from the Army on the 4th of January 1946 in Adelaide and settled into "austere" Army accommodation at Unley.  Cecil David may have had difficulty obtaining meaningful employment as he soon re-enlisted into the AMF on 17 May 1951 and remained until 16 May 1963 and then the RAR from 17 May 1963 until May 1966.

During his peace time service in the army, Cecil David was based at Keswick Barracks for a number of years.  He was posted to Woodside Army barracks in 1950 and remained there with his family (Except for a short stay at Maralinga) until 1961. In 1961, Cecil David was posted to Middle Head Army Barracks in Sydney and his family was housed at Rydalmere.  In 1962 he was posted to Keswick Army Barracks in South Australia and his family housed at Hillcrest Gardens.  Cecil David left the Army in 1966 and was employed in the Hospitality Industry as a barman until his untimely passing at age 49 in 1972.

Cecil David Westwood was my father and constantly went without to make sure his wife and 5 children were adequately cared for.  The ravages and illnesses associated with war drastically shortened his life but he was a proud soldier and never missed an Anzac Day reunion and always marched in Adelaide with his mates on 25 April each year til his death.

Contributed 20/4/2015 by Jeff Westwood (Son)

A keen and prominent cyclist he took part in many events winning trophies and cups.  A porter with the South Australian Railways in civilian life when he enlisted in December 1941.  His father and three uncles served in the Great War.