Norman (Norm) SINCLAIR

SINCLAIR, Norman

Service Numbers: SX31069, S110048
Enlisted: 27 February 1943, Sellheim, QLD
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 12th Small Ships Company
Born: Moonta Mines, South Australia, 10 May 1918
Home Town: Norwood (SA), South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Bread Carter
Died: Adelaide South Australia, 17 January 2005, aged 86 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia
General D Path 19. 467A
Memorials: City of Kensington & Norwood Honour Roll World War II Book and Case
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World War 2 Service

27 Feb 1943: Involvement Private, SX31069
27 Feb 1943: Involvement Private, S110048
27 Feb 1943: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX31069
27 Feb 1943: Enlisted Sellheim, QLD
25 May 1943: Embarked Private, SX31069, Cairns Disembarked Horn Island
24 Dec 1943: Transferred Royal Australian Corps of Transport, Transferred to 32 Australian Water Transport Coy.
15 Jun 1944: Embarked Embarked Thursday Island. Disembarked Merauke New Guinea
5 Jul 1945: Transferred 12th Small Ships Company
18 Sep 1945: Embarked Embarked Brisbane. Disembarked Lae New Guinea
3 Apr 1946: Discharged
3 Apr 1946: Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX31069

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Biography contributed by David Sinclair

Norm Sinclair was born in Moonta Mines in 1918 to Ethel Olive and Leslie John Hancock Sinclair. Leslie was a miner and had four sons and a daughter. Two of Norms brothers, Reg and Jack both served overseas. Norm had a lifelong marriage to Melva Griffin (nee) Suridge and they had three children 

After being trained as a cook he was sent to work in the Torres Strait on Horn Island and Thursday Island with the 32 Australian Water Transport Coy. 
Horn Island was the site of a major Allied Air Base. The Horn Island Aerodrome, constructed on the island was bombed by Japanese planes on eight occasions during 1942-1943. Over 5000 men and women served on the island during the war. 
Thursday Island became the Military Headquarters for the Torres Strait and was a base for Australian and United States forces. 

In June 1944 Norm served in New Guinea and again in October 1945. He had now been transfered to the 12th Australian Small Ships Coy and sailed on the Army Vessel AH169 Stradbroke 2. This ship operated as a hospital ship for the 1st Australian Ambulance convoy.

Although working as a cook, according to his brother Jack there was a time that Norm was caught up in the thick of it.He also must have had a bit of an attitude, being done for using insubordinate language to his superior officer, but that would probably make him belong to a large group.

 

He served 1105 days in Australia and 228 days overseas.

 

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