Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Griffin was the only son of WW1 veteran Thomas John, and Mary Kathleen “Cassie” (nee Edwards) Griffin. Born on 16 October 1922, the 18 year old clerk enlisted at Hindmarsh on 3 October 1941.

John had enlisted in a citizens militia unit, the 27th Battalion South Australian Scottish Regiment. After 2 months of training the 27th Battalion was mobilised for war and entrained for garrison duty in Darwin on the 9 December. It was a 7 day trip for John. The battalion detrained at Alice Springs, the railhead of the northern line, and then a very rough trip over the 1,000 kilometres of unsealed roads to Larrimah, the southern railhead of the North Australian Railway during World War 2. From Larrimah it was another 431 kilometre train journey.

The battalion marched into its camp at Winellie on 16 December and the following day John was transferred to the 7th Military District Field Postal Unit. On 31 January 1942 John was admitted to 119 General Hospital suffering from dengue fever before he was discharged on 8 February, only eleven days before the Japanese bombed Darwin for the first time. In April he was transferred to Northern Territory Force Postal Unit and a month later admitted to 119 General Hospital for ten days suffering “otitis externa” – an infection of the ear.

After the bombing of Darwin the infantry battalions moved to camps south of Darwin, along the Stuart Highway. John was again admitted to hospital for a week, this time to 42 Camp Hospital at Mataranka, with diarrhoa. At this time John made the decision to transfer to the Australian Imperial Force and enlisted at Adelaide River on the 24 November 1942. He was allotted a new service number, SX27804.

In January 1943 John was promoted to Acting Corporal and transferred to Sydney for re-allotment to the 1 Aust Divisional Postal Unit and then in May was detached to HQ 9 Aust Infantry Brigade. John had a desire to fly and on 22 September 1943, while on leave at home, was discharged from 1 Aust Division Postal at Wayville for enlistment in the Royal Australian Air Force.

John returned to Sydney and on 25 September 1943 enlisted in the Citizen Air Force at 2 Recruitment Centre, Sydney. His rank on enlistment was Air Crew V. On 25 September he entered  46 Course Air Crew at 6 Initial Training School, RAAF Station, Bradfield Park and successfully passed the course on 31 December. He was then remustered to 2 Embarkation Depot with the rank of Air Crew II (N). The following day he marched into 1 Embarkation Depot at Ransford in preparation for operational service with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

John embarked from Melbourne on 17 January 1944 and disembarked in Canada on 8 February when he marched into 3 “M” Depot, Manning,  Edmenton, Alberta. After settling in John attended Air Navigators’ Course #2 at 2 Air Observers’ School, Edmenton, from 28 February until 14 July.  At the Air Observers’ School John spent 105 hours training on Avro Anson aircraft. He passed the course and was awarded a Navigator Badge with the rank of Flying Officer. On being granted a commission he was discharged from the Citizen Air Force, RAAF.  On 26 July John was taken on strength at 1 “Y” Depot Lachine in the Province of Quebec. This was a training station for navigators. Only a few days later John’s service in Canada came to an end and he embarked from Halifax on 3 August 1944.

John disembarked in the United Kingdom on 11 August and from 6 September – 29 September undertook Ground Training at 2 Air Crew Officers School at Hereford. He was then attached to an advanced flying unit, 62 Operational Training Unit at RAF Usworth, where he achieved 81:45 hours flying time in Mosquito light bombers.  The role of 6OTU was to train observers and radio operators in the Air Intercept role. Nine days later he was attached to 51 Operational Training Unit, at RAF Debden, where he flew an additional 76:50 hours, again in Mosquitos. At 52OTU night fighter crews were trained. John amassed another 5:25 hours, when he was attached to 1692 Bomber Support Training Unit at Massingham, for flying duties, in April.  The war in Europe finished with Germany’s surrender on 7 May 1945. Ten days later, on 17 May, John was attached to 239 Squadron RAF at West Raynham, Norfolk and flew another 16:45 hours. 239 Squadron had been flying Mosquitos in night time operations against enemy fighters.  With his service in the United Kingdom ended John returned to Australia and disembarked 25 November 1945.

On 6 February 1946 John’s appointment as a Flying Officer was terminated on his demobilisation but three years later, on 9 August 1949, he rejoined the military services, this time with the Royal Australian Navy at HMAS Cerberus. With his previous service as a Flying Officer in the RAAF he was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant. His first ship posting was to HMAS Bataan, a Tribal Class Destroyer, from 28 January to 1 March 1950. On 2 March John transferred to HMAS Warramunga, also a Tribal Class Destroyer. John’s operational service during the Korean War from 14 August until 8 November 1950 was aboard Warramunga which escorted the light cruiser HMS Ceylon and aircraft carrier HMS Unicorn from Hong Kong to Busan and then patrolled and bombarded shore targets. On his return to Australia John was posted to HMAS Torrens, the naval depot at Birkenhead, to undertake a Defence Training Course.

The fledgling Fleet Air Arm had been formed in 1947 with the purchase of 2 aircraft carriers from the Royal Navy. HMS Majestic was completed in 1948 and commissioned as HMAS Sydney. HMS Terrible was completed and commissioned as HMAS Melbourne in 1955. It is likely that John’s previous enlistment as a Navigator/Flying Officer in the RAAF was taken into consideration when he was loaned to the Royal Navy for Observers’ Courses and Training. John embarked from Fremantle aboard P&O steamship “Strathnaver” on 19 December 1950.

During 1951 John trained at six different Fleet Air Arm establishments including HMS Daedalus in Hampshire, HMS Vulture in Cornwall, HMS Gannet in Northern Ireland, HMS Peregrin in Sussex, HMS Dryad in Portsmouth and HMS President on the River Thames, London. John returned to Australia, again aboard Strathnaver, in February 1951. On his return John was appointed to flying duties as Senior Observer in 816 Squadron. 816 Squadron  formed part of the 20th Carrier Air Group that embarked on HMAS Sydney and participated in the Montebello Islands atomic weapons tests of October 1952.

Promoted to Lieutenant Commander, John was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Governor General, Field Marshall Sir William Slim on 20 April 1953, and then on 12 December  appointed Comptroller on the Staff of the Governor General with the rank of Acting Commander. John was awarded a Coronation Medal, one of 11500 presented to Australians to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and then on 17 February 1955 received the Royal Victorian Order 4th Class that was bestowed by the Queen at a private investiture at Government House, Canberra, on her visit to Australia.

On 17 January 1955, at HMAS Albatross John was appointed Senior Observer to 817 Squadron and Officer in Charge of the Observer and Aircrewman School. During this time John married Margaret Clair Conlon of Wollstonecraft at St Mary’s Catholic Church, North Sydney. The Governor General, Sir William Slim, attended the wedding as did John’s parents who travelled from their home in South Australia.

From 25 March 1957 until 12 Jan 1959 John served as Commanding Officer of 816 Squadron which embarked on the newly commissioned HMAS Melbourne, as part of the 21st Carrier Air Group, equipped with Gannet and Sea Venom aircraft.

Shortly after his promotion to Commanding Officer of 816 Squadron John was selected as the Liaison Officer to Admiral Felix Stump, United States Navy, for the three weeks of Coral Sea Celebrations.

Upon relinquishing command of 816 Squadron John was posted to HMAS Albatross before a posting to HMAS Harman in 1961, when he was appointed Director of Personal Services, with the rank of Acting Commander. For the last three years of his naval career John became Naval Officer in charge of South Australia and for duty at Weapons Research Establishment, Salisbury; the naval component of Maralinga Range Support Uni; NSCO Adelaide and Port Stanvac.

Commander John Griffin retired from the navy in 1967 and died on 16 May 2009.