CRAWFORD, Douglas Kenneth
| Service Numbers: | S21602, SX25258, SX25258 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 May 1941, Yankalilla, SA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 27 Infantry Battalion AMF |
| Born: | Normanville, South Australia, 2 March 1921 |
| Home Town: | Yankalilla, Yankalilla, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Yankalilla Area and Urrbrae High Schools, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Heart Failure, Victor Harbor, South Australia, 23 June 2006, aged 85 years |
| Cemetery: |
Yankalilla Anglican Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Yankalilla War Memorial Wall |
World War 2 Service
| 8 May 1941: | Involvement Private, SX25258 | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 May 1941: | Involvement Private, S21602 | |
| 8 May 1941: | Enlisted Yankalilla, SA | |
| 8 May 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX25258 | |
| 7 Dec 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX25258 , 27 Infantry Battalion AMF | |
| 7 Dec 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX25258 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement |
Dad's Second World War Story
The following story was recorded by his daughter Rosemary in the early 2000's.
In his words
I got a call up to war and had it extended until after shearing. I joined the Services on the 22-10-41 and was discharged on the 31-10-45.
D.K. Crawford S x 25258 Chocolate and Blue 27th South Australian Scottish Regiment Battalion.
Called up CMF 22-10-41
Joined A.I.F. 19-8-42 Discharged 7-12-45
Served in Australia 918 days. Overseas 470 days 1508 total
War badge A189924
I arrived in Darwin on 18-12-41 and was assigned to Motor Platoon as a Bren Gun driver, where I served for several months, before being transferred to transport platoon until discharged. Apart from driving utes and jeeps I spent time driving water carts and delivering water to cook houses and could always rely on a good meal.
Driving a jeep and trailer, delivering supplies to the various troops up front was quite an experience. Some tracks had to be cleared and the timber and corduroyed roads were land mined by the Japanese. The troops would patrol the jungle for the enemy. At times it would take 6 hours to do 6kms, sometimes more if the Japanese were active.
From April 15th to June 12th 1945 I spent on the Numa, Numa track and was at beach landing when the war ended.
The years following were busy clearing and improving the land my father had purchased and share farming some of the cropping land on ‘Unalta’, growing oats and peas, selling chaff around the Yankalilla district.
I met and married Norma Lunnay in 1948 and we lived with my parents for over 12 months, before our cottage could be built, owing to building restrictions and shortage of materials. I was very thankful to Norma for putting up with this part of our married life, fortunately it turned out alright for us.
The following years were quite satisfactory with good seasons and prices and we were able to build our own home of ideas (for these times) and moved into it in 1958.
Submitted 25 April 2024 by Rose Dow
Biography contributed by Rose Dow
Told by Douglas Crawford to his daughter in the early 2000s.
I got a call up to war and had it extended until after shearing. I joined the Services on the 22-10-41 and was discharged on the 31-10-45.
D.K. Crawford S x 25258 Chocolate and Blue 27th South Australian Scottish Regiment Battalion.
Called up CMF 22-10-41
Joined A.I.F. 19-8-42 Discharged 7-12-45
Served in Australia 918 days. Overseas 470 days 1508 total
War badge A189924
A comprehensive report of the Unit is given in the book, ‘Chocolate and Blue’.
I arrived in Darwin on 18-12-41 and was assigned to Motor Platoon as a Bren Gun driver, where I served for several months, before being transferred to transport platoon until discharged. Apart from driving utes and jeeps I spent time driving water carts and delivering water to cook houses and could always rely on a good meal.
Driving a jeep and trailer, delivering supplies to the various troops up front was quite an experience. Some tracks had to be cleared and the timber and corduroyed roads were land mined by the Japanese. The troops would patrol the jungle for the enemy. At times it would take 6 hours to do 6kms, sometimes more if the Japanese were active.
From April 15th to June 12th I spent on the Numa, Numa track and was at beach landing when the war ended.
The years following were busy clearing and improving the land my father had purchased and share farming some of the cropping land on ‘Unalta’, growing oats and peas, selling chaff around the Yankalilla district.
I met and married Norma Lunnay 10-4-48 and we lived with my parents for over 12 months, before our cottage could be built, owing to building restrictions and shortage of materials. I was very thankful to Norma for putting up with this part of our married life, fortunately it turned out alright for us.
The following years were quite satisfactory with good seasons and prices and we were able to build our own home of ideas (for these times) and moved into it in 1958.
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