Vernon Vane (Tim) GILES

GILES, Vernon Vane

Service Numbers: S26931, SX24340
Enlisted: 17 January 1942
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 108 LAA / later 101 Composite Anti Aircraft Regiment
Born: Tumby Bay, South Australia, 29 August 1917
Home Town: Tumby Bay, Tumby Bay, South Australia
Schooling: Lipson School, South Australia
Occupation: Labourer
Died: Tumby Bay, South Australia, 23 March 2003, aged 85 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Tumby Bay Cemetery
Memorials: Tumby Bay RSL Portrait Memorials
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World War 2 Service

17 Jan 1942: Enlisted Private, S26931, Army Training Units
28 Aug 1942: Involvement Private, SX24340, 108 LAA / later 101 Composite Anti Aircraft Regiment, Australia's Front Line (incl Darwin Defenders)
28 Aug 1942: Transferred Private, 108 LAA / later 101 Composite Anti Aircraft Regiment, Transferred from Militia to 2nd AIF in Darwin
28 Aug 1942: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX24340
30 Jun 1945: Involvement Private, SX24340, Homeland Defence - Militia and non deployed forces, 29 Works Company, Adelaide
1 Mar 1946: Discharged Private, SX24340

A Soldiers Story - Tim Giles

Tim was born at Tumby Bay on 29 Aug 17 to George Henry Giles and Ethel Maude Giles (nee Brown) of Lipson. He was one of 10 children (6 boys and 4 girls), of which only 3 are still living.

He attended school at Lipson, leaving at the end of grade 7 to work on the local farms and to try his hand (back?) at wheat lumping. He continued in this line of work until he joined the Army.

Initially he joined the Citizens Military Forces (CMF) as an Infantry soldier and was given the service number of S26931. He was then transferred to the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) 2/48 Battalion and his service number changed to SX24340. He remained with this Battalion for 1 day before he was reallocated to Artillery and transferred to 149 Australian Light Anti Aircraft Battery at Ingleburn (NSW). In Aug 42 he was transferred to 108 Australian Light Anti Aircraft Regiment and posted to Darwin where he remained until May 45. In that month he was transferred to 101 Australian Anti Aircraft Regiment (Composite), before returning to Hampstead Barracks (SA) and being transferred to 29 Work Company in Sep 45. He remained with the Work Company until taking his discharge in Mar 46.

On discharge from the Army in 1946, he returned to Lipson and resumed work as a farm hand. He remained in the family home and cared for his elderly mother until her death. He then moved to Tumby Bay and bought a home in Elfreda Drive, where he retired and remained until his death on 23 Mar 2003.

He is buried in the Tumby Bay cemetery.

Tim was an excellent sportsman, having played Tennis, cricket and football for Lipson and in later years, lawn bowls for Tumby Bay.

He was an active member of the Tumby Bay RSL.

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