Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Desmond Rex Fennell

(1921–1991)

Private, Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) – Service No. SX18746

Early Life

Desmond Rex Fennell was born on 5 September 1921 in Naracoorte, South Australia, the son of Claude Fennell (1896–1980) and Beatrice Selina Sneath (1895–1966). He grew up in the rural Southeast of South Australia, in the Robe Junction area.

Enlistment & Initial Training

At the age of 20, Desmond volunteered for service in the Australian Imperial Force during World War II.

Enlisted: 20 July 1942 at Wayville, South Australia.
Occupation at Enlistment: Labourer.
Marital Status: Single.
Religious Denomination: Methodist.
Next of Kin: Claude Fennell (father), Robe Junction, Robe, South Australia.
Medical Classification: A1 – fit for service.

After enlistment, he was posted to the General Details Depot (G.D.D.) before marching out to the 3rd Training Battalion in late July 1942. In September, he was transferred to a training depot and attended several training courses in South Australia, including duties at 52 Australian Camp Hospital in Wayville.

Overseas Service – Papua New Guinea

In December 1942, Desmond was transferred for overseas service.

19 Dec 1942 – Embarked for the Northern Territory Force and then onward to New Guinea in early 1943.
Initially attached to 1 Advanced Reinforcement Depot before being posted to supply and transport roles in operational areas.

From mid-1943, he served with the 2nd Air Maintenance Platoon, Australian Army Service Corps (AASC), a unit responsible for aerial supply drops to remote forward positions in New Guinea's rugged terrain. This role required coordination with air crews and work in challenging jungle conditions.

Medical Evacuations & Hospitalisations

Like many who served in the tropics, Desmond experienced health challenges:

Multiple admissions for illnesses including tonsillitis, upper respiratory tract infections, tropical fevers, and malaria.
Periods of convalescence in Australian base hospitals in Queensland and New South Wales before returning to duty.
His service record shows repeated cycles of deployment, illness, hospitalisation, and redeployment between 1943 and 1946.

Late-War & Post-War Service

In the final stages of the war and immediate post-war period:

May 1945 – Posted to the 12th Australian Air Maintenance Platoon.
Continued to serve in transport and supply roles after Japan's surrender in August 1945.
Returned to Australia on HMAS Dedalia in early 1946.
Posted to 99 Supply Depot Platoon and other administrative units for demobilisation processing.

Discharge

Discharged: 21 June 1946 at Wayville, South Australia, under AMR 184A (1) – Demobilisation.
Total Service: 1,433 days (just under four years), including over two years in operational areas.

Units Served

General Details Depot (G.D.D.)
3rd Training Battalion
52 Australian Camp Hospital
1 Advanced Reinforcement Depot (New Guinea)
2nd Air Maintenance Platoon, AASC
12th Air Maintenance Platoon, AASC
99 Supply Depot Platoon

Marriage & Later Life

On 31 January 1948, in Queensland, Desmond married Mary Ruth "Peg" New (1922–1997). The couple later settled in Hope Valley, South Australia, where Desmond worked and lived until his passing.

Death & Burial

Desmond Rex Fennell died on 20 April 1991, aged 69, at Modbury Hospital, South Australia.

He was buried in Enfield Memorial Park, Clearview, in the Second Crescent, Site Number 97. His wife Mary Ruth "Peg" Fennell was later buried alongside him following her death on 20 October 1997.

Legacy

Desmond Rex Fennell's service with the Air Maintenance Platoons in Papua New Guinea represented a vital logistical lifeline for Australian forces in some of the most difficult terrain of World War II.

Biography by Trevor Pyatt 11/08/2025