Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Andrew was born near Cooroy, (in the Shire of Noosa), Queensland on the 21.4.1923. At the time of his enlistment, he was a single dairy farmer and Timber feller, but he married in 1944. His father lived in Ringtail Creek, a rural locality in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. He listed his religion as Church of England.

Andrew enlisted at Pomona on 30.1.42, aged 18 years and 2 months. His home address was given as being near Kingaroy, Qld. Described in his war service record as 5 feet 8 inches tall, he had blue eyes, a fair complexion and brown hair. He was appointed to the 9th Battalion and first served in Brisbane, then Boggabella and Townsville. On the 12.6.42, he was admitted to hospital with measles.

He went AWL at 0600 on 18.7.42, and this was posted on the 20.7.42. On the 1.8.42 a warrant was issued for his arrest, which occurred on 5.8.42. He was awarded 14 days FP and forfeiture of 19 days’ pay.

23.8.42 - The 9th Battalion embarked on the Van Heemskerck for the 8th Military District, which covered New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and the New Hebrides.

On the 23.10.43, Andrew was evacuated by the 11th Field Ambulance with malaria, then returned to the 9th Battalion.

On the 8.1.44, the 9th Battalion embarked on the SS William Hume in Moresby and arrived in Cairns on the 10.1.44. Upon their return, they marched out for 24 days’ recreational leave.

Andrew was granted Proficiency pay on the 27.4.44.

He was posted AWL at 6.30 on 24.6.44 and a warrant was issued the same day. He was AWL to the 11.10.44. On the 3.10.44, he married Kathleen Bullock.

Apprehended on the 6.11.44, he was held in custody at 3 Australian Gd Compound.

His record shows he was again AWL from the 22.12.44 to the 18.2.45. He was posted AWL on the 17.1.45 and it was declared an illegal absence. On 19.2.45 he was apprehended and held at the 3rd Gd Compound.

On the 19.3.45 a District Court Martial was held at Grovely Military Facility in Brisbane. Andrew was sentenced to 9 months’ detention, type B, with total forfeiture of 532 days’ pay and his proficiency pay. On the 26.3.45 he was admitted to the 2/1 Australian Detention Barracks to serve his sentence The sentence was suspended on 11.6.45.

On the 6.7.45 he again went AWL. It was declared an illegal absence, he was apprehended and held in custody until his next Court Martial.

28.7.45. Charged with deserting his Majesty’s service, Andrew was sentenced to 1 year’s detention and forfeiture of 466 days’ pay. The unserved portion of sentence was to be served consecutively with the sentence of 1 year awarded on 18.10 45. On 12.10.1945, 45 days of the sentence were remitted by general amnesty and only 134 days’ pay forfeited.

The total effective period of Andrew’s service was 317 days in Australia and 506 days Overseas.

Summary of his War Service Record

Andrew was discharged at Redbank on 27.10.45. Redbank is a suburb of Ipswich. During World War 2, there was a large military camp and training area at the Redbank range with up to 6,000 Australian and American troops

Although he had qualified for the 1939/45 Star, the Pacific Star, the War Medal and A.S.M., the awards were withheld (by an authority of 9 July 1946) owing to the nature of his discharge from the Army.