Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Mervyn Robert Hancox was born on the 8th December 1920, the first-born child and son of his parents, Edward and Alice Hancox, of Bardon, a suburb of Brisbane in Queensland where his family attended the local Baptist Church.  Mervyn had two siblings, Douglas and Dorothy.  In 1934 he was awarded a State Scholarship to attend secondary school.  From there he went on to achieve a certificate as an Electrical Fitter and Mechanic.  

Mervyn joined the Australian Military Force on the 22nd February 1941, aged 19, in the rank of Private with the Service Number Q108390.  In his records he’s described as being 6ft 2” tall, with blue eyes, fair complexion and fair hair.  Three months later on the 17th May 1941, he signed up for the war at Kelvin Grove and on the 22nd December that same year he joined the force full time.  He reported to Victoria Barracks at Petrie Terrace in Brisbane and was classified as a wireless mechanic. 

From February to May 1942 he attended the No. 1 Signals Artificers Course at the Australian Army Ordnance Corps School in Broadmeadows, Victoria, graduating with distinction on the 2nd June 1942.  He achieved 90% in his written exam for part one of the course and 90% in his oral exam for part two.  Comments by his instructors reported him as being enthusiastic, pleasant personality, sincere manner and with the talent to make a good instructor.  Upon finishing the course he was promoted to Acting Corporal.  In August he was transferred to AAOC Training Depot at Enoggera and a month later promoted to Acting Sergeant.  Two months saw him with another promotion to Acting Staff Sergeant. 

In April 1943 he reported for more training to the Radio Physics Department and Training Establishment in Sydney NSW.  On the 26th July he transferred his enlistment to the AIF and was given the new Service Number QX57154.  A few weeks later he was granted 2 weeks leave when he married Evelyn Gwen Horn at the Windsor Road Baptist Church, Red Hill in Brisbane on the 8th August.  A month later he reported to the No.1 Australian Radio Maintenance Company and two weeks later was transferred to the 12 Australian Special Radio Detachment. 

In March 1944 he was transferred to the No. 12 Australian Radar Detachment.  He remained there for almost a year before being transferred to the Qld General Details Depot in March 1945.  A month later he reported to the 2/3 Australian Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Composite) Workshop.  Mervyn was promoted to Staff Sergeant on the 15th September 1944.  His involvement in WW2 remained on home soil up until the 10th May 1945 when he embarked from Brisbane for Morotai on the US transport ship “Sea Barb”.  Two weeks later he arrived in Morotai on the 26th May. 

Mervyn was stationed in Morotai for 2 months before embarking for service in Balikpapan, Borneo, on the 9th July 1945.  He completed his service there on the 28th September when he was transferred to the Qld GDD via the 7th Division Rec Camp in the Atherton Tableland.  He boarded a plane there on the 8th October and arrived in Brisbane later that day.  Nine days later Mervyn was discharged on the 17th October 1945. 

He returned to live with Evelyn at 40 Waterworks Road, Red Hill and lived out his remaining days in Brisbane with her and their children, John and Susan and their families.  Mervyn passed away on the 8th May 2003 aged 82.  His memorial gravestone is found at the Mudgeeraba Cemetery, Brisbane, Queensland. 

Mervyn Robert Hancox was awarded:

War Medal 1939-1945

Australian Service Medal 1939-1945

Australian Defence Medal

Respectfully Submitted

Sue Smith April 2020