MCDOWALL , Mervyn John
| Service Numbers: | Q128068, QX60544 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 March 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 24 Field Company RAE AMF |
| Born: | Bundamba, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, 22 November 1923 |
| Home Town: | Ipswich, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Ipswich Boys' Grammar School, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Tailor's Cutter |
| Died: | Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, 1 July 2017, aged 93 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Warrill Park Lawn Cemetery, Qld |
| Memorials: | Ipswich Soldier's Memorial Hall WW2 |
World War 2 Service
| 4 Mar 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Sapper, Q128068, 24 Field Company RAE AMF | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Sep 1942: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Sapper, Q128068, 24 Field Company RAE AMF, ex Townsville to Moresby per Van Heutz | |
| 5 Jan 1944: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Sapper, Q128068, 24 Field Company RAE AMF, ex Moresby to Cairns per Canberra | |
| 21 Mar 1944: | Involvement Sapper, Q128068, also QX60544 | |
| 21 Mar 1944: | Involvement Sapper, QX60544, also Q128068 | |
| 21 Mar 1944: | Enlisted | |
| 21 Mar 1944: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, QX60544 | |
| 25 Feb 1946: | Discharged | |
| 25 Feb 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, QX60544 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Mervyn was the second of three children of Walter (Wally) Lindsay McDowall (born 1904 in Scotland) and Lillian Kitching (born 1903 in Ipswich, QLD). Wally arrived in Brisbane, QLD with his parents in 1910 on Board the Orontes. He was a Labourer in Ipswich, QLD when he married Lillian. Wally and Lillian settled in Ipswich, where Wally was a Labourer, and raised their family. Wally was a keen sportsman, and ran a tennis club in the backyard. He played for the Booval Swifts Football Team.
Mervyn enjoyed sport and was a Scout. After completing his Junior at Ipswich Boys' Grammar School his first job was as a Bottle Washer at the Dispensary, and soon afterwards he was employed as a Cothing Cutter in Ipswich. In 1941 Mervyn tried to enlist in the Navy with his brother Gordon, but his mother refused permission. He was 18 years of age when his conscription papers arrived in the mail in February 1942 and he enlisted initially in March 1942 with the CMF as a Sapper (Service No:Q128068) - or 'choco' - with 24 Field Coy RAE before enlisting in the AIF in March 1944 as a Sapper (Service No:QX60544) with 24 Field Coy RAE. Mervyn was in New Guinea with 24 Field Coy RAE as 'the second line of defence', fixing bridges, building roads and disarming mines'. He turned 21 whilst in New Guinea and 'To celebrate his 21st birthday, 200 men partied with him during a 'beer night' at the camp's mess hall'. Mervyn was Discharged in February 1946. Brother Gordon (Able Seaman, Service No:B3474) also served in WWII.
Mervyn returned to Ipswich and was working as a Clothing Cutter at Bishop and Woodward Clothing Manufacturers when Lorna Jean Scriven, who worked upstairs making trousers, asked him out on a date. Mervyn and Jean (born 1932 in Ipswich, QLD) married in April 1953 and settled in Ipswich where they raised their family.
When Bishop and Woodward closed down, Mervyn started working at the Queensland Times Newspaper - undertaking a four year apprenticeship before he was promoted to Stereotyper and Printer. Mervyn and Jean enjoyed retirement - travelling overseas and around Australia in their van. Mervyn died in 2017 and Jean in 2020. (Information courtesy of Janelle Devereaux).
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