Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Gordon McGinty
Gordon joined as a single man in Cairns but before deploying overseas to the Middle East, he married a woman in New South Wales. The wedding occurred in May 1940. Gordon served on several overseas deployments during his time in service from 1939 to 1947. He served with the 2/1st Anti-Tank Regiment in Palestine and North Africa from May 1940 - August 1942, and in the Pacific War in Papua New Guinea from September 1942 – January 1943. Between 1943 – 1946 he was employed as a driver. Gordon went absent without leave (AWOL) at nearly every port and was disciplined for these offences. He was a young man visiting places he never dreamed of and obviously wanted to see the local sights. During 1943 -1946 while in Australia he was admitted to hospital several times for Malaria and a recurring wrist fracture.

Gordon had the opportunity to travel abroad further, as part of the Italian prisoner of war return voyage in December 1946 and traveled to the United Kingdom (Liverpool) with the Italian prisoners. Gordon finally returned to Australia in March 1947 and was demobilized May 1947 in Brisbane. Gordon got to see different parts of the world during his service. He was in and out of trouble, was a bit of a larrikin, and thankfully returned safely to Australia after the war.