Vernon Ignatius Dillon MCMAHON

MCMAHON, Vernon Ignatius Dillon

Service Numbers: QX46056, Q100576, Q141790
Enlisted: 16 August 1940
Last Rank: Staff Sergeant
Last Unit: Not yet discovered
Born: Atherton, Queensland, AUSTRALIA, 27 December 1915
Home Town: Not yet discovered
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Public Servant
Died: Holland Park, Queensland, 20 February 1988, aged 72 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Pinnaroo Lawn Cemetery & Crematorium, Brisbane
" A fine man, loved by many." Grave # 1587, Portion 6
Memorials:
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World War 2 Service

16 Aug 1940: Involvement Staff Sergeant , Q100576, Tsfd Q141790 FTD 7/10/41 - also QX46056
16 Aug 1940: Involvement Staff Sergeant , Q141790, also Q100756 & QX46056
16 Aug 1940: Involvement Staff Sergeant , QX46056, also Q100576 & Q141790 FTD 7/10/41
16 Aug 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Staff Sergeant, QX46056
9 Apr 1946: Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Staff Sergeant, QX46056

Help us honour Vernon Ignatius Dillon McMahon's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Peter McMahon

WW2 Diary of Vernon McMahon ( see link to the left)

Transcribed and compiled by his son Peter McMahon

My Dad fought in Darwin and New Guinea, but he did not see action during the period of this diary. Nevertheless, I think his diary (April 1945 and following) has some worthwhile information about life in service and its aftermath, including:

- Life on a troop ship
- Boredom of war mixed with the anticipation of action
- Importance of mail to the troops
- Politicians, bulldozers & America
- Sicknesses and hospitals
- My Dad’s thoughts on the qualities of the Diggers
- Reaction of Pacific troops to VE Day, compared to their reaction to VP Day
- Aussies and Japanese in captivity
- A visit to the famous Ramale Mission after VP Day
- War Crime trials
- Historical photos of the times when my Dad wrote his diary
- The long trip home after the war
- The long term health effects of the war (eg PTSD)
- The Greatest Generation

Read more...