Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Keith was born in Toowoomba Queensland on the 27th July 1922. Keith’s military career began at the age of 19, after initial training at Fort Lytton he was allocated to Heavy Artillery and posted to Port  Moresby, arriving there on 2nd December 1941. He was initially employed as a gun number but eventually became a unit driver. In March 1943 he transferred to the 2 AIF, and after a brief period at  Cowan, Keith transferred to the Australian Army Service Corps and was posted to a General Transport Company at Chermside Brisbane. In Mid 1944 Keith was posted to 49th Australian Transport  Platoon (DUKW) and undertook training in the Noosa and Tewantin Area, before moving to Redcliffe Showgrounds.
Keith embarked for Morotai in early 1945 for amphibious training prior to going to Labuan in Borneo. On entering Labuan Harbour the ship on which Keith was embarked hit a stray mine, but the ship stayed afloat and unloaded its cargo. After cessation of hostilities, the DUKWs were employed transporting cargo and Prisoners-ofWar, both Allied and Japanese. Keith returned to Australia and was  discharged in March 1946. 
Keith enlisted in the ARA on 16th October 1950 and completed his recruit training with 5th Recruit Training Company, which had just been formed at Enoggera. In Jan 51, Keith was posted to 101 Tpt Pl at Peel Street South Brisbane, and during that time was promoted Corporal and detached for a period to 11th National Service Battalion at Wacol Qld.
Keith was posted to the Royal Visit Car Coy in Aug 53, and travelled with the visit to all States except WA. He returned to 101 Tpt Pl in May 54 and was employed at a Transport NCO. In Aug 55, Keith  went to Malaya with 126 Tpt Pl, which was part of the British 3 Coy RASC; where he was employed as a Section Commander. Returning to Australia in 1956, Keith was posted to 11 NS Bn as a  Regimental Duty NCO, and then to 20 NS Bn in Puckapunyal where he was promoted Sergeant, and detached to a Survey Team working in Arnhem Land. Remaining in Puckapunyal, his next posting  was to the RAASC Centre’s Transport Section, and during that time he was detached as SSM to HQ Squadron 1st Armoured Regiment. Next it was to Woodside SA as a Tpt SGT to 2nd Field Ambulance.
Keith returned to Malaya in March 1961 to serve as a Tpt Supervisor with HQ 28 Commonwealth Infantry Brigade. From there, to Melbourne to join 87 Tpt Pl (Tipper) as the Tpt SGT. Then in July 1964,  o HQ 103 Coy RAASC as the CQMS with promotion to Staff Sergeant.
In 1965, Keith was promoted Warrant Officer and posted to 6 Coy RAASC Bendigo Vic as the Company Sergeant Major. Then in 1968 to the Army Apprentices School as a Tpt Supervisor. Keith started  moving north in 1971, when he was posted as the CSM of 3 Coy RAASC in Sydney, and then in Jan 72 to 1 Training Centre at Ashgrove Qld as the Senior Instructor Driving and Servicing Wing. 
He had several other postings in Brisbane including for a short period, CSM of 2 Transport Company. Keith took his discharge on 16th October 1977 aged 55 years.
In his retirement, Keith spent time as the Welfare Officer of the Army Transport Association.
Keith passed away 15th March 2011, his funeral was well attended by members of the Army Transport Association.

Australian Army Transport Journal (www.ract.org.au)