REIKEN, Vivian
| Service Number: | Q109483 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 March 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 26 Infantry Battalion AMF |
| Born: | Dalby, Queensland, Australia, 21 May 1917 |
| Home Town: | Mackay, Mackay, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer (Cane Carter) |
| Died: | Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, 26 May 1998, aged 81 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Warrill Park Lawn Cemetery, Qld |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 23 Mar 1941: | Involvement Private, Q109483 | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, Q109483, 26 Infantry Battalion AMF | |
| 23 Mar 1941: | Enlisted | |
| 25 May 1943: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, Q109483, 26 Infantry Battalion AMF, ex Cairns to Horn Island per Katoomba | |
| 18 Nov 1943: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, Q109483, 26 Infantry Battalion AMF, ex Horn Island to Red Island Point per Malbirdir | |
| 30 Mar 1944: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, Q109483, 26 Infantry Battalion AMF, ex Thursday Island to Merauke per Gorgon | |
| 17 Aug 1944: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, Q109483, 26 Infantry Battalion AMF, ex Thursday Island to Townsville per Katoomba | |
| 13 Dec 1944: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, Q109483, ex Brisbane to Bougainville per Mexico 2nd Echelon | |
| 15 Jan 1946: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, Q109483, 26 Infantry Battalion AMF, ex Rabaul to Brisbane per River Loddon | |
| 24 Jan 1946: | Discharged | |
| 24 Jan 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, Q109483, 26 Infantry Battalion AMF |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Vivian was the sixth of nine children of Francis Norman Reiken (born 1880 in Dalby, QLD) and Rachel Hannah Walden (born 1884 in Dalby, QLD). Francis (aka Norman) was a Labourer in Dalby, QLD when he married Rachel, and they settled there and raised their family before moving to Ipswich. Norman worked as a Labourer, Butter Maker, Bookmaker, Tobacconist and Saloon Keeper.
Vivian was in Mackay, QLD working as a Labourer when he enlisted in the Army in March 1941 as a Private (Service No:Q109483) with 26 Infantry Battalion. The 26th Battalion was used initially in garrison positions before going to Merauke in the Dutch East Indies in May 1943 - the first Militia Unit to serve outside Australia. Gazetted as an AIF unit in 1944, the 26th was in Bougainville, Soraken Plantation, and Ruri Bay. The Battalion saw action against the Japanese in the Bougainvlle Campaign from late 1944 until August 1945, then guarded Japanese prisoners on Rabaul. The Battalion was Disbanded in August 1946. Vivian was Discharged in January 1946. Brothers Noel John (Gunner, Service No:QX40693); Frank (Private, Service No:QX31994); and William Francis (Sapper, Service No:Q13919) also served in WWII.
Vivian returned to Ipswich where he was working as a Labourer in 1946 when he married Thelma Jean Moloney (born 1923 in Ipswich, QLD). Vivian and Thelma settled at Newtown in Ipswich where Vivian worked as a Builder's Labourer before becoming a Truck Driver in the late 1950's. Thelma died in 1972 and Vivian in 1998.
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