COOMBES, Keith Alonza
| Service Numbers: | NX164291, NX164291 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 August 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Australian Landing Ship Detachment |
| Born: | Kempsey, New South Wales , 5 November 1920 |
| Home Town: | Corrimal, Wollongong, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Butter maker |
| Died: | Vehicle Accident , Berry, New South Wales , 20 April 1954, aged 33 years |
| Cemetery: |
Woronora Memorial Park, Sutherland, New South Wales Woronora Crematorium |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 20 Aug 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX164291 | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Jun 1943: | Enlisted Lance Corporal, NX164291 , 3rd Australian Landing Ship Detachment | |
| 2 Jan 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX164291 |
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Formerly a factory hand in Kempsey (NSW) Keith Coombes enlisted in the Australian Defence Force in 1941, and after two years in the CMF where he served in the Signal and Armoured Corps, enlisted in the regular army. Because of a childhood arm disability, he wasn't suited to infantry and instead, was posted to 3 Landing Ship Detachment as a stevedore. He served as such in New Guinea on HMAS Kanimbla where his unit was lauded for its efficiency in unloading men, vehicles and stores. (See AWM, 54 Item 963/21.14 Part 1: 3 Australian Ship detachment Reports, dated 25 March 1944). He was honourably discharged in 1946, and died in a car accident in 1954.
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