Serving with the 2/1st Aust Mechanical Equipment Coy RAE

In a photo of the World War 2 Honour Roll displayed in the Serviceton Railway Institute, Victoria, my father's name, RF Earl, appears in the left-hand column.

The family farmed at Serviceton but Dad enlisted at Custon SA in 1941, aged 19, for CMF service (service number S5505).

In June 1942, Dad transferred to the 6th Armoured Bde (AIF) and was allocated the number SX23344, training with Grant tanks at Puckapunyal for expected deployment to the Middle East. However, the end of Australia's role in the North African campaign was approaching and the brigade was scheduled to be disbanded. In May 1943, Dad transferred to his brother's unit (2/1st Aust Mechanical Equipment Coy RAE) at Kapooka, and in June the unit was sent to New Guinea to make roads around the Port Moresby area.

In September 1943, the unit landed at Scarlet Beach, Finschhafen on the Huon Peninsula in support of the 20th Bde, 9th Aust Inf Div. Dad had recently recovered from being hospitalised with dysentery. Later attached to 5th Div AIF, the unit afforded engineer support for the capture of Sattelberg and the drive to Sio and Madang where they worked on roads and the airstrip. In November 1944, the unit returned to Australia and went into camp at Petrie, QLD.

In March 1945, the unit embarked for Morotai where it prepared roads and campsites for the 7th and 9th Divisions who were to undertake the Borneo campaign. While there, Dad again contracted dysentery but recovered in time to join the unit on Labuan in June.

After the Japanese surrender, the bulk of the unit returned to Australia and Dad discharged in March 1946. His Certificate of Discharge shows a total of 1519 days' service in the CMF and AIF, including 756 days outside Australia.