Donald James MANSER

MANSER, Donald James

Service Number: SX2786
Enlisted: 14 May 1940, Wayville, SA
Last Rank: Corporal
Last Unit: 2nd/9th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment
Born: Mount Gambier, SA, 5 December 1918
Home Town: Mount Gambier, Mount Gambier, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Printer
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World War 2 Service

14 May 1940: Involvement Corporal, SX2786
14 May 1940: Enlisted Wayville, SA
14 May 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Corporal, SX2786, 2nd/9th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment
7 Nov 1945: Discharged
7 Nov 1945: Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Corporal, SX2786, 2nd/9th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

The first member of the staff of the Border Watch to enlist, Mr. Manser had six years service with the AIF, including the famous 9th Division.

In February, 1940, Mr. Manser went into camp with the 3rd Light Horse Regiment, enlisting in the AIF in May of the same year. He first became a member of the 7th Div Cav, then the 8th Div Cav, and just before leaving Australia in April, 1941, he was transferred to the 9th Div Cav.
Arriving in the Middle East, his unit was soon in the Syrian campaign, and was then shifted over to El Alamein to take part in the opening phase of Montgomery's "victory drive." Returning to Australia again in February, 1943, the 9th Division went to the tablelands of Queensland, and trained for a  new type of warfare-the jungle. Mr. Manser's unit then became the 2/12 Cav Commando Squadron, and in 1945 left Queensland for Morotai before  going on to Labuan Island to take part in operations there against the Japanese before the landings on the mainland of Borneo.
A long serviceman, Mr. Manser was repatriated to Australia in November, 1945.
 
A printer before he went away, Mr. Manser returned to work on the same day as Mr. Parry. He is now a printer and compositor. He is residing at Millicent Road Mt. Gambier, with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Manser.

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