Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Terence Ivan McKone, known as Terry, was born on the 20th June 1921 at Yarraman QLD, the eldest son and the 2nd eldest of 5 children born to his parents John and Mabel McKone.  He had an older sister Leila, with younger siblings Ivy, Neville and John.  Terry was educated at Caboolture State School QLD and later worked as a stockman.

Terry enlisted for WW2 on 27th December 1941 at Brisbane aged 20.  His service number was QX26146, his rank Private and his Unit the Australian Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (AEME).  Upon enlisting he proceeded to the Northern Command Reception Camp at the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds and then to the Army Trades Training Depot (ATTD) at Gaythorne. 

The AEME was raised on 1st September 1942 when the repair facilities of the Ordnance Corps (AAOC) and the Service Corps (RASC) were combined.  The role of the AEME in WW2 was to provide maintenance engineering, materiel maintenance, modification and recovery support to the Army.  An AEME soldier is known as a 'Craftsman'.  They repair and maintain equipment as diverse as tanks, trucks and armoured personnel carriers, helicopters, radios, radars and computers, artillery guns and missile systems.  Among the wide range of trades available in the Corps are vehicle mechanics, electronics technicians, aircraft technicians and armament fitters.  Terry was a fitter armament.  His job included inspection, repair, modification and reconditioning of a wide range of military weapon systems and equipment including pistols, semi-automatic and fully automatic weapons, grenade launchers and anti-armour weapons.

In recognition of their services in WW2 King George VI granted the Corps the title “Royal’ in 1948 so their title changed to Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers” (RAEME)...the only “Royal Corps” in the Australian Army.  Referring to their war service, Field Marshall the Viscount Montgomery said: “They exist to keep the punch in the Army's fist.  They are a new Corps born in the late war and they have done magnificently and have won their spurs in battle.”

Terry was promoted to Lance Corporal on 17th February 1942.  In mid-May 1942 he was admitted to the 4th Australian Camp Hospital at the Exhibition Grounds with dengue fever then discharged 6 days later.  On 1st July 1942 he proceeded to the Line of Communication Ordnance Workshop at South Brisbane and classified as a fitter.  He proceeded for duty to Petrie Terrance and attended a course on Light Anti-aircraft Quick firing 40mm gun (LAA QF) achieving the result of 78% for his theory and 82% for his practical work.  On 31st July 1942 he transferred for duty to 71st AASL (Australian Anti-aircraft Search Light) workshop at Townsville QLD.  A month later he proceeded for duty to 56th AASL workshop and then in mid-October proceeded for duty to 7th Advanced Ordnance Workshop Australian (AAOW).  Four days later he proceeded to the Personnel Staging Camp at Townsville in the old quarantine station on Cape Pallarenda and then to Kissing Point Fort and appointed as Acting Corporal. 

On 18th August 1942 Terry married Winifred (Win) Doris Higham. 

On 1st April 1943 Terry was detached for duty to the QLD Line of Communication Workshop.  A month later he was evacuated to the 2/14th Australian General Hospital (AGH) at Townsville with dengue fever.  He was discharged and re-joined his Unit in mid-May 1943 when he was detached for duty to the 16th Heavy AA Battery Workshop in Mitchell Street Townsville and then to the 64th AASL Company Workshop.  He re-joined his Unit in early June 1943 and was promoted to Corporal on 12th June 1943.  From August to November he had duty at the 1st Australian Army AA Workshop, 71st AASL, 16th Heavy AA Workshop and Townsville Fortress Workshop.  From mid-November 1943 to mid-January 1944 he attended the No. 9 Anti-Aircraft Armament Course at the AEME School and qualified with distinction with an average of 84.6% across the 3 areas of written, practical and quiz work.  He re-joined his Unit for 6 months then proceeded for duty to the Townsville Area Workshop. 

On 19th August 1944 Terry transferred to the 16th Australian Advanced Ordnance Depot (AAOD) and proceeded to Brisbane where he embarked on the American Liberty Ship SS Lew Wallace on 25th September 1944.  He disembarked at Bougainville New Guinea on 3rd October 1944 and proceeded to the Australian Army Base at Torokina.  He was appointed as Acting Sergeant in mid-November 1944 and promoted to Sergeant on 22nd April 1945. 

On 21st May 1945 Terry was evacuated from Bougainville by plane to Brisbane with a bilateral ear obstruction and admitted to 102nd AGH at Holland Park with deafness and mild bronchitis.  In late July he was transferred to the 102nd Convalescent Depot at Burleigh Heads and then to the 128th AGH at Redbank where he was assessed as medically unfit for service and discharged on 31st August 1945.  Terry was eligible to wear the Returned From Active Service Badge. 

Terry and Win welcomed 5 children…Terence 1943, Desley 1945, Robin 1951 and twins Gale and Gavan in 1953. 

Terry passed away on 13th August 2009 at Brighton QLD aged 88.

Terence Ivan McKone was awarded for service in WW2 the 1939-1945 Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945 and the Australia Service Medal.

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 28th February 2023.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Australian_Electrical_and_Mechanical_Engineers

https://raeme.org.au/index.php/about-us/raeme-history