Denis James MAHONY

MAHONY, Denis James

    Service Numbers: 188664, VX85271, VP4204
    Enlisted: 1 January 1932
    Last Rank: Lieutenant
    Last Unit: Works / Labour / Employment / 'Alien' Company/ies
    Born: East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 29 January 1916
    Home Town: Glen Iris, Boroondara & Stonnington, Victoria
    Schooling: Not yet discovered
    Occupation: Plasterer
    Died: Wantirna South, Victoria, Australia, 20 November 1981, aged 65 years, cause of death not yet discovered
    Cemetery: Not yet discovered
    Memorials:
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    Non Warlike Service

    1 Jan 1932: Enlisted Private, 188664, 37/52 (amalgamated) Infantry Battalion AMF
    13 Mar 1936: Enlisted Gunner, 188664, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, East St Kilda, Vic. Discharged 16 February 1939

    World War 2 Service

    17 Feb 1939: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant, VX85271
    17 Feb 1939: Enlisted VP4204, Gunner, 2nd Heavy Brigade, Royal Australian Artillery, Fort Queenscliff & Fort Nepean, Port Phillip Fixed Defences, Vic. Promoted Lance Bombardier 23 October 1939. Promoted Bombardier 26 April 1940.
    16 Apr 1941: Transferred Fortress / Coastal Artillery & Supporting Elements , Sergeant VP4204, "M" Heavy Battery
    7 Aug 1941: Transferred Darwin Coast Artillery, Sergeant VP4204, East Point Coast Artillery Fixed Defences, Darwin, NT.
    7 Jul 1942: Enlisted VX85271, Darwin Coast Artillery, Released from Permanent Military Forces RAA to AIF, East Point Coast Artillery Fixed Defences, Darwin. Promoted Lieutenant 2 November 1942.
    17 Apr 1943: Transferred Fortress / Coastal Artillery & Supporting Elements , 2nd Heavy Brigade, Royal Australian Artillery, Fort Queenscliff & Fort Nepean, Port Phillip Fixed Defences, Vic.
    6 Oct 1943: Transferred Fortress / Coastal Artillery & Supporting Elements , Coastal Artillery, Newcastle Fixed Defences, RAA, Fort Wallace and Fort Scratchley, NSW
    16 Feb 1945: Transferred Recruit Reception and General Details Depot (S.A.), Sydney, NSW
    24 Jul 1945: Transferred Works / Labour / Employment / 'Alien' Company/ies, Queensland
    4 Dec 1945: Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant, VX85271
    4 Dec 1945: Discharged Australian Army (Post WW2), Appointment terminated (Sydney NSW) with rank of Lieutenant.
    Date unknown: Involvement VX85271, Royal Australian Artillery

    Help us honour Denis James Mahony's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

    Biography contributed by Robert Wight

    According to family sources, shortly after the start of WW2, Denis Mahony and several other gunners “liberated” several SEC poles from a local depot, returned to the Fort, painted the poles and placed them in empty gun shields to deceive any Japanese pilots as to the real defensive capabilities of the Fort. This action was officially sanctioned and a photo of a "dummy" gun is attached to this record.

    Source: Family records, Fort Queenscliff Musuem

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