Donald HANNAFORD

Donald HANNAFORD Update Details

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HANNAFORD, Donald

Service Number:	NX66744
Enlisted:	6 January 1941, 2/1 Australian Survey Regiment
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	New Guinea Force Battalion
Born:	Auburn, New South Wales, Australia, 23 May 1919
Home Town:	Coogee, Randwick, New South Wales
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Window dresser. Showcard writer
Died:	Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, 7 November 2002, aged 83 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Wollongong City Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, New, South Wales Memorial Gardens Ex Services Wall section 5B Site 8
Memorials:

6 Jan 1941:	Enlisted Gunner, NX66744, 2/1 Australian Survey Regiment
6 Jan 1941:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX66744
9 Apr 1941:	Embarked Australia Convoy U.S No 10. Disembark Middle East.
17 Mar 1942:	Embarked Middle East. Disembark 4MD Australia.
16 Aug 1942:	Transferred New Guinea Force Battalion
19 Jan 1943:	Embarked Townsville on Taroona. Disembarked Pt. Moresby
30 Jan 1944:	Embarked Lae per Van Der Bosch. Disembarked Townsville.
12 Nov 1944:	Embarked Cairns per Thomas Corwin. Disembarked Aitape
31 Aug 1945:	Embarked Wewak per Katoomba. Disembark Brisbane.
11 Oct 1945:	Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX66744
11 Oct 1945:	Discharged 2/6 Australian Survey Battery
Date unknown:	Involvement Gunner, NX66744

Biography contributed by David Sinclair

Donald Hannaford was born at Auburn N.S.W. May 1919.His Parents were Henry William Coulson Hannaford and Ruby Constance (nee Mckenzie)

He was the youngest child, his elder siblings being Daphne and Jack. Jack also served, a pilot in 236 Squadron he died in an operation over the North Sea in his Beaufighter aircraft in March 1942.

Working as a window dresser and showcard writer Donald was 20 years old when he first enlisted in the AMF. As a member of the Australian Army Service Corps he worked at both Liverpool and Bathurst.

He enlisted in the AIF at Paddington in January 1941 and became a member of the 2/1st survey Regiment. (see link) In April they departed for the Middle East to provide survey and mapping, returned to Australia and in 1942/43 were sent to New Guinea, disembarking at Port Moresby. In November 1944 he returned to New Guinea for a further 10 months, disembarking at Aitape. This time Donald was again struck down by the malaria that on the previous trip had caused him to spend one month in hospital.

Early in WW2 the survey Corps was initially providing for the defence of Australia, but was expanded in 1940. Acknowledgment of survey support came when the general staff of headquaters 1 Australian Headquaters Corps said, never in this war have Australian troops been so well provided with accurate maps, sketches and photo repoductions. Several senior commanders noticed the highly valued effort of the survey units including General Douglas MacArthur, Commander in Chief, South West Pacific Area when he wrote a letter of high commendation of the performance of the 2/1 survey Co. and the 8th Field Survey Section to General Thomas Blamey, Commander Allied Land Forces, South West Pacific Area.

Donald returned to Australia in September 1945 and was discharged in October. His war service was 1740 days which included 558 days in Australia and 1089 days O/S Australia.

In 1945 he married Mary Louise Black and they lived at Randwick, later moving to Padstow. He was employed as a storeman and driver.

Donald died in Wollongong on 7/11/2002.

Brother

Jack Coulson Hannaford 402356

Airman Pilot No 236 Squadron

Born 11/9/1915 Coogee.
Died Flying Battle. North Sea. 15/3/1942 Age 26

Acknowledgements

wikipedia

ancestry

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia