British Vehicle New Guinea

[Mike Cecil]

That's interesting Tony, but I think the writer may have taken Festberg at face value, which I'd also do in most instances. The absence of a GRO reference for the change made me doubt it, however, so I've had a look at the unit war diary on line at the AWM (they do lots of things right!) and up until the move from the NT on 12 September, there is no reference to the unit voting to become an AIF unit, nor are the unit Daily Orders headed anything by '19 Inf Bn' or '19 Aust Inf Bn', rather than '19 Aust Inf Bn (AIF)'. There is not change to the unit title as far as I looked, which was the end of Dec 1942.

Having now looked at the War Diary and seen the date of transfer was mid-September, I also went back and looked at the reference I had to the unit transferring to 1 Aust Div in August, only to find that the date on the first page was August, but on the page listing 19 Inf Bn, the date is 30 October 1942. Mea culpa - I've updated the database accordingly, and my previous post!

So, in the absence of any evidence to support Festberg, I'd say the unit did not 'go AIF'.

Mike

[Lang]

Here is an Australian Searchlight unit history book. It has nominal rolls so the old bloke should be in it.

http://regimental-books.com.au/expos...ii-p-2900.html

[DaveBuckle]

Sorry for hijacking the thread - but thanks again all for the input.
Fred turned 103 last month, I have noted a lot of his info but will ask his permission to record his story.
That book should shine some light on the subject (!), coincidentally the author has the same name as the fellow I bought my C15A off ... may be a sign

[DaveBuckle]

Just a quick note to say we caught up with Fred at an ANZAC service in his home town - my wife looked after him in a recent hospital stay.
We also had afternoon tea with him a couple of weeks ago and I recorded many of his memoirs. He is still sharp as ever and going strong

Fred Blitz1.jpg Fred Julia1.jpg