Service Details
- Branch of Service
- Army
- Conflict
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Date of Enlistment
- 30/10/1943
- Date of Discharge
- 13/12/1946
- Place of Enlistment
- Soputa, Papua
Personal Details
- Gender
- Male
- Date of Birth
- 10/06/1923
- Place of Birth
- Bombala NSW
- Address (at enlistment)
- Causeway, Kingston ACT
- Occupation
- Labourer
- Next of Kin
- William McKinnon (father), Causeway, Kingston ACT
Unit and Rank Details
- Service Number
- NX190162 (N268102)
- Final Rank
- Private
- Final Unit
- 36 Australian Infantry Battalion
Notes
McKinnon was mobilised with the 3rd Battalion (militia) on 25 November 1941 and commenced full-time duty on 5 January 1942. He was sent to Port Moresby with 3 Battalion in May 1942 and entered the Kokoda track on 5 September 1942 as part of Maroubra Force. He was treated for malaria in November 1942 and returned to Australia in January 1943. During the remainder of the war he would be treated several times for malaria, but this did not prevent him being sent back to Papua in July 1943. By then McKinnon had been transferred to the 36th Battalion with whom he was sent to New Britain in October 1944. The 36th Battalion was undertaking operations against the Japanese on the Gazelle Peninsula near Rabaul. His tour of New Britain finally ended in June 1945.
Description - height 5 feet 7 inches, hazel eyes, dark complexion, brown hair, Catholic
Sources
WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
ACT Electoral Rolls 1916 to 1967 http://canberraheritageportal.org/default.php
NAA RecordSearch