Service Details
- Branch of Service
- Army
- Conflict
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Date of Enlistment
- 14/07/1942
- Date of Discharge
- 05/11/1945
- Place of Enlistment
- Port Moresby, New Guinea
Personal Details
- Gender
- Male
- Date of Birth
- 03/05/1921
- Place of Birth
- Basingstoke, England
- Address (at enlistment)
- Paterson Street, Ainslie ACT
- School(s) Attended
- Ainslie Public School, Canberra High School
- Occupation
- Public Servant
- Next of Kin
- William Marchant (father), Paterson Street, Ainslie ACT
Unit and Rank Details
- Service Number
- NX128784 (N43153)
- Final Rank
- Lieutenant
- Final Unit
- 3 Australian Infantry Battalion
Notes
Marchant joined the 3 Battalion militia (also known as the Werriwa Regiment) on 11 March 1941. He arrived in Papua in May 1942 where 3 Battalion were to garrison Port Moresby. In July 1942 the Japanese landed at Gona on the north coast of Papua and by mid September they had advanced over the Kokoda Trail to Ioribaiwa Ridge. On 5 September 1942, 3 Battalion entered the Kokoda track as part of Maroubra Force and took part in the Australian defence at Imita Ridge and Ioribaiwa. Thereafter they patrolled forward through Menari, Efogi and Templeton's Crossing where particularly bitter fighting took place. Their final battle in the Kokoda campaign was at Oivi in November 1942.
Shortly after Marchant fell with malaria and was evacuated. He returned to Australia in January 1943. 3 Battalion was disbanded and Marchant transferred to 3/22 Battalion and then, in July 1943, to 2/3 Battalion. He was hospitalised again with malaria shortly after and then sent to the 14th Training Battalion as an Instructor. He was wounded by a grenade in an accident in February 1945 before being discharged later that year.
Marchant married Betsy Purcell at St. John's in October 1945 and returned to work in the public service.
Sources
The Yarralumlan : Magazine of the Canberra High School, 1945 (p.12)
WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
The Canberra Times - 5 December 1933, 31 October 1945
Colin Kennedy, 'Port Moresby to Gona Beach. 3rd Australian Infantry Battalion 1942', 1992
NAA RecordSearch - Series B883 (Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947)