Service Details
- Branch of Service
- Army
- Conflict
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Date of Enlistment
- 03/04/1941
- Date of Discharge
- 22/10/1945
- Place of Enlistment
- Paddington NSW
Personal Details
- Gender
- Male
- Date of Birth
- 02/03/1915
- Place of Birth
- Manly NSW
- Address (at enlistment)
- Kingston ACT
- Occupation
- Milk carter
- Next of Kin
- Mrs. C. Wakeling (mother), Manly NSW
Unit and Rank Details
- Service Number
- NX684
- Final Rank
- Sergeant
- Final Unit
- 2/1 Australian Infantry Battalion
Notes
Wakeling worked for the Canberra Dairy Society and enlisted with fellow employee Francis Rogers. He arrived in the Middle East with the 2/1 Battalion at the end of July 1941. The battalion was rebuilding after the failed Greek campaign and in March 1942 headed home to face the Japanese. On the way they were diverted to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) for four months to guard against a possible Japanese attack. They eventually arrived in Port Moresby in September 1942 and took part in the Kokoda campaign, engaging the Japanese at Eora Creek, Oivi and on the Sanananda Track before the end of the year.
The next two years were spent training in Queensland before Wakeling's unit was sent to Aitape, New Guinea in December 1944. After suffering a second bout of malaria, Wakeling was sent home and discharged on October 1945. After the war he lived in Narrabundah and Rivett and died in Canberra on 17 August 1987.
Sources
WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
ACT Electoral Rolls 1916 to 1967 http://canberraheritageportal.org/default.php
NAA A663 0130/390 Exemption from Military training - employees Canberra Dairy Society
NAA RecordSearch