William Asher Talbot
William Asher Talbot

In Memory of

Private

William Asher Talbot

QX59922 Australian Army Personnel Deport
who died age 31
on 20 August 1947

Son of William Frederick Talbot and Mary Ellen Talbot;
Husband of Averil Iris Talbot,
of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

Remembered with honour
Brisbane (Lutwyche) Cemetery

William Asher Talbot

Private William Asher Talbot, the son of William Frederick Talbot and Mary Ellen Talbot (nee Bateman) was born at Toowoomba in Queensland on 23rd May 1916.  He was educated at the Toowoomba Grammar School.  At the age of 25 years and 9 months he was mobilised into the Australian Citizens Military Forces at Toowoomba on 2nd April 1942 after swearing the statutory oath of allegiance.  He had no previous military experience.  At the time of his mobilization, he was married and employed as a Flour Mill Hand.  He gave his next of kin as his wife, Mrs Averil Iris Talbot, residing at 756 Ruthven Street in Toowoomba.  He had one child.  His physical description was that he had fair hair and brown eyes.  He stated that he was of the Presbyterian religion.

Private William Talbot was allotted the regimental number of Q147856 and he joined the General Details Depot at Brisbane on 1st September 1942.  He joined the 7th Training Battalion at Boggobilla on 11th September 1942.  He joined the 3rd Australian Infantry Training Brigade on 8th October 1942.  He left the 4th Australian Infantry Brigade at Warwick on 25th April 1943 for the Yerongpilly Staging Camp en route to the Jungle Training Centre.  He joined the Jungle Training Centre at Canungra on 26th April 1943.  He left Canungra to join the 1st Australian Personnel Staging Camp on 8th June 1943.  He joined No. 13 Australian Personnel Staging Camp at Selheim in North Queensland on 17th June 1943.

Australian War Memorial photograph 091426
Motor Vessel Duntroon in New Guinea waters.

Private William Talbot embarked from Townsville for service in New Guinea on the ship “Duntroon” on 12th July 1943 and he disembarked from the ship at Port Moresby on 14th July 1943.  He joined Headquarters New Guinea Force on 16th July 1943.  He was graded as a Group 2 Cook on 28th November 1943.  He attended the New Guinea Force Training School where he studied a cooking course during the period 29th November 1943 until 27th December 1943 when he rejoined Headquarters.  He was transferred to the Australian Army Catering Corps on 28th December 1943.

Private William Talbot voluntarily enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force whilst in New Guinea on 26th January 1944 and he was allotted a new regimental number of QX59922.  He was transferred to the Rear Details Headquarters New Guinea Force on 6th May 1944.  He embarked from Port Moresby on the ship “Gordon” to return to Australia on 19th June 1944 and he disembarked at Townsville on 21st June 1944.  He was transferred to Headquarters First Australian Army on 28th September 1944.  He embarked from Cairns on the ship “Ormyston” for service in New Guinea on 11th October 1944 and he disembarked from the ship at Lae on 14th October 1944.

Private William Talbot was transferred to the Headquarters 2nd/1st Australian Field Laboratory on 7th July 1945.  He embarked from Lae on the ship “Tarooma” to return to Australia on 10th July 1945 and he disembarked in Brisbane on 15th July 1945.  He was transferred to the 6th Advanced Workshops on 30th October 1945.  He was attached to the staff of L.T.D., Queensland Line of Communication on 1st February 1946.  He was transferred to the staff of the Recruit Reception & General Details Depot on 13th June 1946.

Private William Talbot was admitted to the Repatriation General Hospital at Greenslopes in Brisbane for investigation of a medical complaint on 5th August 1947.  He was placed on the seriously ill list suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis on 8th August 1947.  He died at the Greenslopes Military Hospital in Brisbane on 20th August 1947 from pulmonary tuberculosis that he probably contacted during his service in New Guinea.  He was buried in the Brisbane (Lutwyche) Cemetery on 21st August 1947.  At the time of his death he was 31 years of age.

Private William Talbot, for his service during World War 2, had entitlement for the 1939/1945 Star, the Pacific Star, the War Medal and the Australian Service Medal 1939/1945.  His name is commemorated on Panel No.  at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and locally on the Toowoomba Grammar School World War 2 Honour Board.

His daughter, Mrs P.A. Sanderson residing at 22 Edden Street, Adamstown, New South Wales, made enquiries about her father’s service on 14th January 1976.

Australian War Memorial photograph 094691
Tinning dough at the Baking Wing of the New Guinea Training School.

Toowoomba Grammar School archive records show that he enrolled as a day student on 28th January 1931 and left the School on 4th December 1931.  His parent was shown as Mr W. Talbot of Toowoomba.

 

External Links

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Military Record


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