War Service of Family Members


The information in the tables below was obtained by computer from the World War II Nominal Roll.

The text beneath the tables is my own text and is not from the Roll.


John Bernard Mulvany, Civil Engineer


There are two entries in the Roll for John Bernard Mulvany:

SERVICE RECORD
Name MULVANY, JOHN BERNARD
Service Australian Army
Service Number VX89078 (V9846)
Date of Birth 7 May 1906
Place of Birth MELBOURNE, VIC
Date of Enlistment Unknown
Locality on Enlistment ELWOOD, VIC
Place of Enlistment VICTORIA BARRACKS, VIC
Next of Kin MULVANY, E
Date of Discharge 18 Dec 1945
Rank Major
Posting at Discharge HEADQUARTERS 2 AUSTRALIAN CORPS
WW2 Honours and Gallantry None [This is not correct: see my note below]
Prisoner of War No

My note: It is recorded elsewhere in the Archives (refer "Mentions- in-Dispatches", Series Number AWM119, Barcode No 5192563) that Maj J B Mulvany was Mentioned in Dispatches.

The second entry, which is referable to an earlier period of service terminated by his discharge consequent on appointment to commissioned rank, is as follows:

SERVICE RECORD
Name MULVANY, JOHN BERNARD
Service Australian Army
Service Number VX29192
Date of Birth 7 May 1906
Place of Birth BRUNSWICK, VIC
Date of Enlistment 8 Jul 1940
Locality on Enlistment ELWOOD, VIC
Place of Enlistment CAULFIELD, VIC
Next of Kin MULVANY, E
Date of Discharge 2 Jan 1941
Rank Private
Posting at Discharge ENG TNG DEP
WW2 Honours and Gallantry None
Prisoner of War No



Sir Bernard James Callinan, Civil Engineer




SERVICE RECORD
Name CALLINAN, BERNARD JAMES
Service Australian Army
Service Number 382001 (VX50081)
Date of Birth 2 Feb 1913
Place of Birth MELB, VIC
Date of Enlistment 3 Mar 1941
Locality on Enlistment MOONEE PONDS, VIC
Place of Enlistment ROYAL PARK, VIC
Next of Kin CALLINAN, B
Date of Discharge 5 Feb 1946
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Posting at Discharge 26 AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION
WW2 Honours and Gallantry Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross
Prisoner of War No

My notes:

1. Was a Consulting Civil Engineer, principal of the Civil Engineering firm Gutteridge Haskins & Davey, knighted in 1977 and President of the Melbourne Cricket Club.

2. Was the author of the book “Independent Company”, which was first published by Heinemann in 1953, relating to the compaign fought by the 2/2nd Independent Company on Timor during WWII. The Introductory Chapter to this book was written by Nevil Shute.

3. Was also Mentioned in Dispatches.



Arthur Carrington Lovell, MBE



SERVICE RECORD
NameLOVELL, ARTHUR CARRINGTON
Service Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number 256985
Date of Birth 17 Sep 1913
Place of Birth Unknown
Date of Enlistment Unknown
Locality on Enlistment Unknown
Place of Enlistment Unknown
Next of Kin LOVELL, A
Date of Discharge 1 Jul 1947
Rank Flight Lieutenant
Posting at Discharge Unknown
WW2 Honours and Gallantry None for display
Prisoner of War No

My notes:

1. This entry is absolutely remarkable.

2. Arthur Lovell was a most distinguished person and Pilot who rose to the top in Civil Aviation in Australia. He became Chief Pilot of Ansett - ANA and was at the controls of the first Ansett jet, VH-RME, which arrived in Australia from Seattle on 16 October 1964. He once flew to Australia a Lockheed Electra VH-RMA which derived its callsign from the initials of Reginald Miles Ansett. He flew Queen Elizabeth II in 1954.

3. As I believe that Arthur was involved in some flying of civilians in dangerous areas in unarmed aircraft, and because this entry has all the hallmarks of an ad hoc entry, with its omitted details, I believe that it relates to activities of this kind. I doubt that anyone would have known of Arthur's connection with the RAAF.

4. The somewhat cryptic entry beside WW2 Honours and Gallantry may be explained by a suggestion made to me by his nephew that he received a commendation from the US Military for his flying in the evacuation of civilians from New Guinea.



Gerald Joseph Cowell



SERVICE RECORD
NameCOWELL, GERALD JOSEPH
ServiceRoyal Australian Air Force
Service Number 400967
Date of Birth 12 Dec 1918
Place of Birth WILLAURA, VIC
Date of Enlistment 7 Dec 1940
Locality on EnlistmentUnknown
Place of Enlistment MELBOURNE, VIC
Next of KinCOWELL, MOIRA
Date of Discharge 18 Oct 1945
RankFlight Lieutenant
Posting at Discharge6 RAAF Hospital
WW2 Honours and GallantryNone
Prisoner of WarNo

My notes:

1. Was a Spitfire Pilot in Britain and the Pacific, serving in squadrons 54, 452 and 457.

2. Once flew a Spitfire under a bridge, the bridge being a bridge over the Severn River in Wales.


David Frank Taylor



SERVICE RECORD
NameTAYLOR, DAVID FRANK
ServiceAustralian Army
Service NumberVX37932
Date of Birth22 Mar 1919
Place of BirthBOX HILL, VIC
Date of Enlistment22 Jul 1940
Locality on EnlistmentBLACK ROCKS[sic], VIC
Place of EnlistmentROYAL PARK, VIC
Next of KinMADSEN, ALICE
Date of Discharge25 Jan 1946
RankLance Corporal
Posting at Discharge2/14 Australian Infantry Battalion
WW2 Honours and GallantryNone
Prisoner of WarNo

My notes:

Was a member of the Rats of Tobruk Association.


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