| Place | Oceania: Australia |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL34565 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Colour Patch |
| Physical description | Felt, Rubber |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Australia |
| Date made | 1961 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Commemorative cloth patch : Sergeant J G Skiller, District Accounts Office, New Guinea
Description
Diamond shaped purple colour patch stamped with '13TH ANNUAL RE-UNION 52ND FIELD PARK COY. R.A.E: A.I.F. EX-MEMBERS ASSN. 1961' in yellow rubber within a yellow rubber border.
History / Summary
A 1961 reunion souvenir associated with the service of NX122041 Sergeant John George Skiller. Skiller was born in Sydney, NSW on 18 September 1913 and was a public servant on enlistment in the Citizen Military Forces on 23 April 1941. With the service number N235065 and the rank of sapper, Skiller was attached to Royal Australian Engineers Headquarters, 2 Australian Division until 16 July 1942, when he entrained for the Western Australia Lines of Communication Area.
Skiller transferred to the AIF with the service number NX122041 on 28 August. Skiller joined the Command Pay Office on 1 January 1943 and was promoted to acting lance sergeant the same day. Promoted to acting sergeant on 1 April and sergeant on 1 July, Skiller embarked for the South Australia Lines of Communication Area on 15 July. He disembarked in Adelaide on 21 July before travelling to the Northern Territory, arriving in Darwin on 17 September.
On 20 November 1944 Skiller was evacuated to 1 RAAF Hospital, Wagga Wagga, NSW, suffering from a peptic ulcer. He was transferred to 54 Australian Camp Hospital on 5 December before being discharged to 103 Australian Convalescent Depot, Ingleburn, NSW on 14 December.
Rejoining his unit in 1945 Skiller travelled to the Queensland Lines of Communications Area Recruit Reception and General Details Depot on 19 February 1945. He joined the Queensland District Accounts Office on 1 March but was transferred out to the District Accounts Office, New Guinea (DAO NG) on 13 April. Skiller embarked for New Guinea aboard HMS Duntroon on 2 May, disembarking at Lae on 7 May. He served with DAO (NG) until the end of the war.
On 28 January 1946 Skiller was detached to the Finance Office, Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) before transferring to the District Accounts Office, Eastern Command on 31 March.
Returning to Australia on 7 April, Skiller transferred to the Eastern Command Leave and Transit Depot (Holding Strength) on 27 May, where he was demobilised on 3 June.