193 STAGING POST RAF
AT GARBUTT AIRFIELD, TOWNSVILLE, QLD
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

193 Staging Post RAF of RAF Transport Command was established at Garbutt Airfield in Townsville north Queensland on 8 August 1945 as a link in the staging of RAF personnel who were to be dispersed throughout the Southwest Pacific theatre of war. At one stage it held 1,000 personnel.

The unit handled the movement of personnel from Sydney to the Islands and in the transshipment of supplies, medical stores and the onward movement of personnel among whom were many Australian prisoners of war being repatriated home.

193 Staging Post disbanded in February 1946 and the remaining 19 personnel moved south for reposting within the South East Asia Command. Amongst those remaining 19 personnel were some who had served with the British army of liberation in Germany and others with RAF Bomber Command. Their periods of service ranged from four years to a few regulars who had served for 15 years. All were service veterans of the war just concluded. Two were to get their "Blighty" - a permanent one - on reaching the South, but the remaining 17 were to be posted within S.E.A.C. Command.

The men were very appreciate of all the friends they had made in Townsville. They were particularly appreciative of the kindness shown to them by the local branches of the V.A.D., A.C.F. and the Red Cross.

Flying Officer W. J. Riley and the men under his command, celebrated the completion of their Townsville assignment on Friday night 15 February 1946 with a farewell dinner at the Kuranda Cafe.

The roll for 193 Staging Post RAF on their marching out day was as follows:-

Flying Officer W. J. Riley (Commanding Officer)
Pilot Officer F. Middleton (Adjutant)
Pilot Officer E. E. Harding (Equipment Officer)
Flight Sergeant E. R. Smith
Flight Sergeant W. D. Perrott
Flight Sergeant J. Harding
Corporal J. Lindsay
Corporal K. W. Marson
Corporal A. E. J. Placquet
Leading Aircraftsman J. Barnes
Leading Aircraftsman K. M. Berryman
Leading Aircraftsman H. T. Cooper
Leading Aircraftsman P. Derbyshire
Leading Aircraftsman E. George
Leading Aircraftsman A. Heron
Leading Aircraftsman P. A. Hill
Leading Aircraftsman C. C. Huggins
Leading Aircraftsman H. L. Lewis
Leading Aircraftsman J. B. Terris

REFERENCES

"R.A.F. Transport Command - T'ville Staging Post Disbanding", Townsville Daily Bulletin Saturday 16 February 1946

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This page first produced 16 September 2022

This page last updated 16 September 2022