Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

World War 2, Western Australia, Rottnest Island AIF Enlistment, W21825 to WX25040 CHEETHAM, 1942

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Australian Imperial Force Enlistments from Rottnest - 1942-1945

Overview

Private Victor Arthur Cheetham from Katanning was serving as W21825 on Rottnest in 10 Garrison Battalion. He volunteered for AIF service as WX25040 on 24 July1942 initially in 2/28 Battalion AIF

Historical information

Garrison Battalions were part of the Australian Army Reserve with the role of manning fixed defence and vulnerable points. Most personnel were Class B men, those between 48 and 55 who had seen war service before September 1939, therefore mostly WW1 veterans. However at various stages of the war, younger cohorts were drafted into the Garrison Battalions to meet home defence needs.
Before December 1941 members of the Australian Military Force (AMF - home service only) could volunteer to join the Australian Imperial Force (AIF - eligible for overseas service). However once their AMF unit was mobilised, they could not leave their unit to join the AIF. In July 1942 this prohibition was lifted and some 400 men, serving on Rottnest Island with 10 Garrison Battalion volunteered for the AIF.
10th Garrison Battalion was formed in 1940 and charged with protecting the coastal artillery on Rottnest Island until 19 Apr 1944 when they were relieved by the 5th Garrison Battalion, moving back to the mainland to take over protection for the Port of Fremantle. Later in 1944 the 10th Garrison battalion took over responsibility, albeit at a reduced level of manning, for mainland and Rottnest Island as the threat of war reduced with allied success in the islands. Sixteen Servicemen lost their lives while serving with this unit - 3 drowned, 4 in accidents and the rest of illness.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-45-037

Contextual information

On the night of 26/27 July 1942 during the First Battle of El Alamein, 2/28 Battalion lost more than 80% of its personnel at the time. These losses were incurred when the 2/28th was tasked with occupying a forward position known to the Allies as "Ruin Ridge”. After taking the position, the 2/28th was cut off and surrounded by German infantry and armour. After it became clear that his force could not be relieved, Lt Col. Lew McCarter surrendered: 489 members of the 2/28th went into captivity, Another 55 were subsequently listed as killed in action at Ruin Ridge. 105 personnel from the battalion had either withdrawn successfully, or had not been directly involved in the operation. They constituted the cadre upon which the battalion was re-formed, after returning to Palestine. The 10 Garrison Battalion AIF enlistments from Rottnest were largely directed towards the rebuilding of 2/28 Battalion.

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-33.690437315799, 117.55511545748
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Last modified

Tuesday, 25 November, 2025

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