1 INDEPENDENT COMPANY
AUSTRALIAN ARMY
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WW2

1 Independent Company was formed in May 1941 and was trained at No. 7 Infantry Training Centre at Tidal River on Wilson's Promontory in Victoria.

Peter Donoghue's uncle, Edward Arthur Donoghue VX50219 commenced as a Corporal with the 1 Independent Company and was finally ranked as a Lieutenant when he left the unit. Below is an autographed menu from a dinner held for the 1st Independent Company in June 1941 which shows his signature under the typed menu.

Via Peter Donoghue

Autographed Menu belonging to Edward Arthur Donoghue VX50219
from a dinner held for the 1st Independent Company in June 1941

Via Peter Donoghue

Autographed Menu belonging to Edward Arthur Donoghue VX50219
from a dinner held for the 1st Independent Company in June 1941

Newspaper article on
training in the snow

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

Mt Buller (6,995 feet). The snow is over the tops of trees about 30 feet deep

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

Climbing Mt Buller in approximately 1941

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

At foot of Mt. Buller in about 1941

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

A few members of the school (1 Independent Company) in about 1941

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

Near the burnt down chalet on Mt. Buller in about 1941

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

Near the chalet. A newspaper photographer is taking photos at the left (about 1941)

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

Mt. Buller in the background and part of a timber camp in the foreground in about 1941

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

Timber Camp in about 1941

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

Snow covered Mt. Torbreck (5,911 ft). An RAAF Avro Anson was lost
on this mountain for 18 months before being found. (about 1941)

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

Snow on Mt Torbreck in about 1941

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

School again (about 1941)

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

Track to Mt. Torbreck in about 1941

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

Water driven Power Station in about 1941

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

Members of 1 Independent Company in about 1941

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

Some of the school. The one of the right is the son of the people with whom I stayed in Melbourne

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

Members of 1 Independent Company in about 1941

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

A stream via which we camped one night (about 1941)

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

At completion of a 15 mile hike before breakfast 4am to 9am (about 1941)

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

Bivouac site one night - about 1941

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

My platoon at Tanunda about 1941

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

My platoon at Tanunda about 1941

Photo:- Jack Dawson Hooper

Having lunch (about 1941)

The headquarters of Legacy in the city of Geelong in Victoria is known as "Murray House" and was donated to Geelong Legacy by Miss Florence Craig, the aunt of Private Norman Joseph Murray (VX35780), a member of No 1 Independent Coy. Private Murray was lost at sea as a Prisoner of War on the Japanese ship "Montevideo Maru" which was sunk by the submarine USS Sturgeon on 1 July 1942 off Luzon Island, the Philippines. A web page by Rod Miller indicates that 1053 Australians died when the Montevideo Maru was sunk. There are 871 Australians shown as dying on the 1 July 1942 on the Roll of Honour Database. The most general belief is that there were no survivors from the Montevideo Maru. However there are stories that a few survivors were picked up by a Japanese destroyer and taken to Japan.

A commemorative service was held for those who died on the Montevideo Maru at the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial in the Memorial Ballaratt Botanical Gardens on Saturday 7 February 2004. The Montevideo Maru tragedy remains the worst maritime disaster involving the loss of life for Australian Service personnel. About 20 Japanese crew members were saved. The 1053 men lost comprised approximately 200 civilians and troops from the 2/22 Battalion and the 1st Independent Company.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Sue Boyland for her assistance with this web page. Sue's father, Jack Dawson Hooper (SX8310), was a member of the 1st Independent Company. He was attached to the 2/3 Independent Company when he was discharged on 26 March 1945. Jack Hooper left for Kavieng in New Ireland on the 12 July 1941 on the “Zealander” from Sydney. 

I'd like to thank Brian Wrigley for his assistance with this web page.

I'd like to thank Peter Donoghue for his assistance with this web page.

REFERENCES

"The Defence Reserves Year Book 2004-2005"

“We were the First”
by Alexander McNab

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 1 September 2007

This page last updated 23 January 2020