16-DECEMBER-1943. While serving as part of the 2nd Mountain Battery of the 2nd Australian Imperial Force, Lance Bombardier Leslie James Greenwood, a professional soldier within the Permanent Military Force, served from before the Second World War in Garrison Artillery postings before serving as part of Wren Force in Nauru. His first offensive deployment was part of a Specialised Mountainous Artillery Battery trained and equipped to bring fire support to Allied personnel high in the mountains of New Guinea. Thanks to Karen, Linda, Mitch and Paul for purchasing the brand new Armoured Emu Brigade ..read more

6-JUNE-1944. While serving as part of the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve assigned to the Royal Navy, Sub Lieutenant Richard "Dick" Michael Pirrie, gave up a promising VFL career with the Hawthorn VFL Team to serve in the Second World War attached to the Royal Navy. Initially serving on escort duty on Destroyers escorting convoys to Russia and Malta. Upon receiving his commission as a Sub-Lieutenant he transferred to landing craft and served as the commander of a Landing Craft Support (Medium) vessel which served as a floating observation platform for naval and army artillery spotters ..read more

15-JUNE-1942. While serving as a Fighter Pilot in 126 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Pilot Officer Adrian Phillip Goldsmith received the Distinguished Flying Medal for shooting down six Axis planes over Malta, this was followed up with the Distinguished Flying Cross a month later and in doing so became the second highest fighter ace in the RAAF This episode was made possible due to support from History Guild. ' This Autumn I Was Only Doing My Job; An Australian Military History Podcast has Partnered with History Guild to bring you a series of episodes dedicated to tellin ..read more

20-JUNE-1940. While serving as an Orderly in the 17th Australian Infantry Brigade during the Second World War. Sergeant Henry Armstrong Lacey Snr received the British Empire Medal for exemplary service and dedication to his duties, which is understandable, as he wasn't a 35-year-old fresh soldier, but a 53-year-old veteran of both the Second Anglo-Boer War and the First World War. in a military career that spanned three two continents and the length and breadth of Australia's involvement in the conflicts of the early 20th Century, in particular Gallipoli, the Western Front, North Africa and th ..read more

23-April-1941. While serving as Matron of the 2/5th Australian General Hospital during the Second World War. Matron Kathleen Annie Louise Best was the youngest Matron in the Australian Imperial Force during the Second World War including the disastrous campaign in Greece and her decision to stay behind when the chance of capture was great. In this episode, we focus on the nursing involvement of the Australian Imperial Force during Operation Lusture, the Failed Rearguard Operation to Defend Greece from German Invasion. This episode was made possible due to support from History Guild. 'This Autu ..read more

30-April-1941. While serving as a Company Commander within the 2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion, Captain William Holmes Travers participated in the first major engagements of the Australian Imperial Force during the Second World War including the capture of Bardia, Tobruk and the disastrous campaign in Greece before becoming a Prisoner of War following the failure at Crete. In this episode, we focus on the first involvement of the Australian Imperial Force during the Second World War, the Capture of Bardia during Operation Compass and Operation Lusture, the Failed Rearguard Operation to Def ..read more

3-JANUARY-1941. While serving as a Platoon Lieutenant within the 2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion, Captain William Holmes Travers participated in the first major engagements of the Australian Imperial Force during the Second World War including the capture of Bardia, Tobruk and the disastrous campaign in Greece before becoming a Prisoner of War following the failure at Crete. In this episode, we focus on the first involvement of the Australian Imperial Force during the Second World War, the Capture of Bardia during Operation Compass and Operation Lusture, the Failed Rearguard Operation to D ..read more

4-AUGUST-1914/4-SEPTEMBER-1939. While serving as a Naval Reservist, Midshipman Richard Stanley Veale ordered the first shot fired by British Forces in the First World War. Twenty years later while in command of the same shore battery that fired the first shot in the First World War, Commander Richard Stanley Veale would order the first Australian shot fired in anger during the Second World War. Explore the remarkable life and service of Commander Richard Stanley Veale. From his early days as a naval cadet to his significant contributions during the First World War and Second World War, Command ..read more

19-MAY-1915. While serving as a soldier of the 2nd Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force during the First World War, Sergeant William Charles Bullock Beech, horrified by the tragic loss of life of his comrades on Gallipoli, took a biscuit box, signal wire and a broken mirror to invent one of the most iconic weapons of trench warfare on Gallipoli, the Periscope Rifle. --- Buy the Podcast a Ko-Fi ⁠https://ko-fi.com/iwasonlydoingmyjobpodcast ⁠ Join our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/IWODMJ --- Linktree https://linktr.ee/iwodmj For Show Notes, transcripts and photos check out t ..read more

25-OCTOBER-1915. While serving with the 21st Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, Private James Charles "Jimmy" Martin, landed on the Gallipoli peninsula and would stay until October, when he died of heart failure at the age of 14 years and 9 months, making him the youngest Australian serviceperson to die in war. --- Buy the Podcast a Ko-Fi ⁠https://ko-fi.com/iwasonlydoingmyjobpodcast ⁠ Join our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/IWODMJ --- Linktree https://linktr.ee/iwodmj For Show Notes, transcripts and photos check out the I Was Only Doing My Job Website at www.thedocnetwork.net Acce ..read more