9. 16376 Cpl Cecil McSweeney

WW2 – W16376 Corporal Cecil McSweeney

Saluting their Service - Grahame Old

Introduction

On the 3 September 1939 Prime Minister Robert Gordon Menzies announced the beginning of Australia's involvement in the Second World War. Almost a million Australians, both men and women, served during WW2. Among them was a Collie Boy, Cecil McSweeney, he answered the call and enlisted for WW2 service in Perth on 18 August 1941, along with a number of other Collie Boys. Cecil had one thing different from the other enlistees, he had a prosthetic leg but that was not about to deter him from enlisting to do his duty. He was accepted as class 11 b at his medical. Not fit as a combatant Cecil was accepted and trained as a medical orderly. This is his story.

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Collie

Cecil McSweeney, known as “Mac”, was born in Coolgardie on 8 September 1906 to Michael and Amelia (nee Potter) McSweeney who had migrated from New Zealand. The family moved to Collie about the mid-1920s. Cecil was employed in the forest industry around Collie until he joined the army in 1941. Sometime during this period, he suffered a life changing forestry accident which resulted in him losing his right leg above the knee. He was fitted with a prosthetic “peg leg” which did not bend at the knee.

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WW2 Military Service

Determined to do his bit, Cecil McSweeney enlisted into the CMF for WW2 service on 18 August 1941 in Perth. At time of enlistment Cecil was living with his sister and brother in law, Harold Oakley, Clifton St Collie, he listed his sister as his next of kin and his occupation as labourer. At his medical he was assessed as fit for Class IIb special appointment into the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC). After training he was classified as a Nursing Orderly TG III, his first unit posting was to the 110th Australian Military Hospital, (Claremont and Hollywood). He was then detached to the Railhead Supply Depot, Norseman where he served from August 1941 until June 1942.Vital to the War effort the “East West Highway” (Eyre Hwy) was under construction and the Army was responsible for fuel, food, medical support and communications.

In September 1942 Cecil was posted to the 75th Australian Camp Hospital (ACH), Claremont. The 75th ACH provided medical support units to remote military bases and in March 1943 Cecil found himself at the US Navy submarine base Exmouth Gulf providing medical support to the 4th Anti-Aircraft Battery. Cecil served as a nursing orderly for the Regimental Medical Officer (Doctor) in charge, Captain Philip Atkins. In April 1944 Cecil was detached to the Broome hospital which was redesignated the Broome military hospital.

In October 1944 Cecil was again detached this time to the 75th ACH medical support unit number 16 Marrinup POW Camp. During WW2 many enemy aliens were interned in Australia under the National Security Act 1939. In addition Prisoners of War were also sent to Australia from other Allied countries for internment in POW Camps. These POW camps were set up all over Australia. Number 16 POW Camp, Marrinup, WA, was one of these camps. Situated near Dwellingup, the Camp had a capacity of over 1000 and at its peak housed 300 German and 900 Italian POWs. Cecil was promoted to Corporal in December 1944 he remained at Marrinup POW camp until his discharge in November 1946.

Post WW2

Cecil McSweeney’s Commanding Officer at Exmouth had been Captain Philip Atkins, who was discharged in March 1946 and had bought a medical practice in Newcastle Street West Perth. On the day of Cecil’s discharge the doctor, by chance, came across him in Perth and offered employment in his surgery. Cecil gladly accepted the offer and started work for Doctor Philip Atkins the following Monday. The offer had included board and lodging and Cecil went on to live with the Aitken family until he moved into the War Veterans home Mt Lawley in 1977 where sadly he passed away on 4 August 1982 just short of his 77th birthday.

W16376 Corporal Cecil McSweeney an ordinary man and a very special soldier who spent the better part of his life with a “peg leg” but refused to allow that restriction stop him from serving his country in time of War.

Remembered forever at the Collie Cardiff RSL Sub Branch