Allan Woodrow GASKELL (B2986)

Allan was born in Queensland, Australia in 1921, the eldest child of Alfred William GASKELL (1888-1980) and Margaret Ann MCKEAN (1893-1979).

In February 1941 Allan enlisted in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve. Allan was one of the nearly 5,000 members of the Naval Reserve. From the Nominal Roll: "Many sailors were members of the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RANVR), most of whom had signed up as reservists before the war. Some were members of programs like the Yachtsmen's Scheme, devised to give men the opportunity to train in seamanship before the war and then to receive specialist naval training when they were called up."

At the time of his discharge Allan was assigned to HMAS Moreton. HMAS Moreton was located at the corner of Merthyr Road and Gray Street, in New Farm in Brisbane. It was the initial point of entry to the RAN for Queenslanders during World War II and became a demobilization centre in 1945. With the disbanding of the Naval Reserve in 1946, the establishment was closed and decommissioned for the first time (in its history, it was decommissioned again in 1994 before being demolished in 1995 to make way for the development of apartment houses).

Allan attained the rank of Able Seaman and was discharged in November 1944.

References / Further Research:

• Service Card of Allan Woodrow Gaskell, National Archives of Australia, 2002/05068877, 4421843, A6670 (Service Cards for Petty Officers and Men, 1911-1970 - digital copy available online)
• World War 2 Nominal Roll

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