General News
13 September, 2025
VETERANS' VOICES: Horace Frederick Critchley
Horace Frederick Critchley was born in Watchem on December 20 1913. When Horace enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force on February 14 (RAAF) 1941 in Melbourne, his next of kin was named as Frederick Critchley.
His service number was 13062.
Horace was living at Bendigo when he enlisted.
On enlistment Horace began his service at 1 Recruiting Centre (1RC) where he was posted to 1 Repair Depot (1RD).
In 1941 the RAAF No 1 Aircraft Depot (No 1 AD) was located at RAAF Laverton.
The depot was responsible for maintaining aircraft and equipment and training maintenance staff.
In March 1940 the RAAF began dividing Australia and New Guinea into geographically based command-and-control zones.
No 1 AD came under the auspices of Southern Area Command, which was headquartered in Melbourne and was responsible for RAAF units located in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
The depot spawned Nos 1 and 2 Aircraft Parks, which were dedicated to aircraft assembly, in April–May 1940, and No 1 Replenishing Unit, which was responsible for the upkeep of ordnance and ammunition at units in Southern Area, in June 1942.
In October that year control of No 1 AD was transferred from Southern Area Command to the recently formed No 4 Maintenance Group, also with its headquarters in Melbourne, which took over responsibility for maintenance units in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
Ten days after signing up, Horace was posted to Stores Supply Depot (1SD) RAAF Sandridge on February 24 1941.
This unit was responsible for the receipt, storage and issue of clothing, barracks stores and equipment.
The depot had become a sepaate unit on December 18 1939 and in the following May been re-named 1 Stores Depot (1SD), RAAF Sandridge.
At the height of World War II 1 Stores Depot controlled 47 sites in Victoria,
At this time Horace’s rank was leading aircraftsman (LAC).
On May 29 1941 he was posted to 1AS, then to No 6 Transportation and Movement Office RAAF (6TMO).
His rank was then corporal and he was an equipment assistant.
He was transferred to Maryborough 2 Embarkment Depot (2ED) in Queensland, where he was placed in 1 Reserve Personnel Pool (1 RPP) before being posted to No 6 Transportation and Movements Office (6TMO) on July 24 1943.
Horace served in North-East Area Command (NEA) as another of the commands raised by the RAAF during the war.
Horace was corporal equipment assistant on August 28 1943.
He was promoted to sergeant equipment assistant on January 7 1945 and October 30 1945.
Transportation and Movements Offices
The RAAF Transportation and Movement Offices, established in northern Australia, moved people, equipment and supplies by road, rail and ship during World War II.
They also helped to supply American units.
They liaised with advance parties on the ground to support cargo and passenger handling.
The offices prepared manifests, checked weight and balance, and briefed passengers on aircraft requirements.
The offices were established at any base or airhead where the RAAF moved people and freight.
After No 3 Shipping and Stores Unit RAAF was renamed 13 Stores Unit on February 20 1943, the movements and shipping elements of 3SSU were reformed into 6 Transport and Movements Office.
No 6 Transport and Movement Office RAAF (6TMO) was stationed at Townsville on April 20 1943.
It had detachments at Merauke on the southern coast of Dutch New Guinea and at Higgins Field, Red Point near Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland.
Some were stationed at Garbutt in 1944 before going to nearby islands, such as Thursday Island and Horn Island.
The 6 Transportation and Movements Office RAAF at times worked with the USAAF repairing its Flying Fortress aircraft damaged in battle.
On January 26 1945 Horace was transferred from HQ NEA to 1 Personnel Depot (1PD.
No 1 Aircraft Depot were originally a detachment of Central Flying School.
Horace was discharged from Central Gunnery School at 1PD on December 31 1945.
He held the rank of sergeant.
A reference in his service record states that he also served at RAAF Cressy.
With thanks: Sally Bertram, RSL Military History Library. Contact Sally at sj.bertram@hotmail.com or call 0409 351 940.
