NF462746 PRIVATE Merle HOLLAND

Service No: NF462746
Service: Australian Women's Army Service
Place of Birth: Crookwell
Highlights: Merle enlisted on 6 Jul 1943, aged 23 years old. After completing initial training at Ingleburn, Merle attended driver training school and was posted to 1 Australian Parachute Training Centre based at RAAF Base Richmond. Merle continued to serve with this unit for the rest of the war.

On 10 Aug 1944 Merle married Captain John Holroyd Holland who was in the same unit as Merle. They continued to serve in the same unit until Merle was discharged on 8 Nov 1945.

John was an accountant from Melbourne who had served in the Middle East as a driver Mechanic with the rank of Corporal. In August 1943 he was promoted to Lieutenant and became a qualified parachutist in Dec 1943, then becoming an Instructor in April 1945. John transferred to the Reserve of Officers in Nov 1945 and he and Merle settled in Preston, Melbourne. Her sister Lola also served in the Australian Women's Army Service.