Published on: 2 April 2015

Peter MoyesReference in our last newsletter’s obituary of Alan Blackwood to his war service has sparked an interest in the war service of Peter Moyes. While several knew he had been mentioned in dispatches, they were unaware of the nature of his involvement in World War II.

The National Archives has digitised many war service records including those of the late Alan Blackwood. Unfortunately, those of Peter Moyes are not yet available. However a summary of his World War II involvement was included in his obituary in The West Australian on 24 August 2007.

Peter Moyes was one of 34 officers who, on returning from the Middle East, volunteered to join militia units in Papua New Guinea (PNG). He had been in a support role to legendary West Australian Brigadier Arnold William Potts when he was mentioned in dispatches. During his time in PNG, he survived two crossings of the Kokoda Trail before being returned to hospital in Australia.

Peter’s next appointment was Z Special Unit, where he was in charge of a school responsible for training spies. Again, he was sent overseas to Moratai, which was still occupied by the enemy. He returned home in a hospital ship emaciated and exhausted two weeks before the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Z Special Unit then considered posting Peter, who by now was a shadow of his former self, to Fraser Island, however doctors countermanded this order and Peter was released from military service.