Difference between revisions of "Walter Leonard Axford"
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Revision as of 23:01, 12 March 2019
300px Walter Leonard Axford | |
Personal Information | |
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Date of Birth | 10 Sep 1908 |
Place of Birth | Coolgardie, Western Australia |
Death | 1955 |
Place of Death | Parramatta, New South Wales |
Age at Enlistment | 31 years, 1 month |
Description | ; sallow complexion ; blue eyes ; black hair ; appendix scar |
Occupation | salesman |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Address | Post Office Kelmscott, Western Australia |
Next of Kin | Sister , Mrs L. Rosewarne |
Military Information | |
Reg Number | WX308 |
Date of Enlistment | 7 Nov 1939 |
Rank | Private |
Unit/Formation | 2nd/11th (City of Perth) Australian Infantry Battalion |
Date of Embarkation | 20 Apr 1940 |
Ship Embarked On | Y3 Fremantle to Kantara, Egypt |
Date of Embarkation | 28 Oct 1944 ‒ 1 Nov 1944 |
Ship Embarked On | SS Mexico Cairns to Aitape |
Date of Return | ‒ 5 Apr 1942 |
Date of Return | ‒ 30 Mar 1945 |
Medals |
1939-45 Star Africa Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
War Service
Place of enlistment was Kelmscott. On 8 Nov 1939 he embarked in Fremantle for Sydney where on arrival he was sent to Ingleburn. Allocated on 18 Dec 1939 to the 2nd/1st Machine Gun Battalion.
On 2 Apr 1940 he arrived back in the Melville WA camp having enjoyed pre-embarkation leave. On 20 Apr 1940 he boarded the Troopship Y3 for overseas, and on 6 May 1940 in Colombo, Sri Lanka he was AWOL for two hours, for which he was fined 4 shillings (40 cents). On 18 May 1940 Walter disembarked at Kantara, and on 17 Jun 1940 he was transferred to the 2nd/11th Battalion, and detached for duty to the Headquarters of the 19th Australian Infantry Brigade. On 22 Jul 1940 the detachment ceased and he was transferred to the headquarters.
On 29 Aug 1940 he was charged with "Failing to appear at a place of parade, with the penalty being an admonishment. Walter followed this up on 2 Sep 1940 with "Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline" for which he was awarded a fine of 5 shillings (50 cents). On 15 Sep 1940 he was admitted to the 2nd/1st Australian General Hospital with follicular tonsillitis, and was discharged to duty four days later. Served in Libya from 1 Jan - 23 Mar 1941.
Walter embarked for Greece on 26 Mar 1941 from Alexandria, and appears to have been involved in the evacuation from Greece to Souda Bay Crete on 26 Apr 1941. On 20 May 1941 the Germans commenced their airborne assault on Crete. Along with the rest of the 19th Brigade's HQ he moved to Georgioupolis, before the withdrawal to Askiphio and then Sphakia. His HQ unit was one of very few that escaped from Crete to Egypt. On 31 May 1941 he broke his ankle and in the confusion of the evacuation of Crete he was thought as at 10 Jun 1941 to be missing. However on 4 Jun 1941 he had been admitted to the 2/2nd Australian General Hospital in Egypt. From 28 Aug until 12 Nov 1941 he was hospitalised with Cotitus Media.
Transferred to the 1st Australian Convalescent Depot on 17 Jun 1941, he was released to duty with the 19th Australian Infantry Brigade on 30 Jun 1941. This might have been prompted in part by his going AWOL from 8:45am on 27 Jun 1941 until 8:45am on 30 Jun 1941. Fined £1 ($2), and forfeited 3 days pay. Walter was transferred to the 19th Infantry Training Battalion. On 24 Jul 1941 he returned to the 19th Brigade's HQ unit. From 28 Aug until 12 Nov 1941 he was hospitalised with Cotitus Media. On 8 May 1942 Walter embarked on SS City of Hankow in the Middle East and disembarked in Adelaide on 5 Apr 1942.
On 12 Nov 1942 Walter was reassigned to the 2nd/21st Australian Infantry Battalion.
Granted leave in Western Australia from 3 Jul 1943 until 25 Jul 1943, he spent the last 5 days in South Australia before returning to Queensland on 29 Mar 1943 for reallocation.
Married on 29 Apr 1944, in NSW to Rita Jean whose address was 20 School parade, West Marrickville, NSW. On 4 Jun 1944 Walter was transferred from the Headquarters 19th Australian Infantry Brigade to the 2nd/11th Battalion. Walter required treatment for Bronchitis from 16 Jul to 3 Aug 1944 from the 2nd/6th Australian General Hospital. On 10 Oct 1944 he returned to the 2nd/11th Australian Infantry Battalion, and on 28 Oct 1944 he boarded SS Mexico in Cairns for Aitape where he arrived on 1 Nov 1944.On 10 Nov 1944 he was admitted to the 30th American Hospital and was discharged on 17 Nov 1944 before rejoining his unit the next day.
On 4 Feb 1945 he presented to the 104th Casualty Clearing Station with a headache and was referred on to the 2nd/11th Australian General Hospital. Assessed on 26 Mar 1945 to no longer fit to serve outside Australia. On 30 Mar 1945 he emplaned at Aitape New Guinea for Townsville. On 23 May 1945 he was transferred to the NSW General Duties Depot to begin discharge proceedings. Discharged by the HQ NSW Line of Command as being medically unfit on 18 Aug 1945
Post War
1973
Notes
Walter's brother WX2904 RD Axford also served in the HQ 19thh Australian Infantry Brigade.
External Links
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