Lawrence Raymond Hufer No 3162733 served in Vietnam from 15.10.69 to 15.10.70. The nominal roll shows that he served in 85 Transort Platoon RAASC. He later served in 15 Transport Platoon RACT. Medal set, miniatures, court mounted, set of (6) Re L. HUFER. 1. Australian Active Service Medal with clasp "VIETNAM" 2. Vietnam campaign medal 3. Reserve Force Medal 4. Defence Medal 5. Anniversary of National service meal 6. Vietnam medal with clasp "60 -"medals, military, history, passchendaele barracks trust

It’s issued to Fredrick Burchell SMITH VX128239, enlisted 4.1.1944 age 19 years, discharged 2.8.1946 with the rank of Driver in 2/166 Aust Work Shops Platoon.Trousers, Battle Dress, winter, Kahki, side pockets, plastic buttons.“V 48 Made in Australia, 1942”costume - male, uniform, trousers

Item souvenired by Donald Joseph Osborn NX56380, enlisted 29.7.40. He served in the 2/17th Australian Infantry Carrier Platoon 9th Div AIF. Served in the Seige of Tobruk, Tel El Eisa, El Alamein, Lae and Finschafen Campaigns. At discharge on 2.1.45 he was a Cpl in 3 Reinf's 2/17th Batt. .1) 38mm shell casing, engraved brass base. .2) Armour piercing projectile- anti-tank round.Faintly engraved "17th INF BATT/TOBRUK/July 20th/1941/AIF"arms-ammunition, military history, projectile

The history of the No. 2 Independent Commando Company and 2/2 Commando Squadron during World War II – scarce as a 1st edition dated 1986. Having completed its training at Foster, on Wilson’s Promontory, Victoria, the 2nd Independent Company was raised and travelled north to Katherine, in the Northern Territory. However, following Japan’s entry into the war, as with the other independent companies that were sent to the islands off Australia, the 2nd was sent to Timor, where it joined the 2/40th Battalion and the rest of Sparrow Force. Sparrow Force divided itself between west Timor, part of the Netherlands East Indies, and east Timor, which belonged to Portugal. The 2/40th Battalion defended the capital of west Timor, Koepang, and the airfield at Penfui. Most of the independent company moved to the airfield at Dili, in east Timor, and the nearby mountains. Portugal was opposed to the stationing of a Dutch or Australian garrison in case this provoked the Japanese, but despite this opposition, on 17 December 1941, elements of the 2nd Independent Company and Dutch troops landed near Dili. On 20 February 1942 the Japanese invaded the island, attacking east and west Timor simultaneously. The 2/40th Battalion held out for three days, but were overrun and were killed or captured. Similarly, the 2nd could not hold the airfield and were also driven back. But they were not captured and instead retreated to the mountains where they conducted a very successful and pursued a guerrilla war against the Japanese which lasted for over a year. Following the capture of Timor, the 2nd occupation the company was listed as “missing”, the company’s signallers were able to build a wireless transmitter, nicknamed ‘Winnie the War Winner’, and on 18/19 April were able to contact Darwin. At the end of May RAN vessels began landing supplies for the Australians on the south coast of east Timor. These supply runs were very dangerous but they allowed the Australians on Timor to continue fighting. In September the guerillas were reinforced with the 2/4th Independent Company. However, this could not go on indefinitely. In August the Japanese lunched a major offensive against the guerrillas and Japanese reprisals against the civilian population of east Timor reduced their support for the Australians. The 2nd (now named the 2/2nd Independent Company) and 2/4th were withdrawn in December and January 1943 respectively. Although the 2/2nd Independent Company is best known for its time on Timor, it also saw extensive service in New Guinea and New Britain. The independent company reformed at the army’s training centre at Canungra, Queensland, where it was reinforced and reequipped. The company then moved to the Atherton Tableland, where it briefly became part of the 2/6th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment. Due to this reorganisation, in October, the 2/2nd Independent Company was renamed the 2/2nd Cavalry (Commando) Squadron. This name was later simplified to just commando squadron. When this happened though, the 2/2nd was back in action. In June 1943 the 2/2nd sailed from Townsville for Port Moresby and was subsequently flown to Bena Bena, in the Bismark Range in New Guinea’s highlands. Here they supported the 2/7th Independent Company in patrolling the Ramu River area. In the second week of July the 2/2nd moved into position, with its headquarters at Bena Bena and with its platoons’ occupying neighbouring positions. By the end of the month their patrols were skirmishing with the Japanese. The 2/2nd remained in New Guinea until October 1944. After 90 days leave, the squadron reformed at Strathpine in Queensland before sailing to New Britain in April 1945. The 2/2nd landed at Jacquinot Bay on 17 April. The squadron then moved to Wide Bay, in order to support the 13th Brigade of the 5th Division, and was based at Lamarien. Following Japan’s surrender and the end of the war, the ranks of the squadron thinned quickly as men were discharged or transferred to other units. For those who were left, they returned to Australia and in early 1946 the 2/2nd Commando Squadron was disbanded. Includes Nominal Roll Soft Cover without Dust Jacket – 270 pages

1789 Corporal Walter Thomas West was recommended for Military Medal 13th May 1917. Citation: For conspicous gallantry in action at the Hindenburg Line on 3rd May 1917. When he attacked with few bob=mbers an enemy post using MG fire against the right brigade. Having taken up the post he moved down the first trench and with 6 men engaged an enemy party who were resisting the 2nd attack of the tight brigade. Recommended by GOC 6th Australian Infantry Brigade. Lieutenant Walter Thomas West was recommended for MC 21st Ocrober 1918. Citation: During the attack on Montebrehain, east of Peronne on 5th Ocober, 1918, Lt West acted in a skilful and courageous manner when his platoon was held up by an enemy strong post, he rushed forward alone under heavy machine gun fire, threw a bomb at the post and captured the gun and crew of three. Later his flank was being held up by a strong post manned by the German guns in cemetary. Lt. West crawled round to the right and rushed the post. One ran he killed 3 of the nemy and took 3 prisoners. The men in the other post ran off with their gun and so escaped. Throughout the day he led his platoon with skil and when the company commander was killed assumed charge and supervised the consolidation of the line with great activity and courage. A framed black and white photgraph of Lieutenant West in dress uniform, showing Unit Insignia (colour Flash) service ribbons.Photo clearly shows unit insignia, ranks pips, service and valour ribbons.of, 1919, australia, 1917, ww1, commonwealth, gazette, london, walter, thomas, west, mm, mc, page, 2, collection, july, w t west, gazettte, 9, location, 6839, 8th, nov, 2937, position, 104, april, 4337, 12, 23, 1163, 45

non-fictionThis book brings to life for many Australians, the close connection between Australia and East Timor. In 1941-42, Archie Campbell was a lieutenant in the 'Sparrow Force' the 300 men of the 2/2nd Independent Company in a 14-month campaign of ambushes and hit-and-run tactics which effectively pinned down more than 15,000 Japanese troops in East Timor. This book recounts the bloodless Australian landing in Portuguese East Timor, military actions against the Japanese, and eventual evacuation to Darwin. Central to Campbell's experience is the ambush and execution of a section from his platoon, shortly after the Japanese landing in Dili. In 1973, Archie returned to East Timor to meet Barana, the East Timorese man who, as a 12-year-old boy, helped and protected him during the campaign. Each Timorese boy who helped a commando and guarded him while he slept, was called that commando's Criado. Ken White accompanied Archie in the 1973 journey to East Timor to find Barana. He has used excerpts from Archie's own diary to tell the heart-warming story of their first meeting after 30 years. Historical background on the centuries of Portuguese rule, the Japanese occupation and the more recent Indonworld war ii, independent companies, australian commando, timor

Letters. Four letters from Pte Ernest Barker addressed to 'Dear Auntie'. 2 written in pencil and 2 in ink. No envelopes to substantiate name, but is probably Miss Lillie Prout of 290 Williamson St Bendigo. (a) Dated 1 March 1940 'A' Company 2/23 Battalion, AIF, from Palestine (date has been corrected on letter to 1941). (b) Dated 30 June 1940, 'A' Company, No.1 Platoon, No8 Military Camp, AIF, Albury, NSW. © Dated 25 August 1940 , written on 'Albury & District Patriotic and War Fund' letter head, 2 pages. (d) Dated 21 April 1941, 'A' Company, 2/23 Battalion, AIF, from Libia (sic) 2 pages.Ernest C Barkerperson, individual, personal, ernest c barker, ww2 letters, lillie prout, aif, 'a' company 2/23 battalion