Photograph

From the Collection of Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch 1 Victoria Parade Wangaratta Victoria

Description

Reproduced black and white photograph of large group of soldiers having a meal. Soldiers are seated in the foreground and five standing behind. Nearly all have shirts removed.

Size

18cm w x 12cm h

Object Registration

58.16

Keywords

2/24th battalion, new guinea, ww2

Historical information

SATTELBERG AREA, NEW GUINEA. 1943-11-15. TROOPS OF THE 2/24TH. AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION EATING MEAL DURING A LULL IN THE BATTLE FOR SATTELBERG. THEY ARE: NX10044 ACTING SERGEANT S. BOLDHAM. (1) VX68432 PRIVATE H. ANQUETAL. (2) VX80603 PRIVATE T. F. BYRCE. (3) VX41167 PRIVATE S. T. SHERLOCK. (4) VX28432 LANCE CORPORAL K. G. NORRIS. (5) ACTING CORPORAL R. F. KENYON. (6) VX43055 SIGNALMAN E. W. HORNER. (7) NX33751 PRIVATE A. J. PEIRCY. (8) VX71588 SIGNALMAN F. J. KELLY. (9) VX26381 PRIVATE BUNNETT. NX86710 SIGNALMAN R. E. AMERY. QX13958 SERGEANT J. S. GREGORY. SX31255 PRIVATE C. MARSHALL VX29721 SIGNALMAN M. W. REIDY.

When Made

c1945

Significance

The 2/24th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army, which served during World War II .A unit of all-volunteers, it was formed in July 1940 from primarily Victorian volunteers and was known as "Wangaratta's Own" because of the time the battalion spent in the town during its formative period prior to deployment overseas. It served in North Africa in 1941–1942 as part of the 26th Brigade, which was assigned to the 7th Division, before being reassigned to the 9th Division. In early 1943, the battalion returned to Australia and later took part in campaigns against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943–1944 and Borneo in 1945, before being disbanded in 1946. The 2/24th suffered the highest number of casualties of any 2nd AIF infantry battalion. The Unit was granted the Freedom of the City by the Rural City of Wangaratta in 1990 and one of the first, if not the first, to receive this type of honour

Last updated

18 Jan 2019 at 6:55PM