Walter Leonard Axford

Walter Leonard Axford

300px Walter Leonard Axford
Personal Information
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	HMT Nevassa (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	13 Feb 1942 ‒ 5 Apr 1942
Ship Returned On	SS City of Hankow Egypt to Adelaide
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

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. Granted leave of absence from 20 Apr to 5 May 1942, before travelling to Darwin from Wayville South Australia, arriving on 6 Jun 1942. However, before leaving Wayville Walter was charged on 28 Oct 1942 with "Failing to appear at a place of parade appointed by his Commanding Officer" for which he was admonished. On 12 Nov 1942 Walter was reassigned to the 23rd/21st Australian Infantry Battalion, and on 16 Nov 1942 he was granted leave without pay to work with the Commonwealth Railways, remaining with them until he rejoined the 19th Brigade's Headquarters on 10 Apr 1943. On 20 Jun 1943 he left Darwin for Queensland where on 1 Jul 1943 he was declared proficient and awarded extra pay.

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. From 25 Oct 1943 until 8 Nov 1943 he was detached to the 135 Australian Brigade Workshops. 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 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 with Dengue Fever 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. Walter passed through the hands of several military hospitals in Queensland before, on 23 May 1945 in the 128th Australian General Hospital he was referred for a full Medical Board, resulting in him being transferred to the NSW General Duties Depot to begin discharge proceedings. Discharged by the HQ NSW Line of Command as being medically unfit for further military service on 18 Aug 1945

Notes

Walter's brother WX2904 RD Axford also served in the HQ 19thh Australian Infantry Brigade.