Walter Leonard Axford

Walter Leonard Axford

Walter Leonard Axford
Personal Information
Date of Birth	10 Sep 1908
Place of Birth	Coolgardie, Western Australia
Occupation	salesman
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Brother , WX2904 RD Axford
Military Information
Reg Number	WX308
Date of Enlistment	7 Nov 1939
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	2nd/11th (City of Perth) Australian Infantry Battalion
Medals	1939-45 Star Africa Star Pacific Star Defence Medal 1939-45 Australian War 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.

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 to be missing. However on 4 Jun 1941 he was admitted to the 2/2nd Australian General Hospital in Egypt.

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 Brigades HQ unit.

Australian Archives file is seal due to information dated 1988

Married on 29 Apr 1944, in NSW to Rita Jean whose address was 20 School parade, West Marrickville, NSW. Discharged by the HQ NSW Line of Command as being medically unfit on 18 Aug 1945

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