Difference between revisions of "John Peter Lewis Rymer"
From Our Contribution
| Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
| enlistmentdate = 19 Jul 1940 | | enlistmentdate = 19 Jul 1940 | ||
| rank = Private | | rank = Private | ||
| − | | unit = | + | | unit = 2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion |
1stembarkationdatefrom= | 1stembarkationdatefrom= | ||
| 1stembarkationdateto= | | 1stembarkationdateto= | ||
| Line 167: | Line 167: | ||
| − | The 2/28th reached the Alamein front on 10 July and the division attacked a week later. Just after midnight on 27 July, the 2/28th attacked Ruin Ridge and by 1:00 am they were on the feature. But things were starting to go wrong: the Germans were attacking the Australians from rear positions; three company commanders were wounded; and many of the vehicles that should have brought forward ammunition were destroyed or damaged. Increasingly cut off, an attempt by British tanks to relieve the battalion was abandoned after 22 vehicles were | + | The 2/28th reached the Alamein front on 10 July and the division attacked a week later. Just after midnight on 27 July, the 2/28th attacked Ruin Ridge and by 1:00 am they were on the feature. But things were starting to go wrong: the Germans were attacking the Australians from rear positions; three company commanders were wounded; and many of the vehicles that should have brought forward ammunition were destroyed or damaged. Increasingly cut off, an attempt by British tanks to relieve the battalion was abandoned after 22 vehicles were destroyed. Shortly before 10:00am enemy tanks began moving in on the Australians from three directions. 'A' company was overrun and the battalion's commander had little choice but to surrender. John was one of those who survived. Because of his injury he had been evacuated from the battle field ahead of the circumstances that saw more than 500 of his comrades taken prisoner. |
| Line 173: | Line 173: | ||
| − | On arrival back in Australia the 2/ | + | On arrival back in Australia the 2/28th Battalion was housed in the Melville Camp and the men granted 3 weeks leave before they proceeded by train to Adelaide in March 1943. After a long delay in Adelaide the battalion moved to the Atherton Tablelands in north Queensland. As the battalion was preparing for jungle service its carrier crew would no longer be needed, and many, including John left to join other units.<ref>The Second 28th - The Story of the 2/28th Australian Infantry battalion in World War II, Philip Masel, 2/28th Battalion and 24th Anti-Tank Company Association Inc p184</ref> |
| Line 193: | Line 193: | ||
[[Category:]] | [[Category:]] | ||
[[Category:]] | [[Category:]] | ||
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category:2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion]] |
[[Category:WIA ww2]] | [[Category:WIA ww2]] | ||
[[Category:1942 WIA ww2|*]] | [[Category:1942 WIA ww2|*]] | ||
[[Category:Returned to Australia ww2]] | [[Category:Returned to Australia ww2]] | ||
[[Category:Armadale-Kelmscott ww2]] | [[Category:Armadale-Kelmscott ww2]] | ||
Revision as of 15:56, 8 June 2019
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 9 May 1920 |
| Place of Birth | Cue, Western Australia |
| Death | 14 Mar 2001 |
| Place of Death | City Beach, Western Australia |
| Address | Byford, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr John Rymer |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | W6621 |
| Date of Enlistment | 19 Jul 1940 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation |
2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion 1stembarkationdatefrom= |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 24 Jan 1943 ‒ 18 Feb 1943 |
| Transport Details | HMT L1 Queen Mary Port Tewfik to Fremantle via Massawa & the Maldive Islands |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate |
Wounded in action 27 Jul 1942 Ruin Ridge Libya Returned to Australia |
Pre War
War Service
Enlisted at the Claremont camp
The 2/28th reached the Alamein front on 10 July and the division attacked a week later. Just after midnight on 27 July, the 2/28th attacked Ruin Ridge and by 1:00 am they were on the feature. But things were starting to go wrong: the Germans were attacking the Australians from rear positions; three company commanders were wounded; and many of the vehicles that should have brought forward ammunition were destroyed or damaged. Increasingly cut off, an attempt by British tanks to relieve the battalion was abandoned after 22 vehicles were destroyed. Shortly before 10:00am enemy tanks began moving in on the Australians from three directions. 'A' company was overrun and the battalion's commander had little choice but to surrender. John was one of those who survived. Because of his injury he had been evacuated from the battle field ahead of the circumstances that saw more than 500 of his comrades taken prisoner.
Prior to leaving Egypt for Australia, John on a whim decided to visit the battlefield. He had participated in the ill fated attack on Ruin Ridge on the night of 26/27 Jul 1942 as a crew member of a carrier that had been blown up on 27 Jul 1942 while trying to take out an anti tank gun that was holding up their advance. John borrowed a motor cycle and sought to visit the site and came away affected by the silence and the array of skeletons strewn around the battlefield. [1]
On arrival back in Australia the 2/28th Battalion was housed in the Melville Camp and the men granted 3 weeks leave before they proceeded by train to Adelaide in March 1943. After a long delay in Adelaide the battalion moved to the Atherton Tablelands in north Queensland. As the battalion was preparing for jungle service its carrier crew would no longer be needed, and many, including John left to join other units.[2]
Discharged on 10 Oct 1944
Post War
Notes
- ↑ The Second 28th - The Story of the 2/28th Australian Infantry battalion in World War II, Philip Masel, 2/28th Battalion and 24th Anti-Tank Company Association Inc pp171,172
- ↑ The Second 28th - The Story of the 2/28th Australian Infantry battalion in World War II, Philip Masel, 2/28th Battalion and 24th Anti-Tank Company Association Inc p184
External Links
[[Category:]][[Category:]]