Victor Henry Mead

Victor Henry Mead

Personal Information
Date of Birth	29 Oct 1918
Place of Birth	Byford, Western Australia
Death	31 Mar 1960, aged 41
Place of Death	South Australia
Age at Enlistment	22 years, 2 months
Occupation	Truck driver
Religion	Church of England
Address	Byford, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Albert Mead
Military Information
Reg Number	WX10046
Date of Enlistment	13 Dec 1940
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	9 Sep 1942 ‒ 23 Sep 1942
Transport Details	HMT Queen Mary Fremantle to Port Tewfik, Egypt
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	11 Sep 1942 ‒ 1 Oct 1942
Transport Details	AHS2 Wanganella Port Tewfik, Egypt to Fremantle
Post War Details
Fate	WIA 27 Jul 1942 Ruin Ridge Returned to Australia
Monument(s)	ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) Byford WW2 Honour Roll
Medals	1939-45 Star Africa Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

War Service

Enlisted on 13 Dec 1940 and 5 days later he entered the No 3 Infantry Training Battalion at Northam camp. On 14 Jan 1941 he was transferred to the 2nd Infantry Training Battalion at Northam, and then on 25 Mar 1941 to the 14th Training Battalion as a member of the 7th reinforcement draft for the 2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion. This changed on 17 Apr 1941 when he became a member of the 6th reinforcement draft. He was granted pre-embarkation leave from 24 - 30 Apr 1941. On 27 May 1941 he was found guilty of having been AWOL from Midnight 26 May 1941 until 10:00pm the following day. Admonished, he automatically forfeited the day's pay. Victor was again AWOL, from midnight 3 Aug 1941 until midnight the next day, and this time his punishment was seven days confined to barracks, the forfeiture of a day's pay and a 5/- (50 cents) fine.

On 9 Sep 1941 Victor embarked in Fremantle on HMT Queen Mary that with HMT Queen Elizabeth formed Convoy US 12A. On arrival at Suez they disembarked on 23 Sep 1941, and Victor was sent to the 24th Australian Infantry Training Battalion until he was called forward on 18 Nov 1941 to join the 2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion which was then in Palestine. On 13 Jan 1942 Victor was charged with failing to appear at a place of parade appointed by his Commanding Officer. Guilty he was awarded three days confined to barracks.

Victor was admitted to the 2/3rd Australian Field Ambulance with an infection on 14 May 1942, before being released to the 9th Division Rest Camp on 19 May. He returned to the battalion three days later. On 10 Jun 1942 he was again admitted to the 2/3rd Australian Field Ambulance, this time with dysentery. The next day he was transferred to the 3rd New Zealand General Hospital, remaining with them until he was released to the Rest camp on 20 Jun 1942. On 25 Jun 1942 he rejoined the battalion after a visit to the 2/3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. The battalion then moved into the western desert as part of the blocking force that kept Rommel away from Egypt.

On the night of 27 Jul 1942 as part of a major battle the 2/28th Battalion was cut off from support as they attempted to capture a feature that became known as Ruin Ridge. While most of the battalion were captured and made POWs when surrounded by German armour and infantry, Victor escaped capture as he had been wounded in the left leg by shrapnel earlier, and had been sent back behind the front lines. On 28 Jul 1942 he was admitted to the 2nd British General Hospital, and on 1 Aug 1942 he was transferred to the 2/6th Australian General Hospital. He was discharged from hospital to return to Australia on 10 Sep 1942 aboard AHS2 Wanganella which he boarded on 11 Sep 1942 in Kantara, Egypt, and disembarked in Fremantle on 1 Oct 1942.

Granted leave from 2 - 12 Oct 1942, he then entered 110th Australian Base Hospital in Fremantle until 18 Dec 1942 when he was transferred to the 118th Australian General Hospital at Northam. On 22 Jan 1943 he was released to the 109th Australian Convalescent Depot where he was seen by a Medical Board on 17 Apr 1943 which reclassified him as 'B'. On 24 Apr 1943 he joined the base depot where on 25 May 1943 he was posted to the 19th Australian Garrison Battalion in Geraldton. On 18 Jun 1943 Victor faced multiple charges: AWOL from 7:20pm until 9:20pm on 18 Jun 1943; Resisting arrest at 9:20pm on 18 Jun 1943; Neglecting to obey written orders at 9:20pm 16 Jun 1943; and Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline at 9:20pm on 18 Jun 1943. On 21 Jun 1943 he faced his Commanding Officer and was fined 10/- ($1).

On 2 Nov 1943 Victor was sent back to the base depot 'for disposal', and he was discharged on 4 Nov 1943.

Post War

During 1944 Victor married Edith Agnes Alldridge in Jarrahdale.

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1954 Hills road, Byford, farm labourer. During this time Edith was listed as living at Bateman's street, Byford.

Notes

Victor's Africa Star came with the 8th Army clasp.