Australia WW2 2/23rd Bn Officer KIA Tobruk Original Paperwork

This Officer of the 2/23rd Battalion was Killed in action 17 May 1941 in an attempt to retrieve or assist other officers during a patrol during the Siege of Tobruk.

Original photograph of the officer with three other officers of the 2/23rd Bn , all named on the reverse. 170mm x 220mm.

Section of the Argus Newspaper from 9th November 1949 showing officers of the 2/23rd Battalion.

The original symphony letter from the King to the next of kin with envelope.

Original press photo of the 1954 unveiling of the Alamein memorial.

The original teletype telegrams advising initially of this Officer being reported as missing in action 30 May 1941 and another reporting this officer believed now a POW 17 June 1941.

Original Commonwealth of Australia medal entitlement sheet named to the officer and listed as killed in action.

Together with other photocopy research notes, and letters including a photocopied letter from his former Batman to his wife expressing his gratitude for saving his life.

The 2/23rd Infantry Battalion was raised at the Albury Showgrounds in New South Wales in August 1940, as part of the 26th Brigade. Initially the brigade belonged to the 7th Division but in early 1941 moved to the 9th Division. The battalion did its initial training in Albury before moving to Bonegilla, Victoria, before sailing for the Middle East in November.

In early 1941 the 26th Brigade, along with the rest of the 9th Division, moved into Cyrenica to complete its training. Despite British successes at the start of the year against German-led counter-attacks, the 9th Division fell back to Tobruk - colloquially referred to as the "Benghazi handicap". Sub-units from the 2/23rd entered Tobruk between 6 and 10 April.

The battalion helped defend Tobruk for eight months, manning a series of concrete pillboxes located in a semicircle around the town, called the Red Line. In April the 2/23rd defended the western side of the line cutting Derna Road. From May to July it moved to the eastern side of Tobruk, where the line cut Bardia Road. The battalion continued patrolling along the line between the El Adem and Bardia Roads. Its heaviest fighting occurred while defending the Salient from 20 August to 9 September and again from 17 September to 3 October.

In October the majority of the 9th Division, except the 2/13th Infantry Battalion, was evacuated by sea. The 2/23rd left on 18 October and sailed to Alexandria. The division was transferred to Palestine and then Syria for rest and garrison duties.

Code: 2261