Genuine full size medal group all correctly impressed QX35555 H. Herbert Rowbotham was born in Toowoomba on the 30th of March 1920. He enlisted in the Militia on the 3rd of January 1940 and was allocated service number Q28442. He joined the 61st Infantry Battalion, which was at the time was part of the Citizens Military Force. During 1940 the 61st was called-up and joined the 7th Brigade. By May 1942 the 61st Battalion had been moved to Townsville to defend the area from a Japanese invasion. It was during this time that Herbert decided to volunteer in the Australian Regular Army and on the 22nd of July 1942 he was allocated service number QX35555. His decision most probably due to the fact that his unit had began to embark for Milne Bay, New Guinea. By the 30th of July Herbert had embarked from Townsville for New Guinea. In New Guinea, the 61st was deployed with the 25th Infantry Battalion to defend the No. 3 airstrip at Gili Gili. The Japanese made an amphibious landing at Milne Bay on the 27th of August 1942. The 61st was first into action but were unable to hold back the Japanese. The Japanese reached the edge of the airstrip the next day, where they waited to be reinforced. In the early-morning of the 31st of August the Japanese charged the defences manned by the 61st and 25th. The Japanese suffered heavily and withdrew at dawn. By the 7th of September the battle was over. Herbert was evacuated to Australia suffering with Malaria on the 17th of December 1942. He was to return to New Guinea in July 1943 and spent this time at Donadabu, near Port Moresby until evacuated again in January 1944. A nice complete group to a larrikin, (charged on several occasions) who was a veteran of Milne Bay. His service record is available to view at the NAA site online. The item “Australian WW2 medal group. Served 61st Infantry Battalion Milne Bay New Guniea” is in sale since Thursday, February 09, 2017. This item is in the category “Collectables\Militaria\1939 – 1945 (WWII)”. The seller is “sapper_mick4″ and is located in Keperra, QLD. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Authenticity: Original
- Country: Australia
- Campaign: World War II
- Product Type: Medals
- Era: 1940s