John enlisted on 4 Jul 1940 and was posted to 2/40th Battalion. He embarked for Timor on 8 Dec 1941 and joined the 2/2nd on Timor as a Private from 2/40th Battalion, after the fall of Koepang, approx. March 1942. He was one of the former Koepang men, who moved to the village of Mape for intensive commando training and on 8 May 1942, they were formed into a new Platoon, “D” Platoon under the command of Lieutenant Turton and later under Lt Doig. After the campaign on Timor, he embarked with the unit, for Australia aboard the Royal Dutch destroyer “Tjerk Hiddes” on 11 Dec 1942.
He was posted to 23rd Australian Garrison Battalion (POW) on 9 Jul 1943 and like all the men who served on Timor he suffered numerous medical episodes.
He was discharged on 20 Nov 1945.
He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below.
Edited by Peter Epps
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