1821 Info 5a: Caleb Crompton |
John Arthur COX
| 1870 Births in the District of MINERS REST in the Colony of Victoria | No. 40 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| When and where born |
Name | Sex | Father's name Profession Age & Birthplace |
Where & when married Other issue |
Mother's name Age Birthplace |
Informant | Nurse by whom Birth Certified |
When & where Registered |
| 25th August 1870 Dowling Forest |
John Arthur not present |
Male | William Henry Cox Farmer 25 years Tavistock Devonshire England |
4thApril 1867 Miners Rest Charles Francis deceased Elizabeth Emily 1 year |
Elizabeth Milner Cox formerly Crompton 23 years Launceston Tasmania |
William H Cox Dowling Forest |
Not any Mrs Cox Snr |
25th September 1870 Miners Rest |
Birth Registration number: 17859 Source: Digger's Pioneer Index Victorian 1836- 1888
| Marriage solemnized in the District of in the Colony of Victoria | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| When and where married |
Name and Surnames of the Parties |
Condition | Birthplace | Rank or Profession |
Age | Residence | Parents name | Father's Rank or Profession |
| 448 Queen St Melbourne 4th Nov 1901 |
John Arthur Cox | Bachelor | Miners Rest | Labourer | 29 | 29 Raglan St Port Melbourne |
William Henry Cox Elizabeth Emily Crompton |
Farmer |
| Eliza Maud McCann |
Spinster | Tallarook | nil | 21 | 121 Bank St South Melbourne |
James McCann Emily Martin |
Labourer | |
|
I
Joseph Jewell Westwood
, being
duly authorised, do hereby
certify, that I have this day, at
448 Queen St Melbourne,
celebrated the Marriage between
John Arthur Cox Labourer Port Melbourne
and
Elizabeth Maud McCann no occupation South Melbourne
after Notice and Declaration duly made and published Dated this fourth day of November |
Witness: Julia M Cox
Witness: Charles F Cox |
|||||||
| John Arthur COX and Elizabeth Maud McCANN were married at
Holt's New Matrimonial Chambers at 448 Queen Street, Melbourne. This seems to have
been as close to a civil ceremony as the times would allow.
Right: John Arthur Cox and Eliza McCann's marriage on 04 November 1901 |
 |
| Queen Victoria Market was opened in 1878 on the site of an old
cemetery. Holt's New Matrimonial Agency moved from rented premises in 345 Swanston
Street to 442 Queen Street, hence the term 'new'. Before October 1901 442 was
renumbered 448. It is recorded as being opposite the 'old cemetery': now
opposite Queen Victoria Market.
Right: 448 Queens Street, Melbourne, as it was in November 2009 |
 |
The advertisement in "The Age" of October 25 1901 shows and gives details of licensed marriages at 448 Queen Street, Melbourne by Holt's Matrimonial Agency. James Holt's seemed to be able to supply clergy of quite a number of denominations: he had a group of ministers of different denominations who were glad to make an extra income and appear to have been available "on call" though the "Free Christian Church", which does not seem to have had a church of its own in Melbourne. The address and possibly the witnesses are the only clue to Holt's Agency. An advertisement on the same day, suggests that the Holt's agency seemed to have been a well-run organization, giving a complete service, from introductions to marriages.
| Marriages at 448 Queen Street are often 'married according to the rites of' many different churches. |  |
| James Holt and his wife Annie were usually the "witnesses provided". One wonders whether couples who eloped to Queen Street, desired privacy or had no particular | |
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"Marriages celebrated by ordained clergymen, with due solemnity, in strictest
privacy, at Holt's Matrimonial Agency, 448 Queen Street, Melbourne, opposite the old
cemetery, or elsewhere, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, Saturdays included. (no notice
required) Fee ten shillings and sixpence; or marriage, with guaranteed gold wedding ring and necessary witnesses provided, £1 one shilling P.S. - No other charges whatsoever. All sizes, more costly wedding rings kept in stock if required." |
| allegiance to a religious denomination. And, as an advertisement the same
day shows, that the well-run service extended to an agency where introductions could be
arranged.
Source: Ada Ackerly (Accessed 31 August 2017) |
"Ladies, gentlemen, every station in life, contemplating matrimony, immediately
consult proprietors of Holt's New Matrimonial Chambers, 448 Queen Street Melbourne,
opposite the Old Cemetery, specially erected by the proprietors for introductions,
costing £4,000. (Established 1886).
Introductions privately arranged between eligible partners, either sex, with view to matrimony. Only letter containing stamp for reply answered. All communications treated confidentially, and managed solely by the proprietors, thereby ensuring strictest privacy. Holt's "Matrimonial Gazette" containing particulars of a number of our available clients, modus operandi, etc., forwarded to any address, in plain envelope, upon receipt of a two penny stamp." |
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Right: A young Eliza McCann about the time of her marriage |
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Married life
The couple had seven children and the location of their birth shows how the couple moved around the State. When William James was born in 1904, the couple lived at Moe in Gippsland.
The Australian Electoral Roll 1903-1977, available on Ancestry, records their homes in the Gippsland sub-division of Forest between 1922 and 1954 and occupations as:
From 1922-1928:
and from 1931-1949 at:
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| Above: Forest district of Gippsland, showing the close proximity between Wonga and Mount Best |
Between 1934 and 1943 three of their male children were recorded at the same address, though in 1943 a John Arthur COX is recorded but no John Henry.
His son, William James' Attestation papers for 1940 gives his father as next of kin, living at Wanga Wanga, Mount Best Victoria, which is in Gippsland. 1 This was later amended to Wangaretta, Mount Best.
| THIRD SCHEDULE | |
| DEATH in the District of Foster in | 23386 |
| Victoria, Registered by May E J Phillips | |
| 1 No | 857 |
| Description - 2 (1) When and where died (2) Usual place of residence |
1st December 1951 Square Top Road Wonga via Foster Shire of South Gippsland County Buln Buln as above |
| 3 Name and Surname Occupation | John Arthur Cox Farmer |
| 4 Sex and age | Male 81 years |
|
5 (1) Cause of death (2) Duration of last illness (3) Legally qualified medical practitioner by whom certified and (4) When he last saw deceased |
Cerebral Thrombosis, days Generalised Arteriosclerosis - 15 yrs Dr Wood. Toora 1st December 1951 |
| 6 Name and surname of Father and Mother (maiden name, if known), with Occupation | William Henry Cox, Farmer Elizabeth Emily Cox née Crompton |
| 7 Signature, Description and Residence of Informant | AH Cox Son Authorised agent Amey's Track Foster |
| 8 (1) Signature of Registrar (2) Date and (3) Where registered |
WJ Phillips 1st December 1951 Foster |
| If burial registered 9 When and where buried Undertaker by whom certified 10 Name and Religion of Minister or names of Witnesses of burial |
4th December 1951 Foster HL Phiilips Rev Ra--ray Church of England |
| 11 Where born and how long in the Australian States, stating which | Miners Rest 82 years in Victoria |
| If deceased was married - 12 (1) Where and (2) At what age and (3) To whom (4) Conjugal Condition at Date of Death |
Melbourne 29 years Eliza Maud McCann Married |
| 13 Issue in Order of Birth, the Name and Ages | Arthur Herbert 48 years,
William James 47 years,
Irene Maud 44 years,
John Henry Dec Edith Annie 41 years, Francis Leslie 39 years |
At the time of his death in 1951, John Arthur lived at [Wonga] Square Top Road, Wonga (Death certificate). In 1954, Eliza Maud and Leslie Francis were joined by his wife Maris - mistakenly recorded as Mavis.
 |
| Above: Map locating Wonga and Square Top Road |
The last Electoral Roll show Eliza Maud as a widow. Eliza Maud continued to live at Mount Best until her death in 1955 (Vic BMD 18575/1955).
|
Right: John Arthur and Eliza Maud Cox's headstone in Foster Cemetery
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Their children
Arthur Herbert - John Arthur and Eliza Maud's first child
| Arthur and Isabel were married in 1927 and spent their life, apart from
war service in Foster, Gippsland.
Between 1934 and 1967, the Australian Electoral Roll 1903-1977, available on Ancestry, records their homes and occupations as:
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In 1977, as a widow Isabel remained at Station Road until the 1980 Roll:
In World War II, Arthur Herbert COX enlisted, in Foster, on 12 January 1939 for War Service, as medically class A1. He served as a married labourer initially in the 2/29 Bn. His record show him as a fit 5 foot 6½ inches (168cm) high with a weight of 137 pounds (62.14kg) with light brown hair.
On 01 August 1939, Arthur transferred to the 2/22 Bn as V37139. Despite enlisting in January 1939, his records record 'Called up TTD Bongilla 15/12/41'. Bonegilla is located on Lake Hume near Wodonga. On 17 May 1944, he was discharged at Royal Park, Melbourne due to 'personal hardship' with no overseas service. There is no explanation. His records show his address as Foster, Gippsland with Mrs Isobel Cox, his wife, as his next of kin.
Arthur was fortunate. The 2/22 Bn were largely captured by the Japanese during the Battle of Rabaul in 1942. After being captured, the battalion was not re-raised. A large number of its personnel died in captivity; those that did not were returned to Australia at the end of the war in 1945.
After the war, the couple moved to Amey's Track where they remained until 1972. Amy's Track is a winding road through an undulating river valley of eroded grassland north of Foster.
 |
| Above: Amey's Track to the left |
Arthur died on 04 January 1973 and his remains are in Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Dandenong Garden 13, Bed 10, P0sition 17..
| THIRD SCHEDULE |
| DEATH IN THE STATE OF VICTORIA |
| Registered by George Ronald STANFORD |
| 1 No | No 1225 /73 |
| Description - 2(1) When and where died (2) Usual place of residence 3 Name and Surname Occupation 4 Sex and age |
4th January, 1973,Foster, Amey's Track, Foster, Arthur Herbert COX Not any Male, 70 years |
|
5(1) Cause of death and duration of last illness (2) Legally qualified medical practitioner by whom certified and when he last saw deceased |
Coronary
seclusions - hours, Atherosclerosis - years, R. Fleming, 29 July, 1972 |
| 6 Name and surname of Father and Mother (maiden name, if known), with Occupation | John Arthur Cox, Maud Cox Maiden name McCann Farmer |
| 7 Signature, Description and Residence of Informant | Certified by HW Pascoe, Coroner, Melbourne. |
| 8 (1) Signature of Registration
Officer (2) Date and (3) Where registered |
Signed 15th January, 1973, Melbourne |
| If burial registered 9 When and where buried Undertaker by whom certified 10 Name and Religion of Minister or names of Witnesses of burial |
8th January, 1973 (sic) Cremated at Springvale Crematorium, H. Phillips R. Elliot Church of England |
| 11 Where born and how long in the Australian States, stating which | Melbourne,
Victoria, 70 years in Victoria. |
| If deceased was married - 12 (1) Where and (2) At what age and (3) To whom (4) Conjugal Condition at Date of Death 13 Issue in order of birth, the name and ages |
Melbourne, Victoria, 25 years, Isabel Whyte, Married, Arthur John, 44 years, William George, 43 years, Allan Francis, 42 years, James David, 40 years, Peter Herbert, 39 years, Geoffrey Owen, 37 years, Brian Edward, 36 years, Betty Margaret, 34 years, Faye Wilma, 29 years, Graham Charles, 26 years, |
William James - John Arthur and Eliza Maud's second child
William James was born at Moe in 1904 (Vic BD 12157/1904) and died in Foster in 1985 (Vic BMD 15324/1985). After war service a William James married Ethel Annie EVANS on 21 September 1946 (Vic BMD 12459/1946). Ethel was born in 1904 in Lima South, Victoria (Vic BMD 14544/1904), 30km north of Mansfield where she died.
Source: Australian War Memorial (Accessed: 2026)| In World War II, William James COX served as VX42492 in the 2/4 Battalion AIF 2
He enlisted at Seymour, Victoria 2 on 14 June 1940, confirming Moe as his
place of birth, his age as 36 years 3 months and that he was a single labourer. There
is no indication of a marriage.
Right: 2/24 Battalion's colour patch 1942-1946: following the change in design from that of the World War 1 battalion and the T was adopted as a result of the unit's involvement in the fighting during the Siege of Tobruk, with a grey border to signify World War 2. |
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William disembarked in the Middle East on 17 December 1940. On 19 February 1941 he
was admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital (AGH), Gaga Ridge with dysentery
for fourteen day. There was a further hospital stay in 4/AGH with gastro-enteritis
before rejoining 2/24Bn on 19 November 1941. On 31 October 1942, William was
hospitalised in 7/AGH having been wounded in action with a shoulder wound in his left
shoulder at the Second Battle of El Alamein. After a period of convalescence William
was discharged to 26/Bn on 04 December 1942 before returning to 2/24 on 28 December
1942.
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The Electoral Roll shows him living at his parents home in Mount Best until 1943. Given that he died in Foster suggests he remained in the area for the whole of his life. After the war he marrried:
Until 1980 William was a farm hand at Howes Creek.
Ethel Annie died in 1958 in Mansfield (Vic BMD 25149/1958). The 1980 register shows the couple had one daughter with whom William James was living in 1980.
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| Above: Ethel Annie Cox's headstone |
Irene Maud - John Arthur and Eliza Maud's third child
Irene Maude was born on 16 August 1905 (Vic BMD 26607/1905) in Panyule. In 1929 she married Percy Harold GOODING (Vic BMD 9963/1929)
Irene maud Cox ... m......1929 ... Percy harold Goodings
b.16aug1905 | b...jul1904
d.04jan1954 | d.25aug1992
|===========|===========|============|========[|
Arthur Herbert John William
harold james raymond daniel
Percy Harold GOODING was born in the third quarter of 1904 in Steying, West Sussex, UK, (GRO ref: Steying 2b 290).
The Electoral Roll for 1931-34 shows:
On 04 January 1954, Percy Harold was widowed when Irene Maude died in Seaford. There is no obvious Vic BMD record of her death. Two sons were living at home:
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In 1967, whilst at the same address another franchised son, John Raymond, an
electrical mechanic, was living at home. In 1963 son George Thomas was living at home.
In 1972, William Daniel was living at home. Percy Harold was at the same address in 1980.
Right: Irene Maud Cox's home at Fortescue Avenue Seaford on the Morningtown Peninsula |
 |
Percy Harold died on 25 August 1992 aged 88 years (Vic BMD 21139/1992). He is interred in Cheltenham Memorial Cemetery, Bayside.
Olive May - John Arthur and Eliza Maud's fourth child
Olive May was born in Heathcote, Victoria in 1907. (Vic BMD 19412/1907). In 1933 Olive May married Frank Clark (Vic BMD 11186/1933)
Olive May CLARK appears in the 1943 Electoral Roll for Fawkner, South Yarrow.
In the Electoral Rolls of 1977-80: between 1934-37 the couple lived at:
In between 1941 and 1954, Frank is still a shoe repairer but in 1954 and
1963 he was unemployed. The couple lived at:
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Between 1967 and 1980 the couple lived at:
Francis Clark died on 26 July 1991 and Olive May died on 23 March 1994. They are both buried in Lilydale Memorial Park, Yarra Range Shire.
John Henry - John Arthur and Eliza Maud's fifth child
John Henry COX was born in Loch/Woodleigh in 1909 (Vic BDM 12211/1909). In 1940 John Henry COX married Myrtle Christina HENSHAW (Vic BDM 11842/1940). There is no obvious record of her birth.
In the Electoral Rolls of 1934-37, John Henry was an unskilled farmer/labourer based on his parents home.
From 1942 to his death in 1949 (Vic BMD 22786/1949) John Henry COX was a station hand at Cudgewa Station some 450km north of Foster. This links with a local burial.
John Henry died in Colac Colac in 1949 (Vic BDM 22786/1949) and was buried in Corryong.
From 1954 to 1971 Myrtle is recorded as living at:
Myrtle died on 21 March 2001. There is no obvious gave.
It has been suggested that John Henry and Myrtle's eldest child, Eunice Myrtle, married Kevin Anthony WANT. Ancestry's Electoral Role records Eunice Myrtle WANT began her working career as a nurse in Corryon. This link suggests a feasible relationship between COX and WANT. For an unknown reason her Sydney born husband is not recorded.
From 1977 to 1980 Eunice lived just in New South Wales:
However, NSW's BMD shows a Kevin Anthony WANT married Yvonne Jean HUDSON in 1973 in Sydney (NSW BDM 8406/1973). This couple moved to Mount Lawley, Perth. Yvonne Jean was also a nurse. Ancestry suggests an alternative husband: Richard FLEET born 06 Sept 1929 and who died in 24 April 1993. His headstone photo, in Newcomb, Geelong, shows he married a Eunice Myrtle, born 28 December 1930 and who died 08 December 1987. This is clearly not Eunice Myrtle COX born 10 November 1941.
John Henry and Myrtle's second child was Dorothy Maud.
A Dorothy Maud COX married Graham Arthur GRENNESS in 1965. (Vic BMD 20944/1965).
From 1967 to 1972 the couple lived at:
In 1977 the couple had moved a distance of 153km:
Dorothy Maud died on 05 February 2015 aged 70. Her memorial is in Corryong Cemetery, plot 03 07 33.
Ethel Annie - John Arthur and Eliza Maud's sixth child
Ethel Annie was born in Drouin in 1910 (Vic BMD 326801/1910). In 1928, Ethel married William Albert BENTLEY (Vic BMD 10679/1928), who was born in Cheddleton, Staffordshire on 25 February 1905. (GRO ref: 3rdQt 1905 Cheadle 6b 355), confirmed by his Attestation Papers
In World War II, William Albert BENTLEY attested on 31 January 1939 into 13 Light Horse in Foster. He was a married man, quoting Ethel Annie as his spouse, and farmer by occupation. He appears to have started 'active service' on 06 January 1941 at a camp in Geelong. On 30 April 1941 he marched into his new camp at Leongatha, Victoria some 40km north-west of Foster. On 14 May 1941, still with the 13/LH, he was promoted to sergeant.
| On 19 July 1941 William was transferred to Balcombe [Creek Camp] later
home of the US 1st Marine Division and Mount Martha. Rather than over looking Port
Phillip Bay and so guarding the sea entrance to Melbourne, Mount Martha was part of the
Balcombe training area. In January 1942 William was back at Leongartha for a month before
moving to Dandanong and Heidelberg.
Right: Balcombe Camp parade August 1944 Source: AWM |
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In April 1942 William is admitted to hospital (B'inder S?) with Colitus Puac [Pucai], which is a pediatric coitus with symptoms including recurring diarrhoea (often containing blood, mucus, or pus), frequent and urgent bowel movements, abdominal cramping, and lower tummy pain. Extreme fatigue, fever, unexplained weight loss, and nausea may also experience. This may have been the cause of William's hardship discharge on compassionate grounds, from Royal Park, Melbourne, in August 1942 as medical class B2. He had experienced 114 days of home based active service. His discharge papers give the date of enlistment as 22 July 1940.
The Australian Electoral Roll 1903-1977, available on Ancestry, records show that between 1926 and 1928 William BENTLEY was living in:
The 1934 Roll shows him as a married man living in Mount Best until the 1954 Roll:
In 1963 the couple had moved
and Ethel Annie lived there as a widow until her last entry in 1980:
William Albert died in Foster in 1981 (Vic BMD 1074/1981). Ethel Annie died in Foster in 1985 (Vic BMD 2352/1985). They are both buried in Foster Cemetery, along with Henry Francis and Robert Oswald BENTLEY.
Francis Leslie - John Arthur and Eliza Maud's seventh child
Francis Leslie was born in Loch, 70km north-west of Foster, on 21 July 1912 (Vic BMD 31705/1912).
Francis, a single farmer, enlisted on 17 January 1939 at Foster as a trooper V23913 in the 13 Light Horse Regiment. He transferred to the Area 22 Reserves on 06 December 1941 at Balcombe. His records contain no further information. In World War 2, the 13/Light Horse converted to the 13th Armoured Regiment before being disbanded in October 1943.
| In 1949, Francis Leslie and his Eliza Maudwere were joined at Mount Best, Loose
Bag by Francis' wife Mavis KELLET, known as Daisy, who he married in 1947 (Vic BMD 9434/1947).
Victoria BMD records her name as Maris. There is no obvious Victoria birth record between
1910 and 1929 for either forename or an appropriate Kellet. NB: The use of Maris appears to be
a typo. A Maris Kellet was born in Batley, UK in the third quarter of 1920 (GRO ref:
Dewsbury 9b 1019), Ancestry makes a link with Maris Cox.
Right: Maris Daisy Kellet Ancestry's Electoral Roll records a single Maris Cox:
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From 1949 to 1967, the Australian Electoral Roll records:
| From 1977 to 1980 a Maris COX is recorded living in Traralgon, 90km
north-east of Foster.
Right: 26 Grubb Avenue, Traralgon |
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Francis Leslie died in Blackwarry on 30 August 1968 (Vic BMD 21074/1968). Maris died on 05 March 2003.
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| Above: Francis and Maris Cox's headstone in Foster
Cemetery Photo Sue McC |
Some of the ten children of Alan Herbert COX and Isabel
Alan Francis - Alan Herbert and Isabel's third child
In 1954, an unattached Alan Francis COX appears in the Electoral Roll and living in Amey's Track. This may be the son of Albert Herbert but the name hasn't been linked through Victoria BMD.
In 1963-68:
Brian Edward - Alan Herbert and Isabel's seventh child
Between 1958 and 1967 Brian Edward COX was living in Amey's Track.
In 1977-80 Brian was married to Sheila and there was a change of address:
End notes
| More information 1 |
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The history of Foster township
Foster, a rural town, is 150 km south-east of Melbourne. It is on the South Gippsland Highway and 45 km north of Tidal River, Wilson’s Promontory. The town is on Stockyard Creek, about 5 km upstream of the creek’s mouth on Corner Inlet. The creek was used to transport and spell livestock being taken from east Gippsland to the Western Port district. In 1869 some timber harvesters at Stockyard Creek discovered alluvial gold there, and by the middle of the next year about 30 miners were working claims. In early 1871 the number had grown to about 200. A mining dispute brought the local magistrate and gold warden, William Foster, from Sale and his successful settlement of the matter resulted in the miners naming the place after him. By the middle of 1871 tracks were cut from Moe and Rosedale to Foster. The town’s early token of civilisation, a mechanics’ institute, also opened that year. A post office and a school opened in 1872 and a Methodist church opened in 1874. Downstream there was a boat landing for incoming and outgoing mail, where there were one or two hotels in addition to the several in Foster. In 1872 a telegraph line was connected to the landing. There were several other gold finds around Foster which kept up activity until 1877 when it was reported that mining became depressed, despite the discovery of a few new leads. Land seekers were needed in place of gold seekers. Foster’s hills were moist, fertile and tree covered. Farm selections on the coastal plains around Welshpool and Hedley were nearly all taken up by the early 1880s, and in 1884 selectors came to Foster, attracted by the moist conditions after a severe Victorian drought a few years before. Land selection legislation was also more favourable. Within two years all available farm blocks around Foster were occupied. In 1892 the Great Southern Gippsland railway was extended from Korumburra to Foster and Toora. The increasing town and farm populations felt that they were being neglected by Alberton shire council and successfully agitated for severance. South Gippsland shire, headquartered at Foster, was formed in 1894. From the 1950s Foster was firmly established as the district centre. The high school (1952) and hospital were expanded and a consolidated school established when senior classes moved to the high school. Buses brought pupils from the surrounding district to the Foster primary school resulting in the closure of some small district schools. New shire offices and an arts centre were built in 1960 and 1966. A number of government departments established offices and depots at Foster. Many properties in the hill country north of Foster had been abandoned since the mid-1920s, the farmers defeated by the steep terrain, the mud and the poor roads. From the 1950s large areas were taken over by the Forests Commission and reforested with softwood and hardwood plantations. From the 1970s dairy farms increased in size with amalgamation of properties. But there was also a proliferation of hobby farms and holiday houses in the hills and near the coast. Foster is still the service centre for the surrounding agricultural district. Hoverbox Photo Gallery - Foster, Victoria
Source: Foster (Accessed: 24 July 2026) |
| More information 2 |
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History of the 2/24 Battalion, AIF
The 2/24th Battalion was an 900 strength, all-volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF), formed in Caufield in July 1940 from primarily Victorian volunteers and was known as "Wangaratta's Own" because of the time the battalion spent in the town during its formative period prior to deployment overseas. It served in North Africa in 1941–1942 as part of the 26th Brigade. In early 1943, the battalion returned to Australia and later took part in campaigns against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943–1944 and Borneo in 1945, before being disbanded in 1946. The 2/24th suffered the highest number of battle casualties of any 2nd AIF infantry battalion. The battalion was deployed to the Middle East, departing in November 1940, aboard the transport ship HMT Strathmore. After completing further training in Cyrenaica, the battalion subsequently saw action for the first time around Tobruk in April 1941, remaining there for eight months, occupying various positions around the perimeter before they were withdrawn by sea in late October 1941. A period of garrison duties followed in Palestine and Syria before being hastily moved to El Alamein in response to a German advance through the desert towards Egypt. The 2/24th was subsequently heavily involved in both the First and Second Battles of El Alamein between July and November 1942. During the First Battle of El Alamein, the battalion fought to secure Tel el Eisa where they captured a German intelligence unit; during the second battle the 2/24th advanced from Tel el Eisa towards the sea, amidst fierce fighting around a position dubbed the "Saucer". The 2/24th subsequently sailed in early January 1943, landing in Melbourne the following month. They subsequently moved by train to spend over a year at Kairi on the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland. For the majority of 1943, the battalion underwent a period of intense training for the rigours of jungle warfare. In September, the 2/24th went into action again, taking part in an amphibious landing to advance on Lae, in New Guinea. The operation was quickly concluded. As the Australians followed up the retreating Japanese, a further landing was made on the Huon Peninsula in September. The 2/24th subsequently took part in actions around Finschhafen and then the assault on Sattelberg. They took part in the subsequent advance north to the inland Wareo, during which they were mainly used to carry stores and ammunition, before being released from this task and taking part in the fighting around the Christmas Hills. They were transported back to Australia for rest in early 1944. In April 1945 they were committed to Operation Oboe, the Allied campaign to retake Borneo and Java. The plan called for several landings around Borneo and its surrounding areas. The 26th Brigade's part in the operation was to capture the island of Tarakan. The main landing came on 1 May, during which the 2/24th formed the brigade's reserve. After the success of the initial landing, the 2/24th was committed to the fighting to secure the airfield on 2 May, but heavy fighting ensued as the Japanese defenders fought to hold on to the strategically important position, and the 2/24th were held up until 5 May. Following this, the battalion pushed into the rugged terrain inland, fighting a series of actions to secure the high ground overlooking the township. This fighting lasted up until 20 June, when Hill 90 was finally taken by the 2/24th. Mopping up operations followed as the battalion worked to clear Japanese stragglers from the oilfields to the north. Following the end of hostilities in August 1945, the battalion's personnel were slowly transferred to other units for further service, or repatriated back to Australia for demobilisation. The remaining cadre sailed back to Australia in December 1945, and the battalion ceased to exist in early 1946. A total of approximately 3,415 men served in the battalion throughout its existence. The battalion's casualties throughout the war amounted to 360 killed and 900 wounded; this was more than any other 2nd AIF infantry battalion. |
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| This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass |
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Version A9 Updated 16 July 2026 |
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