For sale is a set of medals comprising: 1939 – 45 Star,
Africa Star with clasp 8th ARMY, Pacific Star, all unnamed as issued.; War
Medal (1939 – 45) with M.I.D. device affixed, Australian Service Medal 1939 –
45 both impressed named WX25065 W.P. JOHNSON. Court mounted for display with original medal entitlement letter, copies of service records & MID recommendation.
Wallace Poitrel Johnson was born on 2/11/1920 in
Leonora, a miner by trade he enlisted into the C.M.F. on 30/7/1941 and was posted to Rottnest Island
with the 10th Garrison Battalion. He transferred to the AIF on 4/8/1942 being
allocated to the 2/28th Battalion reinforcements. He was one of the first CMF
soldiers to do so being allocated the new service number WX25065. (The new
numbers started at WX25001.)
He embarked for Egypt on 6/9/1942 landing on 8/10/1942 but
only marched into the 2/28th on the 11/11/1942.
At the time the battalion was holding the position "Saucer" at
El Alamein remaining there until December. It departed Egypt on 24/1/1943 to
return to Australia.
After further rest and training in Australia he proceeded
with the battalion to New Guinea, landing at Milne Bay on 11/8/1943,
The battalion conducted an amphibious landing around Lae in
September 1943, landing to the east of the objective and leading the Australian
advance across the Busu River. During the advance, the battalion carried out a
forced crossing of the Busu under heavy Japanese fire, during which 13 men were
swept away in the rain flooded waters. He was promoted shortly after to Lance
Corporal in November.
After the capture of Lae, the battalion took part in the
Huon Peninsula campaign that followed as the Australians followed up the
Japanese forces that were withdrawing north. During this time, the 2/28th took
part in actions around Finschhafen, Gusika and Wareo before returning to
Australia on 28/1/1944.
After several bouts of Malaria, he deployed with the battalion
moved to Moratai on 1/5/1945. They landed on Labuan Island on 10 June and
advanced north coming up against stiff Japanese resistance around an area
called the "Pocket", which was eventually cleared on 21 June. The
battalion then re-embarked and was landed to the north of Brunei Bay, and
advanced towards Beaufort, where they played a support role during the 24th
Brigade's attack on Beaufort on 26–28 June, before helping to secure the
eastern approaches to the vital rail junction through patrol actions towards
Lumadan. The battalion was still in the Beaufort area when the war ended in August,
and he was promoted to Corporal on the same month. The battalion then did garrison
duties around Jesselton. He returned to Australia in January 1946 for discharge
on 22/3/1946.
He was awarded a mention in despatches 1946 for Exceptional
service in the S.W.P. area.