NUMBER:

VX17412

BATTALION / UNIT / SHIP:

2/7th Infantry Battalion

DATE & PLACE OF BIRTH:

Leongatha 21 April 1914

NEXT OF KIN:

His father, Edward Due. His mother was Nellie Cecelia Due

DATE & PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:

25 May 1940 Caulfield

LOCATION ON ENLISTMENT:

Leongatha

OCCUPATION:

Farm labourer

PLACE & DATE OF DEATH:

17 November 1944 aged 30 in Townsville as a result of a Train accident.

LOCATION OF GRAVE/MEMORIAL:

He is buried in the Townsville War Cemetery

RELATIONSHIP TO WOORYAL SHIRE:

He lived in Leongatha

MILITARY/OTHER HISTORY:

Henry was placed in the 2/7th Battalion. The battalion's initial members came primarily from Victoria. They completed basic training in Australian and embarked for the Middle East as part of the first group of Australian troops to be sent overseas. Further training was undertaken in Palestine before the battalion went into action against the Italians in January 1941. After participating in the successful capture of Bardia and Tobruk they were sent into action against the Germans in Greece and Crete. The battalion was destroyed after the majority of its personnel were captured.

Rebuilt in Palestine, the 2/7th undertook garrison duties in Syria and then Ceylon before being transported back to Australia in August 1942. In January 1943, the battalion was deployed to New Guinea, taking part in the fighting against the Japanese in the Salamaua and Lae  until October 1943. During a period of over a year training in northern Queensland Henry died as a result of an accident.