Harry James GITSHAM

GITSHAM, Harry James

    Service Number: VX35187
    Enlisted: 28 June 1940
    Last Rank: Private
    Last Unit: Infantry Training Battalions
    Born: Northcote, Victoria, Australia, 7 September 1919
    Home Town: Horsham, Wimmera, Victoria
    Schooling: Not yet discovered
    Occupation: Market Gardener
    Died: Coleambally, New South Wales, Australia, 8 November 2009, aged 90 years, cause of death not yet discovered
    Cemetery: Coleambally Cemetery, New South Wales
    Located Lawn Section, Lot 5.
    Memorials: Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial
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    World War 2 Service

    28 Jun 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, VX35187, Infantry Training Battalions
    2 Jul 1940: Transferred Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, 11th Training Battalion, Private Gitsham transferred from O.C.R.R.D. AMF to 10th Training Battalion at Wangaratta.
    22 Aug 1940: Transferred Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, 2nd/24th Infantry Battalion, Private Gitsham was transferred from 10th Training Battalion AMF to 2nd/24th Infantry Battalion AMF.
    16 Nov 1940: Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, VX35187, 2nd/24th Infantry Battalion, Embarked Melbourne for the Middle East aboard Troop Ship A206 the converted Queen Mary.
    17 Dec 1940: Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, VX35187, 2nd/24th Infantry Battalion, Private Gitsham disembarked at the Middle East with the 2nd/24th Infantry Battalion AMF.
    1 May 1941: Imprisoned Siege of Tobruk, Private Gitsham was captured during the Battle of Tobruk with many of the 2nd/24th Infantry Battalion
    3 May 1941: Involvement Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, VX35187, 2nd/24th Infantry Battalion, Siege of Tobruk, Private Gitsham was reported as Missing In Action during the fighting around Tobruk.
    1 Jan 1942: Imprisoned Siege of Tobruk, Private Gitsham was transported to Italy aboard the Italian Cruiser 'Luigi Cadorna' & transferred to 'Campo 57' Gruppignano, under 'Colonel Calcaterra'.
    1 Jun 1943: Imprisoned Siege of Tobruk, Private Gitsham was transferred from Italian 'Campo 57 to Italian Campo 106 located in Salussola, province of Vercelli.
    25 Sep 1943: Involvement Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, VX35187, 2nd/24th Infantry Battalion, Private Gitsham & other POW's made a bit for freedom during the capitulation of Italy & escaped from Italian Campo 106, crossing into Switzerland on 28th September 1943.
    7 Oct 1944: Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, VX35187, 2nd/24th Infantry Battalion, Private Gitsham arrived in Italy from Switzerland to prepare for RTA (Return To Action).
    11 Oct 1944: Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, VX35187, 2nd/24th Infantry Battalion, Private Gitsham arrived in the Middle East from Italy.
    13 Oct 1944: Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, 2nd/24th Infantry Battalion, Private Gitsham embarked from Suez aboard the Australian Troopship RMS Orontes & disembarked at Bombay 2/11/1944.
    3 Nov 1944: Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, VX35187, 2nd/24th Infantry Battalion, Private Gitsham embarked from Bombay aboard the U.S. Troopship 'General A.E. Anderson AP-111 disembarking in Melbourne on 17/11/1944.
    10 Jul 1945: Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, VX35187, Infantry Training Battalions

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