Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John “Jackie” George Windsor was born in Sydney in 1924. He enlisted in the AIF in January 1943, stating that he was a wood machinist from Granville. His next of kin was his mother. Eighteen year old John underwent his basic training in Sydney and was initially posted to 18th Battalion.

He was selected for Commando training in January 1944 and was sent to Canungra on the Gold Coast for additional training. In January 1944, the 6th Division raised the 2/6th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment, consisting of the 2/7th Commando Squadron, and the newly raised 2/9th and 2/10th Commando Squadrons. Throughout the year, the regiment trained together on the Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, before sailing to New Guinea, to support the 6th Division's forthcoming Aitape-Wewak campaign.

His initial posting was to 2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment and embarked with them for Aitape in October 1944, however in December 1944 he was transferred to the newly formed 2/10th Commando Squadron.

In October and November Australian forces began relieving the American garrison at Aitape. The 2/10th Commando Squadron's headquarters moved into position at Babiang and sent its troops forward to Suain. Throughout November the squadron patrolled the Suain-Luain area, moving through the area between Dandriwad and Danmap Rivers. The unit's war diary recorded that the "sqn spirits were high, all eagerly awaited their first action against the Jap[anese]." In December the 2/10th moved to Vokau where it supported the 17th Brigade by manning defensive positions.

In February 1945 the squadron once again conducted offensive operations and relieved the 2/7th Squadron at Walum and Nilu. Thereafter the 2/10th crossed the Torricelli Ranges and moved down its southern slopes to the foothills. After a short stay at Nilu, the commandos pushed south, establishing a base at Ami.

There were many villages in the area and where the regiment as whole was particularly active. The 2/10th’s role was both protective and offensive, it protected the advance of the 2/5th and 2/7th Infantry Battalions, which were further inland, and moved in a generally southerly direction towards Maprik.

It was for his bravery in the operations around the Ami areas that Jackie was awarded his Military Medal. The citation reads:

“In operations in the Ami area, New Guinea. Trooper Windsor commanded the scout group on each occasion his section went into attack. On one occasion intense opposition was encountered but Windsor in an exposed position handled his group so well that although forced to withdraw they did so after inflicting casualties on the enemy. Trooper Windsor’s conduct at all times has been an inspiration to his comrades and greatly assisted in keeping the sections morale at a high standard”.

The original recommendation for the award had somewhat more detail, stating “ during the period from 15 Feb until 24 March 1945 in operations this soldier displayed great personal courage and devotion to duty throughout. On each occasion his section went in to attack against a well defended enemy position, Trooper Windsor acting in a NCO’s capacity commanded the scout group.

On 11 March 1945 when intense opposition was encountered, this soldier, in an exposed position, and at great personal risk, handled his group so well that a number of casualties were inflicted on the enemy, and when ordered to withdraw his group from an extremely difficult situation he did so without having a casualty inflicted. Her personally, again from an exposed position, covered the withdrawal of the remainder of his group before he himself retired.

His conduct at all times has been an inspiration to his comrades and greatly assisted in raising and keeping the morale of the section at a high standard.”

In March 1945 the squadron carried out further patrols, this time in the Milak, Maurak and Aupik areas. The Japanese presence in this area was considerable and they became more aggressive, carrying out regular patrols, setting ambushes and re-occupying the villages that the Australians had taken the previous month.

On 13 March, as the Japanese began to gain the initiative in the area, they began to concentrate their efforts on one of the 2/10th's troops, based at Milak and about two days away from the nearest support. Early in the evening the Japanese launched the first attack, and although this was beaten off they continued to maintain harassing fire throughout the night and into the following day.

The following night, 14/15 March, having completely surrounded the troop, the Japanese attacked again but were again repulsed. By 15 March, supplies of food and ammunition were short and an aerial resupply was used to relieve the situation, although the supplies fell outside of the Australian position and patrols had to be sent out to retrieve them; in the end of the eight cylinders the Australians got five and the Japanese retrieved three. Later in the day, as the Japanese took up positions less than 50 yards (46 m) from the Australian perimeter, air attacks were called in, before the Japanese launched fresh attacks that night. The situation began to get desperate before finally, on 19 March, after a five-day siege the lines of communication were re-established and the enemy pressure eased. At the end of the fighting, it was estimated that 45 Japanese had been killed.

The troop at Maurak had also come under attack at this time, while the troop patrolling Aupik also had a number of clashes. By the end of March, however, it became clear that the squadron was in need of relief. They had suffered three killed and eight wounded, and had counted at least 91 enemy dead during the contacts they had undertaken that month. Finally they were withdrawn back Vokau, for a period of rest and re-organisation

After two months of fighting in the Maprik area, the squadron was given a rest at Vokau. Jackie was promoted to Lance Corporal in April and Acting Corporal in June.

Called Farida Force, on 11 May the 2/6th Regiment made an amphibious landing in Dove Bay, east of Wewak. The 2/10th were tasked with defending the beachhead before they moved inland to Mandi. The squadron was still active in the Dove Bay area in June, where it was headquartered at Mandi garden, on the Wewak-Forok Road. Pushed out of Wewak, some of the Japanese moved along the coast, while the main Japanese force made their final stand in the mountains. The fighting was particular intense during this final phase of the campaign and the squadron was in almost constant action.

He was confirmed as full Corporal on 1 June.

On 5 June one of the 2/10th's patrols attacked what turned out to be a system of particularly strong Japanese bunkers. The Australian attack was repelled by heavy machine gun fire, but, they were able to call in artillery support from 2/2nd Field Regiment. In just 10 minutes the artillery fired 800 rounds into the Japanese positions. A squadron's war diary described the "resulting destruction" as "terrific". From the 25 Japanese bunkers, 17 where completely destroyed by the artillery.

In the third week of June, the squadron moved to Boiken Plantation where it was again in contact with strong concentrations of Japanese troops, who frequently attacked the squadron at night. On 5 July the 2/10th was relived by the 2/7th and the former moved to Cape Karawop, where the regiment's headquarters were situated.

The 2/10th remained at Karawop until the end of the war. They moved back to Wewak in November, before subsequently return to Australia where the 2/10th Commando Squadron was disbanded.

Ted Workman served as a commando with Jackie in 2/10th. When he was interviewed by the University of NSW in August 2003 he was asked about his service in New Guinea.

He discussed patrols, booby traps and jungle life with the 2/10th Commando in some detail. He made specific reference to Jackie and his role as a forward scout. He described the forward scout as the most dangerous position in the army.

He stated that “strangely enough the commandos weren’t all muscly big blokes, a lot of them were smaller little blokes that were tougher than the big ones. Our Jackie Windsor, he was the forward scout on so many occasions we lost count. He hand to hand killed 13 Japs and never got taken and finished up with a Military Medal. He’s gone now, he came back and died naturally a few years ago.

How many dozens and dozens of times he would have been right up the front, the first man to meet the enemy and that sort of thing. That just shows what can happen”

Jackie was discharged to civilian life in November 1946. He died in 1983. His Australian Service Medal 1945-47 was claimed by his daughter Mrs I Berry in Ramsgate in 1998.