Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

He was born in Richmond VIC on 24 Mar 1910, the son of Harold Livingston Gray & Ada Evelyn Coppin

On 1 May 1941, the now 31yo Transport Driver enlisted in the AIF & was allocated as Private S/No. VX54621 & following training was posted to 2/21st Battalion

The battalion began arriving in Darwin on 9 Apr 1941 & spent the next 9 months training & on garrison duties

Following the Japanese invasion of Malaya on 8 Dec, the battalion prepared to move, arriving on Ambon in the Dutch East Indies on 17 Dec as part of Gull Force

On the evening of 30/31 Jan 1942, Japanese Infantry landed at several locations on the north & south coast of the island & by the afternoon of the 31st, Dutch forces around Paso had surrendered

Outnumbered & lacking air or naval support the 2/21st Battalion, which was guarding Ambon itself, was unable to prevent the advance despite determined resistance & were pushed to the far west of the peninsula. Around 150 soldiers of B & C Companies, with some Indonesian & Dutch troops were subsequently captured at Laha Airfield – many were later massacred following a major Japanese offensive on 2 Feb

Meanwhile, the remainder of the battalion located around Eri, surrendered the following day & were interned in their former barracks at Tan Tui

Gull Force lost 15 men killed during the defence of Ambon & another 309 men at Laha who were either KIA or murdered by the Japanese in mass executions which occurred on 6 & 15–20 Feb 1942

Albert was held in captivity as prisoners of war until he, with 163 other 2/21st Gull Force survivors were liberated from the Japanese at Morotai Island following the end of the war

He returned to Australia & was discharged on 18 Apr 1946

Leonard passed away in Melbourne on 8 Feb 1991 at the age of 80