Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Michael James Foley NX172243 My Mothers Brother
Enlisted 19th of January 1940 in Paddington, New South Wales. The son of Hugh Michael Foley of 86 Caledonia Street Paddington. He spent from 11th of May 1940 to 8th of July 1943 in the Citizen Military Forces (CMF or Militia) and 9th of July 1943 to 19th of May 1945 in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force (2 A.I.F). To get there he was sent on the SS Montoro which travelled via Brisbane, Townsville, Port Moresby, Thursday Island and then Darwin. He and My father Frederick Morris Doyle disembarks Darwin on the 08th of June 1940 they were posted to the 7th Fortress Engineer Company. On the 1st of August 1940 he was appointed Specialist Engine Hand group III to the 37th Fortress Company.
His first but not for the last time was charged with Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that he created a disturbance after lights out on 31st of August 1940 punishment, 2 days C.B. (Confinement to Barracks) and again on the 6th of September 1940 he got punishment 5 days C.B. and again on the 12th of September 1940. 1/ being drunk and disorderly 2/ a disturbance after lights out, punishment 7 days C.B. between 30th of November 1940 and 7th of December 1940 he spends in hospital with Dengue Fever. On 17th of January 1941. He was on charges again disobeying a lawful command given by his superior officer punishment 7 days detention in East Point. 18th of February 1941 charged again this time for failure to appear at a place of Parade appointed by his C.O. punishment a fine of 5 pounds, 24th of October 1942 he was transferred to Middle Head, Sydney, New South Wales for training in the Signalling, 5th of November 1942 in Sydney he was charged with A.W.L. punishment 4 days C.B. 1st December 1942 charges where, 1/found beyond camp limits 2/ conduct to the prejudice to the award fined 1 Pound. 5th of April 1943 he was admitted to 120 special Hospital with N.Y.D. urethritis (non V.D.) for a period one month, with the Signals and at Henry Section (Henry head La Perouse Botany Bay) after that he went to Queensland for jungle training. Embarking on the S.S. Canberra on the 28th of October 1943 for Port Moresby you transferred to the 8th Military District General Details & Training Depot was formed at Port Moresby during January 1942 to handle and to forward men in units that were excess to the unit's War Establishment as well as handling reinforcements from Australia, and returnees from hospital or courses. Comprising four wings: infantry, artillery, HQs and evacuation in March it was renamed 8th Military District Base Depot & Training Centre.
It was further re-organised in May 1942 as New Guinea Force Reinforcement Depot when training was spun off into a NG Force Training Centre. In September at the height of the Kokoda Campaign the unit moved to Sogeri and in October it was renamed New Guinea Force General Reinforcements. moving back to Murray Barracks in Port Moresby in December. In September 1943 they were relieved of their reinforcement role, with the unit now named New Guinea Force General Details Depot and they moved to Donadabu in October before sending 3 & 4 Sections to Milne Bay in November as that area had a direct shipping connection with Australia. 19th of June 1944 embarked S.S. GORGON from Moresby and disembarked in Townsville. In Sydney on the 10th of April 1945 a Medical Board classified him as “class D” being medically unfit for further military duties and was discharged on the 20th of September 1945.
Medals Awarded: 1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945, Australia Service Medal 1939-1945.