MAXWELL, Duncan Struan
| Service Numbers: | 447, NX12610 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 August 1914, Pontville, Tasmania |
| Last Rank: | Brigadier |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 8 January 1892 |
| Home Town: | Hobart, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Hutchins School, University of Tasmania and University of Sydney |
| Occupation: | Farmer / Medical Practicioner |
| Died: | Natural causes, Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia, 21 December 1969, aged 77 years |
| Cemetery: |
Cornelian Bay Cemetery and Crematorium, Tasmania Church Of England, Jj, Number 12 |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Hobart Roll of Honour, Hutchins School WW1 Honour Roll, Tomki Public School Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 447, Pontville, Tasmania | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 447, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Geelong, Hobart | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 447, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Hobart embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 9 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 447, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 3 Dec 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, Gallipoli | |
| 17 Mar 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 52nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 17 Jun 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 52nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 14 Nov 1916: | Honoured Military Cross | |
| 1 Apr 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 447, 4th Division Headquarters | |
| 16 May 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 52nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 16 May 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Captain, 447, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 31 Jul 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Captain, 447, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), Returned to Australia onboard HT D17 Malta | |
| 2 Dec 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Captain, 447, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
World War 2 Service
| 25 Nov 1939: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Brigadier, NX12610 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Major, NX12610, Cootamundra, New South Wales | |
| 1 Jul 1940: | Promoted Lieutenant Colonel, 2nd/19th Infantry Battalion | |
| 3 Feb 1941: | Embarked Lieutenant Colonel, NX12610, 2nd/19th Infantry Battalion, HMT Queen Mary | |
| 1 Aug 1941: | Promoted Brigadier, 2nd/19th Infantry Battalion | |
| 1 Aug 1941: | Involvement Brigadier, NX12610, 2nd/27th Infantry Battalion, Command Headquarters | |
| 21 Nov 1941: | Promoted Colonel, 2nd/27th Infantry Battalion, & Temporary Brigadier over Command of HQ 27th Infantry Battalion | |
| 15 Feb 1942: | Imprisoned Malaya/Singapore, taken on Singapore Island | |
| 28 Nov 1942: | Embarked Brigadier, NX12610, 2nd/27th Infantry Battalion, embarked Singapore for Japan | |
| 28 Apr 1943: | Imprisoned in Taiwan Camp | |
| 14 Oct 1944: | Imprisoned now interned in Hoten Camp | |
| 27 Sep 1945: | Involvement Brigadier, NX12610, 2nd/27th Infantry Battalion, HQ Division - Returned to Australia | |
| 4 Sep 1946: | Discharged Brigadier, NX12610, 2nd/27th Infantry Battalion, Retired - honourary Brigadier |
Help us honour Duncan Struan Maxwell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Julianne Ryan
Born 08/01/1892, Hobart, Tasmania
Father Crawford John Maxwell (Bank Manager, Commercial Bank, Hobart, TAS) and
Mother Caroline Emily Maxwell (nee Giblin)
1909 Attended University of Tasmania
1913 Hawkesbury Diploma of Agriculture
Previous service: Hawkesbury College Rifle Club; School Cadets
Duncan was described on enlisted into WWI as 22 years 8 months of age, single;
6' 3" tall; 11lbs; dark complexion; brown eyes; black hair; Church of England
447 19/08/1914 enlisted at Pontville, Tasmania
04/09/1914 appointed to C Squadron, Pontville Camp
20/10/1914 embarked Tasmania onboard HMAT A2 Geelong
as a Private with 3rd Light Horse Regiment, C Squadron
09/05/1915 proceeded to Gallipoli, ANZAC
03/12/1915 promoted to Lance Corporal – 3rd Light Horse Regiment
17/03/1916 promoted to 2nd Lieutenant – 52nd Infantry Battalion
17/06/1916 promoted to Lieutenant
14/11/1916 Awarded MILITARY CROSS – London Gazette
01/04/1917 taken on strength 4th Div, HQ
21/06/1917 promoted to Captain – 52nd Infantry Battalion
16/05/1918 transferred to 51st Infantry Battalion
31/07/1918 Returned to Australia onboard HT D17 Malta
02/12/1919 discharged from service
1921 Bachelor of Medicine – University of Sydney, NSW
Duncan became a doctor and established his own practice in the town of
Cootamundra, in New South Wales.
Married: Marion Wistie Sly (b.30/06/1888 Torrington Rd, Strathfield, NSW)
Marion's parents - Richard Meares Sly and Constance Adelaide Sly (nee Mullens).
25/03/1969 passed away in Sydney, New South Wales
Interwar Service:
09/07/1927 Captain – Reserve of Officers
14/08/1939 Major – Reserve of Officers – 56th Infantry Battalion
25/11/1939 Commanding Officer – 56th Infantry Battalion
When the 22nd Brigade was being formed in 1940 as part of the 8th Division, he was selected by its commander, Brigadier Harold Taylor, to lead the 2/19th Battalion. However, when the original commander of the 27th Brigade became ill before it travelled to British Malaya to reinforce the British presence there, Maxwell was selected to replace him. This caused tension between Maxwell, who had been promoted to temporary rank of brigadier, and Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Galleghan, the senior battalion commander within the 8th Division.
NX12610 01/06/1940 re-enlisted into WWII at Cootamundra, NSW (48 yrs 5mths)
01/07/1940 promoted to Lte-Colonel - 2/19th Infantry Battalion
26/07/1940 taken on strength 2/19th Infantry Battalion
03/02/1941 embarked HMT Queen Mary
18/02/1941 disembarked into Singapore
01/08/1941 promoted to Brigadier – HQ AIF Malaya
01/08/1941 appointed to Command 27th Australian Infantry Brigade
21/11/1941 promoted to Colonel / Temporary Brigadier to Command
Following the Japanese invasion of Malaya in December 1941, during which the 27th Brigade undertook a withdrawal down the country into Singapore, Maxwell was a source of frustration to the commander of 8th Division, Major General Gordon Bennett, for repeatedly requesting permission to retreat.
In February 1942, with what was left of the Allied forces in Malaya now on Singapore Island, Maxwell's brigade was tasked with defending a 3.5 km stretch of the island's northern coastline.
15/02/1942 taken POW – Singapore Island
18/03/1942 admitted to Australian General Hospital
28/11/1942 embarked Singapore for Japan
28/04/1943 POW – Taiwan Camp
14/10/1944 POW – now interned in Hoten Camp, China
27/09/1945 Returned to Australia – Brigadier 27th Inf Brigade, HQ
03/09/1946 discharged from service
04/09/1946 Retired – honourary Brigadier
1968 last known address 188 Eastern Valley Way, Willoughby, NSW
21/12/1969 passed away in Chatswood, NSW
Submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 24/02/2017. Lest we forget.
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