Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Khairulla Kie Shirdell (SX39828), was born in 1924 in Broken Hill, New South Wales. Kie Jr Shirdell’s father was born in the Punjab, India, and had been a resident of Broken Hill and a member of the local Muslim community for many years. His original surname was Sher Dhul while Shirdell was an anglicised version. Kie worked in the Broken Hill mine. He was a member of the Municipal Employees’ Union and the North Junior sports’ club. Kie enlisted in 1944 in the field of New Guinea and served in the Australian Army anticipating a rank of Sapper. A local newspaper wrote of Spr Kie Jr Shirdell, ‘This popular young lad of the RAF was home on leave after twenty-two months in New Guinea’. While serving in New Guinea, Spr Kie Jr Shirdell sent his parents ‘two delectable souvenirs from New Guinea, a couple of big coconuts’, an unusual gift, from his time between performing military duties. Sadly, it was a year later that his father passed away. Kie was discharged in 1946 and was issued the 1939/45 Star, the Pacific Star, the War Medal and the Australian Service Medal.

From the book:

Dzavid Haveric, 'A History of Muslims in the Australian Military from 1885 to 1945: Loyalty, Patriotism, Contribution’, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, London, 2024