BARTLETT, Albert Leslie
| Service Number: | SX18212 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 April 1942, Wayville, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Orroroo, South Australia, Australia , 1 October 1920 |
| Home Town: | Willowie, Mount Remarkable, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farm hand |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Papua, 21 January 1943, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea A6 C 1 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Willowie WW2 Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 6 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Private, SX18212, Wayville, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX18212, 2nd/10th Infantry Battalion | |
| 19 Jan 1943: | Wounded Private, SX18212, 2nd/10th Infantry Battalion, GSW (left arm and skull fracture) | |
| 21 Jan 1943: | Involvement Private, SX18212, 2nd/10th Infantry Battalion | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Di Barrie
Albert Leslie Bartlett was born at Orroroo 1 October 1920, the third of six children born to Albert Josiah and Jessie Hannah (nee McCallum) Bartlett. Albert and Jessie farmed ‘Saltia Farm’ Section 135, Hundred of Willowie.
Albert enlisted on the 6th April 1942 joining the Australian Infantry Forces. He was posted to 3 Infantry Training Battalion (Btn) at Tanunda before moving to Sandy Creek in September of that year. In October he was transferred to 34 Infantry Training Btn at Watsonia, Victoria, prior to overseas service.
Albert boarded the troopship SS ‘Katoomba’ and arrived in Port Moresby in late December 1942 as part of the New Guinea General reinforcements, a holding Company, prior to assignment to a unit. He was assigned to the 2/10 Btn, A Company, on 11 January 1943. A Company was detached to work with the 2/12th Btn attacking Sananada.
From mid-November 1942 exhausted, battle-weary Australian and inexperienced American troops began a brutal and uncompromising two-month campaign against the Japanese-held beachheads at Gona, Buna and Sanananda. The Allies' attacks stalled against desperate Japanese defenders and their labyrinth of bunkers and trenches. The swamps and jungles of the Papuan coast compounded the already difficult task facing the Allies. In these conditions, conventional tactics and fire support were rendered ineffective, forcing commanders to adapt operations on the ground.
Just eight days later Albert was involved in fighting in and around the Popondetta/Sananada area. It was during this action, in the closing stages of the battle, that Albert was critically wounded, suffering several gunshot wounds. Albert Leslie Bartlett died 21 January 1943 as a result of these injuries.
In a letter from Kevin Barrie to his mother, dated February 17 1943, he wrote: ‘Well Mum, it came as a shock to hear that poor old Bert had passed on. I understand from someone who seen him (sic) being taken out of the lines that he would be alright, although I knew his wounds were nasty – in the head and in the groin’.
Albert was twenty-two years old. He was initially buried at Soputa war cemetery, Buna, Grave number 9, Plot D Row B. At the end of the war his body was exhumed and moved to Bomana war cemetery Port Moresby Cemetery, reference number A6.C.1.
Excerpt taken from "Diggers From the Dust" (2018) Di Barrie & Andrew Barrie
Click images to start slideshow.