Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Norman Verdun Duffield was born 31st of July 1916 in Nairne South Australia and grew up in the Adelaide Hills. In primary school Duffield was a good student earning an honour in the newspaper in the 6th grade. SA. Duffield worked as a factory hand, employed by W. Jacobs Ltd, Mt. Barker, before joining the army in 1941. He married Laurel Duffield before enlisting in the army and they resided in Oakbank, It appears that before the war Duffield did not have any kids.

Norman Verdun Duffield enlisted on the 24th of March 1941 in Adelaide, South Australia. Duffield was assigned to the 2nd/27th Infantry Battalion on the 1st of April 1941 ranked Private. The Battalion was assigned to their first combat assignment with the Syria-Lebanon campaign which started in early June. During their time in Syria-Lebanon, they were a part of two battles, the Capture of Sidon, and the Battle of Damour. After five weeks, of fighting in the Battle of Damour, the Armistice Treaty was signed on the 12th of July 1941. After the French forces surrendered, the unit undertook garrison duties around Hammana, and Bakhaoun until January 1942.
In January 1942 they were called back to Australia for to help defend against the threat of the Japanese. On the 1st of March 1942 Duffield went Absent without leave (AWL) for the first time from 1600 hrs (4pm) to 2100 (9pm) hrs (see fig. 3). Then on the 9th of April 1942 Duffield goes AWL for the second time from 2200 hrs (10pm) to 1800 hrs (6pm) on the next day. Then on the 25th of May 1942 Duffield went AWL a third time from 1600 hrs (4pm) to 2100 hrs (9pm). Then on the 21st of July 1942 Duffield went AWL for the fourth time from 2200 hrs (10pm) to 1800 hrs (6pm) 4 days later we don’t know why he went AWL any of these times.

In mid-August they were deployed in New Guinea where the Japanese were trying to capture Port Moresby. In early September, during the peak of the Kokoda Track campaign, the Battalion started to move North on the Kokoda Track. But after delaying actions near Isurava, they were forced to withdraw South along the track. The Battalion, riddled with disease, was withdrawn back to Port Mores by to rest at the end of September 1942.

In October they advanced towards the Kumusi River as the Japanese were being pushed away from Kokoda. The battle of Buna-Gona started on the 16th of November 1942 and on the 30th of November Duffield was killed in action. It is presumed that this was during the attack on Gona village (where some Japanese troops were boxed in) as that is where the 2/27th Battalion was at this time. Duffield is commemorated on the Mt Barker War Memorial.