Samuel (Sam) ATCHISON

Service Number:	VX12495
Enlisted:	19 April 1940, Caulfield, Victoria
Last Rank:	Lance Corporal
Last Unit:	2nd/5th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Portland, Victoria, Australia., 7 August 1913
Home Town:	Pullut, Hindmarsh, Victoria
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Labourer
Died:	Killed in Action, New Guinea, 7 February 1943, aged 29 years
Cemetery:	Lae War Cemetery (CWGC) Grave Reference Location ~ Plot G. Row C. Grave 4. Personal Inscription ~ "HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE...DEARLY LOVED".
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Rainbow War Memorial

World War 2 Service

19 Apr 1940:	Enlisted Private, VX12495, Caulfield, Victoria
19 Apr 1940:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lance Corporal, VX12495
7 Feb 1943:	Involvement Lance Corporal, VX12495, 2nd/5th Infantry Battalion

Gentle Sam

Samuel Atchison was born at Portland on 31 August 1913 to Alex Atchison and Grace (nee Mackay)

Samuel, who was remembered as a lanky 6’ 2” man, appears to have lead a quite life but enlisted in the AIF for service in WW2 (reg. no. VX12495) at Caulfield.

Sam was taken on strength per the troopship Nue Holland which sailed 15/09/1940.

He joined his unit at camp at Ikingi Maryut 31/10/1940 in Egypt. He was a Lance Corporal in 2nd 5th Infantry Battalion, which was sent to New Guinea during the Japanese invasion.

Sam was killed in action 7 February 1943 and is buried at Lae War Cemetery Plot G. Row C. grave 4. It is believed that he died on the day he landed.

Sam reportedly received 7 medals and his name appears on the honour roll at Puckapunyal's, “Bull” Allen Club, 3rd Recruit training unit.

Other family speculation suggest that Samuel was tied to a tree with wire and tortured by the enemy.

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia