Samuel (Sam) ATCHISON

ATCHISON , Samuel

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: Portland, Glenelg, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: Killed in Action, New Guinea, 7 February 1943, aged 29 years
Cemetery: Lae War Cemetery
Plot G. Row C. grave 4,
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Rainbow War Memorial
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World War 2 Service

19 Apr 1940: Enlisted Private, VX12495, Caulfield, Victoria
19 Apr 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army 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.

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