ATKINS, Alfred Royce
| Service Number: | NX42150 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 August 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Australian Army Service Corps |
| Born: | Dungog, New South Wales, Australia, 2 February 1908 |
| Home Town: | Dungog, Dungog, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Butter Churner |
| Died: | Presumed dead, Ambon, Netherlands East Indies, 20 February 1942, aged 34 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Dungog Christ Church Memorial Lynch Gates |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Private, NX42150 | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Aug 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX42150 | |
| 20 Feb 1942: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX42150, Australian Army Service Corps |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Bonald
Private Alfred Royce Atkins, was a member of the Australian Army Service Corps which was a part of “Gull Force”.
This force consisted of 1131 Australian soldiers, Dutch and local native troops whose objective was to occupy Ambon Island, which is located approximately 350 miles North North East of Timor in the Banda Sea, and hinder the Japanese advance. Private Atkins was a member of the large garrison, positioned around Laha Airfield prior to the Japanese invasion of 30 January 1942.
After a series of short but fierce battles, fighting on Ambon ceased on 2 February 1942. Although many of those captured on other parts of the island survived the war. The troops who had survived the “Battle of Laha” (approximately 315 personnel ) were systematically executed by the Japanese and buried in one of four mass graves.
Investigations after the war determined it was impossible to positively identify many of the remains found at Laha. Therefore these ‘war dead’ were declared “ Become missing and for Official Purposes Presumed to be dead, 20 February 1942”. Unfortunely and sadly Private Atkins was one of these servicemen who still has no recognized formal grave site.
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