Hector Rolland CLELAND

Hector Rolland CLELAND Update Details

If you confirm that you want to proceed with the update, this record will be locked for editing by all other users until you have finished. You will have 7 days to complete your changes before they will be automatically submitted.

Do you want to proceed?

CLELAND, Hector Rolland

Service Number:	VX24399
Enlisted:	10 June 1940
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	2nd/21st Infantry Battalion
Born:	Caulfield, Victoria, Australia, 19 June 1911
Home Town:	Caulfield, Glen Eira, Victoria
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	File Maker
Died:	Malaria, whilst a prisoner of the Japanese, At sea (South West Pacific Area), 30 April 1942, aged 30 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials:	Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Private, VX24399
10 Jun 1940:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX24399
17 Jul 1940:	Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, 2nd/21st Infantry Battalion, Part of Gull Force.

Help us honour Hector Rolland Cleland's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography

Hector Rolland CLELAND enlisted on 10 June 1940, originally seeing service in Australia before being transferred to ‘Gull Force’ and sent overseas in December 1941. As part of ‘Gull Force’, the Battalion was to defend the strategic island’s harbour and air strip. In January 1942 an overwhelmingly large Japanese force had landed on the island and after attempting to defend the area, many were taken prisoner. About 30 April 1942 Pvte Cleland died of malaria whilst a prisoner of the Japanese and was buried at sea.

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia