Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

He was born in Carlton North, Melbourne VIC on 3 Oct 1919, the son of William Dermody & Maud Mary Morgan

On 24 Nov 1937, 18yo Alber was working as a Messenger, when he enlisted in the Citizen Force in Melbourne & was subsequently allocated S/No. 315929 as Sapper with 4th Field Company RAE after having served with the unit as a Cadet since Jan

On 31 May 1940, the now 20yo Mechanic enlisted in the AIF & was allocated as Private S/No. VX42444 & following training was posted to 2/21st Battalion as Gp.II Signaller

The battalion began arriving in Darwin on 9 Apr 1941 & spent the next 9 months training & on garrison duties

Following the Japanese invasion of Malaya on 8 Dec, the battalion prepared to move, arriving on Ambon in the Dutch East Indies on 17 Dec as part of Gull Force

On the evening of 30/31 Jan 1942, Japanese Infantry landed at several locations on the north & south coast of the island & by the afternoon of the 31st, Dutch forces around Paso had surrendered

Outnumbered & lacking air or naval support the 2/21st Battalion, which was guarding Ambon itself, was unable to prevent the advance despite determined resistance & were pushed to the far west of the peninsula. Around 150 soldiers of B & C Companies, with some Indonesian & Dutch troops were subsequently captured at Laha Airfield – many were later massacred following a major Japanese offensive on 2 Feb

Meanwhile, the remainder of the battalion located around Eri, surrendered the following day & were interned in their former barracks at Tan Tui

Gull Force lost 15 men killed during the defence of Ambon & another 309 men at Laha who were either KIA or murdered by the Japanese in mass executions which occurred on 6 & 15–20 Feb 1942

Albert was held in captivity as prisoners of war until he passed away from BeriBeri – a disease caused by a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1) that affects many systems of the body including the muscles, heart, nerves & digestive system – 11 Jun 1945

He was interred at Ambon War Cemetery & is listed on panel 46 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial