DOOLEY, James Michael
| Service Number: | VX31127 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 June 1940, Royal Park, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/21st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Geeveston, Tasmania, Australia , 18 July 1917 |
| Home Town: | Malvern, Stonnington, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Factory Hand |
| Died: | Presumed, Ambon, Netherlands East Indies, 20 February 1942, aged 24 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, VX31127 | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX31127, 2nd/21st Infantry Battalion, Royal Park, Vic. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Mari Walker
Son of John Patrick and Annie Genevieve Dooley, of Malvern, Victoria, Australia.
Private Dooley enlisted in July 1940 and embarked for overseas service in December 1941. He arrived in Ambon on 17 December 1941 and was a member of 2/21 Australian Infantry Battalion which was part of “Gull Force”. This force consisted of 1131 Australian soldiers, Dutch and local native troops whose objective was to occupy Ambon Island (approximately 350 miles NNE of Timor, in the Banda Sea) and hinder the Japanese advance.
Pte Dooley was a member of a large garrison that was positioned around Laha Airfield prior to the Japanese invasion of 30 January 1942. Following a series of short but fierce battles, fighting on Ambon ceased on 2nd February 1942, after which Pte Dooley was listed as missing. He was officially presumed deceased on 20 February 1942.
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