Geoffrey Graham (Geoff) UNSWORTH

UNSWORTH, Geoffrey Graham

Service Number: QX14961
Enlisted: 18 July 1940
Last Rank: Lieutenant
Last Unit: 49 Infantry Battalion AMF
Born: Wynnum, Queensland, Australia, 26 July 1919
Home Town: Nambour, Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: Killed in Action, Papua, 7 December 1942, aged 23 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Never retrieved . Forever lost . , Port Moresby Memorial, Port Moresby, Papua, Papua New Guinea
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Eudlo Moreton Central Sugar Mill Honour Board, Nambour Maroochy Shire War Dead Memorial, Port Moresby (Bomana) Memorial
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World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939: Involvement Lieutenant, QX14961
18 Jul 1940: Enlisted
18 Jul 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant, QX14961, 49 Infantry Battalion AMF
7 Dec 1942: Wounded Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant, 49 Infantry Battalion AMF, Buna / Gona / Sanananda "The Battle of the Beachheads" - Papua, Missing in action. Died . Took a grenade and blew up a Japanese nest . The nest had his men pinned down with a machine gun. He was killed in the process. His body was never recovered 😪
7 Dec 1942: Discharged

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Biography contributed by Mandy Wright

Geoff had 3 brothers Tom, Ken & Lennard (Kennard died About 2years of age. ) , 2 sisters Grace & Lillian.

worked on farm & Moreton Sugar Mill, Nambour before & after school.

Joined Army & soon became a Lieutant & shipped over to the Middle East. Got sick there with the mumps.

Brought home to prepare to go to New Guinea. He was chosen to become a Captain but he declined because he wanted to go the New Guinea with his mates from Nambour . 

Geoff was sent to Sananandra with the 39th battalion. 

On 7th December his family was told he was missing in action. But when some of his mates returned they told his mother what happened .

It was a terrible battle. Hundreds of men were wounded & dying . All other Officers were out of action. Geoff was the only Officer still stabding . His men were pinned down by a Japanese nest with a machine gun.  Geoff took a granade to blow the nest , but blew himself up too in the process . 

He saved many lives that day. A Hero to many. 

His mother was told by an official from the army that had there been an officer there to witness his actions , he would have earned a Victoria Cross. Something that his family would have treasured. 

As of the date of writing this story (April 2017) the only family member left is his Sister Lillian June Dowdell. She is 87 years old & very frail, but she wants his story to live on & never be forgotten. This is why I am writing this. I am her daughter Mandy Wright . I have 2 children who know this story & they have 6 children between them & they to know the story. May his name live on for eternity. 

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