John Walter BALFE

John Walter BALFE Update Details

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BALFE, John Walter

Service Number:	NX12329
Enlisted:	27 April 1940
Last Rank:	Lieutenant Colonel
Last Unit:	2nd/17th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia, 18 July 1912
Home Town:	Hurstville, Kogarah, New South Wales
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Not yet discovered
Died:	27 September 1977, aged 65 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Not yet discovered
Memorials:

World War 2 Service

27 Apr 1940:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant Colonel, NX12329, 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion
10 Apr 1941:	Involvement Major, NX12329, 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion, Siege of Tobruk, Major John Balfe was the CO of "D" (Don) Company, 2nd/17th Bn, during the Siege of Tobruk. This Company were the first Australian unit engaged by Rommel's Afrika Korps at the Red Line during the Easter Battle.
16 Oct 1945:	Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant Colonel, NX12329, 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion
Date unknown:	Involvement Lieutenant Colonel, NX12329, 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion

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Biography contributed by Jeffrey Crisdale

MILITARY CROSS CITATION for NX12329 Captain John Walter BALFE, OC "D" Coy, 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion 2 A.I.F.

"Action at Tobruk. This officer was in command of one section of the perimeter defences which was attacked by enemy infantry and army fighting vehicles including medium tanks, on the night of April 13/14. All his posts were attacked and his company H.Q. overrun by tanks.

He continually carried out detailed and difficult observations of enemy movements from the vicinity of his post under heavy fire, reporting the result with accuracy, and continually keeping his command in touch with the situation as it developed.

He kept his company in action during a most difficult engagement, and inspired confidence in his officers and men to a high degree by his own coolness and devotion to duty".

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