CARPENTER, William Leslie
| Service Number: | NX59910 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 July 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 23 August 1907 |
| Home Town: | Gladesville, Hunters Hill, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Kingsgrove, New South Wales, Australia, 4 December 1984, aged 77 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 29 Jul 1940: | Enlisted Private, NX59910, 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Jul 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX59910, 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion | |
| 11 Aug 1941: | Involvement 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion, Siege of Tobruk | |
| 23 Oct 1942: | Involvement NX59910, 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion, El Alamein | |
| 6 Oct 1943: | Honoured Military Medal, New Guinea - Huon Peninsula / Markham and Ramu Valley /Finisterre Ranges Campaigns, Immediate award of the Military Medal for his "tenacity, bravery & coolness". | |
| 18 Oct 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX59910, 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion | |
| 18 Oct 1945: | Discharged Private, 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion, Honourable discharge. | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement Private, NX59910, 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Jeffrey Crisdale
Military Medal Awarded in the field of battle at Kumawa, NG
From page 249 of the publication "A HISTORY OF 2/17 AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION 1940-1945" the following quotes (firstly by Cpl Les Garner) -
"The enemy used a rifle bomber who sent over three grenades to the far end of our positions, one of which landed a yard from the MG and killed Cpl Carr-Boyd who died with his Owen gun in his hand facing the enemy. Two of the MG section were wounded. Pte Carpenter manned the Vickers gun and although he and Pte Darel Luck were crammed in a small hole with the body of Cpl Carr-Boyd, they continued with effective fire on to the enemy".
"Pte W L Carpenter kept his Vickers gun in action throughout the entire day until it was disabled by a mortar bomb. He received the immediate award of the MM for his tenacity, bravery and coolness which contributed largely to the failure of the enemy to pierce the defences."