Four: 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal. Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal all correctly named to VX142345 G. E. DUNN
Enlisted 18th November 1942 into the Australian Army in Victoria, with previous service in the militia number V33357 (8th Field Regiment)
Initially assigned to the 2nd Field Regiment before embarking in Cairns for Milne Bay and operations in New Guinea on the 14th August 1943 per ‘Howell Cobb’ and then 2/4th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment on arrival.
Sadly it wasn’t long before Gunner Dunn was killed in action at Finschhafen on the 23rd September 1943
Buried Finschhafen, map reference 269226 and then reburied Lae War Cemetery, Lae, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea Plot EE, Row C, Grave 2 Headstone inscription reads duty nobly done. He was 32 years old. Son of Edward Henry and Gertrude Grace Dunn, of North Richmond, Victoria. EE.C.2.
“The Battle of Finschhafen was part of the Huon Peninsula campaign during WW2 and was fought between Australian and Japanese forces. The fighting took place between 22 September and 24 October 1943 following the landing at Scarlet Beach, which was followed by a two-pronged advance on Finschhafen as the Australian 20th Infantry Brigade advanced on the town from the north, while the 22nd Infantry Battalion drove from the south, having advanced from the landing beaches east of Lae. After the capture of Finschhafen, the Japanese forces in the area withdrew towards Sattelberg where they sought to hold the Australians before launching a counteroffensive, which subsequently threatened the landing beach. This attack was repelled by American and Australian forces, with heavy casualties being inflicted on the Japanese. In the aftermath, the Australians went on the offensive, capturing Sattelberg, and then advancing towards the Wareo plateau”.
Note: Medals come in frame as pictured along with research
Medals in frame near EF $1800
