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2nd / 40th Infantry Battalion Print Page Print this page

29-February-2012
29-February-2012
Photographs supplied by Graeme Saunders

The plaque commemorates those who served in the 2nd / 40th Infantry Battalion during World War Two.

Location

Address:300 Waterdale Road, Repatriation Hospital, Heidelberg , 3081
State:VIC
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -37.755725
Long: 145.047069
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Plaque
Monument Theme:Conflict
Sub-Theme:WW2
Actual Event Start Date:03-September-1939
Actual Event End Date:15-August-1945

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Thursday 24th April, 2003
Front Inscription

2 / 40th BATTALION 

In memory of the officers and men of the 2/40th Battalion A.I.F. and attached units of "Sparrow Force".

On 23 February 1942 this small unsupported force on Timor were forced to capitulate to a massive Japanese invasion force after four days of intensive fighting during which 48 were killed in action and 130 wounded.

In September 1942 "Sparrow Force" were shipped to Java. In early January 1943, about 450 were sent to Singapore mostly to work on the infamous Burma Railway and then on to Japan to work in coal mines.  On the way 87 from the Battalion were drowned when the Tamahoke Maru was torpedoed off the Kyushi Coast by the U.S.S. Tang.

We left 242 of our comrades behind.  
Lest We Forget
Unveiled on 24 April 2003

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au