PARAS 2 Westwood-Axtell, John Gerald

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Lt. John Westwood-Axtell

John Robertson said:
  • SURNAME
Westwood-Axtell ​
  • FORENAME
John Gerald ​
  • UNIT
Para ​
  • RANK
Second Lieutenant ​
  • NUMBER
480780 ​
  • DATE OF DEATH
3rd July 1968 ​
  • AGE
21 ​
  • GRAVESITE
Aldershot Military Cemetery,Hampshire Grave V17 ​
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 23.2.1947 ​
Click to expand...


John was my first cousin; we were two of the four grandsons of Lt.-Col. Walter Edward Maxfield, D.S.O., 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles. His father, also Lt. (Temp. Major) John Harry Westwood-Axtell, M.C., had been a prisoner of the Japanese in Burma, with the 2/18 Royal Garhwal Rifles.

I have today been talking with one of his three sisters, who raised concerns that some of his details might be incorrect, and wanted them amended. Please could somebody point us in the right direction to enquire? Her son had found an online photo of the headstone, which upset her (they live in Vancouver). I'm not exactly sure of the details, as a huge amount of family history was discussed in three hours, but I think she said the Battalion was 1st, not 2nd, and also that his promotion to 1st Lieutenant, from 2nd, came through after his death.

With thanks, Peter Edward Maxfield.
 
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Reference: WO 373/47/271
Description: Name Axtell, John Harry Westwood Rank: Lieutenant, Temporary Major Service No: EC-976 Regiment: 2/18 Royal Garhwal Rifles Theatre of Combat or Operation: Middle East (Special Operations) Award: Military Cross Date of announcement in London Gazette: 21 February 1946
Date: 1946
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
 
The 2nd Battalion was the Garrison Battalion at Kuantan in the Malay Peninsula in 1940. The only infantry battalion in Kuantan, it was put to a myriad of tasks in a widely dispersed area. Just before the Japanese offensive, it had been milked twice to assist forming new battalions. When the Japanese struck, the battalion fought gallantly, inflicting heavy casualties. The battalion was awarded Battle Honour ‘Kuantan’ and Theatre Honour ‘Malaya 1941-42’. The 2nd Battalion ceased to exist after the Malayan Campaign due to heavy casualties – the remnants captured by the Japanese.
 
An extract from my father's (RAF) diaries:
Sunday 23rd February 1947 "...The first fortnight of this demob leave went very well...Went down to Burley for tea this afternoon and found Joan very groggy, waited while John took her to the B’mouth nursing home and while he was driving back a son was born, 9¼ lbs at approx 7.30. Promptly raced back to Salisbury to spread the news and get in a few beers on the strength of ‘baby John.’
Wednesday 26th. Had my first glimpse of my first nephew today and was quite impressed – Joan looking 100% better and well on the road to being her former self..."
 
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