John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Bowditch
  • FORENAME
James
  • UNIT
A.I.F.
  • RANK
Corporal
  • NUMBER
QX13703
  • AWARD
Distinguished Conduct Medal,Mention in Despatches,Bronze Star (US)
  • PLACE
New Guinea 1944 North Borneo 1945
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Op.Menzies - Vogelkop 1944
Op.Squirrel - Tarakan 1945
Op.Platypus - Balakpapan 1945
Op.Stallion - Sarawak 1945
born 27.7.1919 London,England
enlisted 1.7.1940 Kelvin Grove,Queensland
later 19 Infantry Bn
discharged 22.3.1946
employed postwar Dept of Works and Housing,Alice Springs,Northern Territories
died 1996
In August 1945 Sergeant Bowditch was deployed with his commando unit along the Kahala River in Borneo when 50 Japanese came upriver in native canoes and attacked in overwhelming force a small Australian post. Leading the rescue party, Bowditch and his men sank all of the canoes, killed 30 of the enemy in fierce hand-to-hand fighting and put the rest to flight. That action earned him the DCM and the American Bronze Star. Source: https://halloffame.melbournepressclub.com/article/jim-bowditch
 
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