Service Details
- Branch of Service
- Army
- Conflict
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Date of Enlistment
- 05/01/1940
- Date of Discharge
- 03/10/1943
- Place of Enlistment
- Canberra ACT
Personal Details
- Gender
- Male
- Date of Birth
- 19/09/1918
- Place of Birth
- Maclean NSW
- Address (at enlistment)
- Acton Guest House, Acton ACT
- Occupation
- Clerk
- Next of Kin
- M.E. Gallagher (father), Cowper NSW
Unit and Rank Details
- Service Number
- N43353
- Final Rank
- Sergeant
- Final Unit
- 3 Battalion (AMF)
Notes
Gallagher was mobilised with the 3rd Battalion (militia) in Canberra on 5 January 1940. He was promoted to Corporal in February 1942 and arrived in Papua in May 1942. Gallagher was detached to Maroubra Force and entered the Kokoda track with 3 Battalion on 5 September 1942. They fought the Japanese at Ioribaiwa and Imita Ridge, Templetons Crossing and Oivi before reaching Gona on the north coast of Papua. Gallagher was evacuated in December 1942 suffering from malaria and returned to Australia. He transferred to the Instructional Staff of the Royal Australian Engineers at Wagga Wagga in March 1943. In October 1943 he was assessed as being medically unfit for service and was discharged on 20 January 1944. Note that both the World War 2 nominal roll and NAA RecordSearch refer to him as Vincent Bushbert Gallagher.
Description - height 5 feet 9 inches, weight 119.5 pounds, chest 35.5-37.5 inches, Catholic.
Sources
WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
ACT Electoral Rolls 1916 to 1967 http://canberraheritageportal.org/default.php
Colin Kennedy, 'Port Moresby to Gona Beach. 3rd Australian Infantry Battalion 1942', 1992
The Canberra Times - 23 August 1943
NAA RecordSearch - Series B884 (Citizen's Military Forces Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947)