AXELBY, Keith Albert

  1. Service Details
  2. Personal Details
  3. Unit and Rank Details
  4. Notes
  5. Sources

Service Details

Branch of Service
Army
Conflict
World War II (1939-1945)
Date of Enlistment
30/10/1943
Date of Discharge
21/11/1945
Place of Enlistment
Soputa, Papua

Personal Details

Gender
Male
Date of Birth
06/01/1920
Place of Birth
Goulburn NSW
Address (at enlistment)
Mueller Street, Yarralumla ACT
School(s) Attended
Russell Hill School (-1930), Duntroon Public School (1930-1933), Telopea Park School
Next of Kin
Albert Axelby (father), Mueller Street, Yarralumla ACT

Unit and Rank Details

Service Number
NX190165
Final Rank
Corporal
Final Unit
36 Australian Infantry Battalion

Notes

Axelby was the son of Albert Axelby and the brother of (William) Steve Axelby who both served in World War 2. He was mobilised in Canberra on 9 August 1940 with the 3rd Battalion (militia) though he did not commence full time duty until 11 September 1941. Axelby arrived in Port Moresby in May 1942 with 3 Battalion and was appointed as a signaller in July 1942. On 5 September 1942 he entered the Kokoda Track as part of Maroubra Force and fought with 3 Battalion at Ioribaiwa, Imita Ridge, Templetons Crossing, Oivi and Gona before being hospitalised. During the next three years he would be treated several times for malaria.

Axelby arrived back in Australia in January 1943 and joined the 36th Battalion in June 1943. He was sent back to the Buna area on the coast of Papua in September 1943 and opted to enlist in the AIF on 30 October 1943. The following January he returned to Australia again and married Tessie Sharp of Westridge (the sister of George Sharp) at St. John's Church, Reid on 12 February 1944. Three months later he was back in Papua and in 1945 was reported to be in Open Bay in New Britain where the 36th Battalion was part of "Ike's Marines" containing the Japanese in Rabaul. Axelby died on 2 November 1983 and is buried in Gungahlin Cemetery.

Description - height 5 feet 6 inches, blue eyes, medium complexion, brown hair.

Sources

WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
ACT Electoral Rolls 1916 to 1967 http://canberraheritageportal.org/default.php
The Canberra Times - 16 February 1944, 3 May 1945
NAA RecordSearch - Series B883 (Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947)
ACT Archives - Duntroon Public School Register of Admissions 1926-1954

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