Service Details
- Branch of Service
- Army
- Conflict
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Date of Enlistment
- 16/01/1939
- Date of Discharge
- 21/11/1944
- Place of Enlistment
- Canberra ACT
Personal Details
- Gender
- Male
- Other Name(s)
- Known as 'Steve'
- Date of Birth
- 29/08/1914
- Place of Birth
- Sydney NSW
- Address (at enlistment)
- Mueller Street, Westridge (Yarralumla) ACT
- Occupation
- Labourer
- Next of Kin
- Valerie Axelby (wife), Mueller Street, Westridge (Yarralumla) ACT
Unit and Rank Details
- Service Number
- N43179
- Final Rank
- Sergeant
- Final Unit
- 3 Battalion
Notes
Steve Axelby joined the 3rd Battalion (militia) in Canberra on 6 January 1939. He worked as a labourer for the Department of Interior on the roads and bridges around Canberra. He arrived in Port Moresby with 3 Battalion in May 1942 and entered the Kokoda Track as part of Maroubra Force on 5 September 1942. He fought with 3 Battalion at Ioribaiwa, Imita Ridge, Templetons Crossing, Oivi and Gona before being hospitalised with malaria. He was repatriated to Australia and after treatment was transferred to 1 Base Ordnance Depot in Bandiana. Axelby died on 25 January 1998 and is buried in Gungahlin Cemetery.
Note that on RecordSearch his name is spelt 'AXELEY'.
Description - height 5 feet 7 inches, weight 127½ pounds, chest 32-34½ inches, complete upper plate, fair hair, blue eyes, fair complexion, 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
NAA RecordSearch - Series B884 (Citizen's Military Forces Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947)