Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War II (1939-1945)

Date of Enlistment

28/05/1941

Date of Discharge

07/12/1945

Place of Enlistment

Canberra ACT

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

20/04/1921

Place of Birth

Canberra ACT

Address (at enlistment)

56 Girrahween Street, Braddon ACT

School(s) Attended

Ainslie Primary School, Canberra High School

Occupation

Apprentice Plumber

Next of Kin

Albert Helson (father), Girrahween Street, Braddon ACT

Service Number

N243346

Final Rank

Private

Final Unit

36 Australian Infantry Battalion

Helson was mobilised with the 3rd Battalion (militia) on 28 May 1941 and was sent to Papua in May 1942. After suffering a bout of measles, Helson was detached to Maroubra Force and joined 3 Battalion on the Kokoda Track, fighting the Japanese at Ioribaiwa, Imita Ridge, Templetons Crossing, Oivi and Gona before being treated for malaria at the Soputa Main Dressing Station in November 1942. While there, the station was bombed by the Japanese and Helson was strafed while clinging to the banks of the Girua River. When 3 Battalion was disbanded in 1943 he was transferred to the 36th Battalion. He served in New Britain, undertaking operations against the Japanese Cape Gloucester and near Rabaul, from October 1944 to June 1945. He died on 25 April 2013 and is buried in Gungahlin Cemetery.

Description - height 5 feet 10 inches, grey eyes, fair complexion, fair hair, Methodist.

WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
Jill Waterhouse, 'Canberra, Early days at the Causeway', 1992 (p.55)
Canberra High School, Yarralumlan 1945 (p.12)
ACT Electoral Rolls 1916 to 1967 http://canberraheritageportal.org/default.php
Colin Kennedy, 'Port Moresby to Gona Beach. 3rd Australian Infantry Battalion 1942', 1992
Jill Waterhouse, 'Early Days at the Causeway', 1992
The Canberra Times - 27 November 1934, 18 January 1943, 25 January 1943
NAA RecordSearch - Series B884 (Citizen's Military Forces Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947)
Canberra Public Cemeteries http://www.canberracemeteries.com.au/grave-search