Lot 1125

Description

Group of Six to Survivor of Torpedo Attack near Tobruk: 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45. SX6803 J.A.Wilson. All medals impressed. Swing mounted, last three medals with contact marks, otherwise very fine - extremely fine.

Jack Archibald Wilson, labourer, age 23, born at Adelaide, Sth Aust; Enl.25Jun1940 at Adelaide, Sth Aust; Emb.17Nov1940 with 2/48Bn for Middle East; to 2/1 Aust Gen Hospital on staff 10Mar1941; to Grade III Nursing Orderly 13Apr1941. While in Alexandria in Nov1941 Wilson was detached to join a ship for Tobruk and escort wounded back. On the return trip from Tobruk, on steamship Shuntien with 1,000 POWs on board, the vessel was torpedoed and sunk. Wilson was one of only six Australian survivors. RTA 28Apr1942; AWL 07Jul1942; to Cpl 01Sep1942; Emb.02Sep1943 for operations in New Guinea with 2/1 Aust Gen Hospital; sick with enteritis 08-12Nov1943; Disemb.27Jun1944 at Townsville; sick 12-29Aug1944; Disch.08Dec1944.

The British steamship Shuntien was sunk about six hours after leaving Tobruk on 23 December 1941. The ship was carrying 1,000 POWs and wounded en route to Alexandria. Australian Army Medical Corps personnel from various Aust Gen Hospitals in Palestine had been assigned duty on the ship as part of the Sea Ambulance Transport Service with effect from 25 November 1941. Of the twelve Australians in this group, only six survived, QX17187 Pte K.Bridgeham, VX15714 Pte M.B.Jenkins, NX37405 Pte W.H.Loughland, NX9468 Sgt R.W.Newman, VX16651 Pte H.Nossack, and SX6803 Pte J.A.Wilson, all from 2/1 AGH. These survivors were picked up by HMS Herthrop and landed at Alexandria on 24 December 1941.

With research.