Lot 5208

Description

Group of Six to KIA: 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45. NX5041 K.N.Lever. All medals impressed. Uncirculated.

Together with boxes and issue pamphlet as well as letter from Department of the Army confirming medals awarded to Lance Sergeant K.N. Lever, 2/3 Australian Infantry Battalion, killed in action. Also 2/3 Bn colour patch with a pierced hole at top.

Keith Noel Lever, born 26Dec1917 at Dulwich Hill, Sydney, NSW; Enl.03Nov1939 at Marrickville, Sydney, NSW; KIA 24Oct1942 in New Guinea; Buried at Bomana War Cemetery, Port Moresby, PNG.

L/Sgt K.N.Lever was killed in action on 24 October 1942 at Eora Creek where the Japanese held the high ground in well-concealed positions that had clear fields of fire into the narrow gorge below. The 16th Brigade that included 2/3 Infy Bn had no other choice but to assault the Japanese positions front on, advancing straight up the gorge. Due to torrential rain and stiff defence, progress was slow as each defensive position had to be dealt with individually. With the rain the water level in the creek rose steadily, the troops came under heavy mortar fire and were attacked with grenades lobbed from the heights above but by 28 October the 2/3rd Bn had worked its way around the Japanese right flank in preparation for an attack. That afternoon the battalion broke through the Japanese outposts and into the main position. The defenders were overwhelmed and many of them abandoned their weapons as they fled and that night, the remaining Japanese withdrew from the position. The 16th Brigade lost 72 killed and 154 wounded in this action with one of those killed being L/Sgt K.N.Lever.