Middle East/Pacific Medal Group of Five
- Casualty: WIA - 18.06.41
- Name: Francis Harold Baxter
- Service No: NX54312
- Unit: 2/6th Field Regiment
- Naming Details: 1939-45 and Pacific Stars, Defence, War and Australian Service Medals all impressed - NX54312 F.H. BAXTER.
- Notes:
- Scarce casualty group for Syria & 2/6th Field Regiment.
- Included is a lovely Sweetheart Brooch (missing retaining clip). Sent home from Palestine by Frank to his wife.
- Please note that ribbons have been incorrectly mounted.
Additional Information
Record of Service:
Frank Baxter was born on the 27th of December 1913 in Cowra, New South Wales. He was working as a Farm Labourer when he enlisted in the 2nd A.I.F on the 24th of June 1940. He was allocated service number NX54312 and was posted to the Artillery Wing on the 25th of June 1940.
Frank embarked from Sydney with the 2/6th Field Regiment Reinforcements on the 9th of April 1941 and disembarked in the Middle East on the 5th of May 1941. On the 30th of May 1941 he was taken on strength with the 2/6th Field Regiment. Frank was with the Regiment for the capture of Merdjayoun and the advance to Jezzine, where he was Wounded in Action (H.E wound to leg and arm) on the 18th of June 1941.
On the 19th of December 1941, having recovered from a fractured femur, Frank returned to his unit where he served until returning to Australia on the 10th of March 1942. Following their return to Australia the 2/6th eventually moved to Queensland to occupy defensive positions on the East Coast in case of a Japanese invasion.
On the 6th of November 1942 Frank embarked from Brisbane and disembarked in New Guinea on the 17th of September 1942. On the 10th of April 1943 he was evacuated to the 2/9th AGH suffering from Scrub Typhus. Recovering from his illness Frank returned to New Guinea on the 29th of November 1943, however his return was short lived and he was again evacuated (suffering from P.U.O) on the 2nd of January 1944. He returned to Australia on the 31st of January 1944.
Frank was to see active service one more time, embarking from Brisbane on the 4th of April 1945 and disembarking at Morotai on the 13th of April 1945. He marched in to the Australian Base Sub Area Details Depot and on the 31st of May 1945 joined the 11 Australian Movement Control Group. He returned to ABSADD on the 12th of September 1945 and returned to Australia for discharge on the 10th of October 1945.
Frank was discharged from the army on the 7th of November 1945. He died on the 25th of September 1986.
Notes:
1939-45 and Pacific Stars, Defence, War and Australian Service Medals all impressed NX54312 F.H. BAXTER.