Pacific Group of Three

Record of Service: 

 

Norman Buglar was born on the 18th of July 1922 in Brisbane, Queensland. He was working as a Cardboard Worker when he enlisted in the CMF on the 22nd of December 1941. He was allocated service number Q102516 and joined the 101 Anti-Tank Regiment.  

 

On the 11th of September 1942 he transferred to the 3rd Independent Company and was taken on strength with the 2/3rd Independent Company on the 23rd of September 1942. He embarked from Townsville on the 19th of January 1943 and disembarked at Port Moresby on the 21st of January 1943. 

 

The 2/3rd Independent Company saw extensive service in New Guinea where they waged a guerilla war against the Japanese. It is not known if Norman was one of the 52 commandos, from the 2/3rd Independent Company, who captured Ambush Knoll at Bobdubi Ridge in May 1943. Here a strengthened Australian platoon held off the Japanese for three days and four nights before they were forced to withdraw into the safety of the jungle. 

 

 The 2/3rd Independent Company War Diary shows that on the 15th of July 1943 the Company was involved in the assault and re-capture of Ambush Knoll and it was here that Norman was Wounded in Action. He was evacuated two days later, on the 17th of July 1943, to the 2/2nd Australian Field Ambulance. During this assault Corporal McEvoy was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for leading a patrol against the barricaded Japanese position. 

 

Norman returned to his unit on the 20th of July 1943, however his stay was short lived and he was evacuated on the 28th of July 1943, suffering from a swollen ankle. He returned to the 2/3rd on the 2nd of August 1943 where he stayed until he returned to Australia on the 7th of October 1943. 

 

On the 23rd of June 1944 Norman transferred to the 2nd A.I.F and was allocated service number QX61454. Norman was AWOL from the 12th of November 1943 to the 4th of March 1944 and on the 21st of May 1944 was sentenced, by Court Martial held in Ipswich, to six months detention. This sentence was suspended on the 4th of September 1944 and Norman was discharged on the 27th of November 1944. He died on the 27th of April 1968. 

 

In May 2000 Norman’s brother applied to the Defence for the restoration of Normans (now deceased) forfeited WW2 awards. It was deemed that Norman was entitled to the 1939-45 and Pacific stars and the 1939-45 War Medal which were restored. However, he was not eligible for the award of the Australian Service Medal as “he did not receive an honourable discharge from the army.” 

 

Notes: 

 

This is Norman’s full and correct WW2 medal entitlement, correctly named in 2000 style. 

 

1939-45 and Pacific stars pantographed QX61454 N.B. BUGLAR and 1939-45 War Medal impressed QX61454 N.B. BUGLAR.