Pacific Medal Group of Four
- Casualty: W.I.A. - 18.01.42
- Name: John Poole Commans
- Service No: NX37593
- Unit: 2/30th Battalion
- Naming Details:
- 1939-45 and Pacific Stars, War and Australian Service Medals all impressed - NX37593 J.P COMMANS.
- Please note medals are correctly impressed in 1960’s GSM style font.
Additional Information
Record of Service:
John Commans was born on the 16th of June 1904 in Ballarat, Victoria. He enlisted in the Second A.I.F on the 30th of June 1941. He was allocated service number NX37593 and was taken on strength with the 2/30th Battalion the same day.
John embarked with the Battalion from Sydney on the 29th of July 1941 and disembarked at Singapore on the 15th of August 1941. Not long after their arrival the 2/30th was moved to Malaya and on the 15th of January 1942 ambushed the Japanese forces at Gemas. (The Japanese suffering an estimated 1000 casualties). This was the first A.I.F attack against the invading Japanese Army.
Three days later, on the 18th of January 1941 John was Wounded in Action (GSW Rt. Elbow). He was officially reported as “Missing” on the 21st of April 1942 and was recorded as a Prisoner of War in Malaya on the 3rd of July 1943. John survived his ordeals as a POW of the Japanese and was recovered by the Allies at Changi on the 8th of September 1945.
He died aged 75 on the 27th of January 1978.
Notes:
1939-45 and Pacific Stars, War and Australian Service Medals all impressed NX37593 J.P COMMANS.
Please note medals are correctly impressed in 1960’s GSM style font.