Private
Walter Bignell
Walter Bignell was born in Southport Queensland on the 14th of June 1912 to Mr Samuel Stanley Bignell and Mrs Rebecca Annie Bignell (nee Gray) as the 8th of their 10 children. His older siblings were (from eldest to youngest) Robert, Charlotte, Ethel, Dorothy, Samuel, Isaac and Susan. His younger siblings (from eldest to youngest) were Mary and Sidney.
Service Number: | QX699 |
Place of Enlistment: | Southport |
Age of Enlistment: | 27 Years |
Date Of Enlistment: | 4th of March 1940 |
Embarked: | Sydney, 5th of May 1940 |
Transport Ship: | HMT X4 |
Medals: | 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, War Medal, Australian Service Medal |
Place of Death: | Killed in Action Siege of Tobruk North Africa 9th of August 1941 |
Resting Place: | Buried Tobruk War Cemetery, Plot 6, Row A, Grave 5, Libya |
Unit | 2/9th Australian Infantry Battalion |
Walter Bignell was born in Southport Queensland on the 14th of June 1912 to Mr Samuel Stanley Bignell and Mrs Rebecca Annie Bignell (nee Gray) as the 8th of their 10 children. His older siblings were (from eldest to youngest) Robert, Charlotte, Ethel, Dorothy, Samuel, Isaac and Susan. His younger siblings (from eldest to youngest) were Mary and Sidney. Prior to his enlistment in the 2nd A.I.F, Walter lived in Upper Coomera where he worked as a farmer and served in the Australian Militia Forces.
Many members of the local Bignell family served in the Second World War. However, only Walter (Wally) and his brother Sidney (Sid) were killed. Both brothers were local farmers from Upper Coomera. Walter was a notable cricketer (all-rounder), captain of the Guanaba Cricket Cub’s team and was active in Gold Coast sporting associations. A pair of trees were later planted at the then Maudsland State School in memory of the fallen brothers.
Walter Bignell was killed in action during the Siege of Tobruk on the 9th of August 1941. The port of Tobruk was a strategically vital location during the North Africa campaigns of the Second World War. Located on the Libyan coast between the main British base at Alexandria Egypt and the main Axis base at Tripoli, Tobruk was one of only two deepwater harbours that would allow for significant maritime resupply of land forces. During the First Siege of Tobruk in 1941, Australian Soldiers quickly earnt a reputation as excellent soldiers and fierce fighters. They were nicknamed the Rats of Tobruk as they would appear out of holes in the ground to attack or raid enemy positions. The Allied defence of Tobruk 1941, played a vital role in preventing the German and Italian armies from advancing toward Egypt, buying time for a successful Allied counterattack.
Family Links: Walter Bignell and his brother Sidney Kingston Bignell are the nephews of Sydney Kingston Bignell who also appears on the Upper Coomera Cenotaph. Their father, Samuel Stanley Bignell is the older brother of Sydney.
The siege of Tobruk - Video, The Australian War Memorial Collection
Medals & Awards
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The 1939–45 Star is a campaign medal awarded to Australians who had served between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945 for a minimum of 6 months, or two months for air crew personnel.
The Africa Star was granted for operational service in North Africa from the date of Italy’s entry into the war on 10 June 1940, until the date of cessation of operations against the enemy in North Africa on 12 May 1943.
The Africa Star was also awarded for operational service as a member of the Australian Defence Force during the Syrian Campaign in the period from 8 June 1941 to 11 July 1941
The War Medal 1939-45 was awarded for 28 days full time service in the armed forces over the duration of the Second Word War.
Civilians who worked with the armed services as well as those who served in military hospitals also received this medal.
The Australia Service Medal 1939-45 was instituted in 1949 to recognise the service of members of the Australian Armed Forces and the Australian Mercantile Marine during World War II.
Unit Patch 2/9th Australian Infantry Battalion
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