Private
Walter Damien Osborne
Walter Damien Osborne was born on the 9th of September 1919 in Brisbane Queensland, to Mr Walter Henry Osborne and Mrs Elizabeth Fanny Osborne (nee Siganto) as the youngest of their four children.
| Service Number: | Q28973 |
| Place of Enlistment: | Brisbane |
| Age of Enlistment: | 21 Years 11 Months |
| Date Of Enlistment: | 2nd April 1941 |
| Embarked: | Brisbane, 13th of September 1941 |
| Transport Ship: | HMAT ‘Z’ for MD New Guinea |
| Education: | Coomera State School - 1932-1934 |
| Medals: | 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal, Australian Service Medal |
| Place of Death: | Missing and officially presumed Killed in Action Battle of Sanananda Road 7th of December 1942 |
| Resting Place: | Commemorated Port Moresby Memorial, Panel 7, Papua New Guinea (No Grave |
| Unit: | 49th Australian Infantry Battalion |
Walter Damien Osborne was born on the 9th of September 1919 in Brisbane Queensland, to Mr Walter Henry Osborne and Mrs Elizabeth Fanny Osborne (nee Siganto) as the youngest of their four children. His older siblings (from eldest to youngest) were Phyllis (died in infancy), Pauline and Leslie (died in childhood). For at least part of his early life, Walter lived in the Coomera area where he attended Coomera State School from 1932 to 1934. Prior to his enlistment in the 49th Battalion, Australian Milita Force, Walter lived in Upper Coomera, where he worked as a farm labourer.
The 49th was a militia battalion that was sent to Papua as there were no AIF troops available at the time. Initially used to garrison Port Moresby, the 49th Battalion saw extensive action against the Japanese in Papua, notably at Sanananda.
The Battle of Sananada Road on the 7th of December 1942 was a costly and unsuccessful attack against well entrenched Japanese positions. In five hours, the Battalion lost 14 officers and 215 men killed or wounded. This amounted to nearly 60 percent of the attacking force.
Advance on Sanananda - Video 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 Pacific Star was awarded for operational service in the Pacific Theatre of Operations between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945.
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.
The Australian 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.
49th Battalion Unit Patch
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