*DIED OF DISEASE LAE* AUSTRALIAN WW2 MEDAL GROUP V30155 SGT EDWARD J. WADSLEY NEW GUINEA

1939 – 34 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939 - 45 and Australian Service Medal 1939 -45. All medals impressed named V30155 E.J. WADSLEY, comes with copy service papers, Commonwealth War Graves print out and research notes.

Sergeant Edward James Wadsley was born on 7/6/1904 at Carrum Victoria, a farmer by trade he enlisted into the 14^th Battalion Citizens Military Force (C.M.F.) 20/12/1938. He was called up for full-time service on 28/6/1940 and promoted to Corporal on the same date.

Initially, the 14^th were used to build and man defences at various locations around Victoria, however, later they were transferred to Western Australia where they became part of the 6th Brigade. By mid-1942, however, due to manpower shortages that occurred in the Australian economy as a result of over mobilisation of its military forces, the Australian government decided to disband a number of Militia units to release their personnel back into the civilian workforce. As a result, in September 1942, while at Geraldton, the 14th Battalion was merged with the 32nd Battalion, to become the 14th/32nd Battalion.

Wadsley was promoted to Sergeant 17/6/1942 and posted to Headquarters Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit.

The Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) was a civil administration of the Territory of Papua and the Mandated Territory of New Guinea formed on 21 March 1942. The civil administration of both Papua and the Mandated Territory of New Guinea was replaced by an Australian Army military government and came under the control of ANGAU from February 1942 until the end of World War II.

ANGAU undertook civil tasks of maintaining law and medical services in areas not occupied by the Imperial Japanese and was responsible to the New Guinea Force. The major responsibility of the unit was to organize the resources of land and labour for the war effort. ANGAU was also responsible for recruiting, organising and supervising local labour for the Australian and American armed forces in New Guinea included rehabilitation of the local inhabitants in reoccupied areas. It was also responsible for the administration of the Pacific Islands Regiment.

Unfortunately, Sergeant Wadsley died of disease on 8/3/1945 and is buried at Lae War Cemetry. A good set of medals to an NCO, who served in a unit that you hardly ever see written or hear about.