Offered is a rarely seen medal, written diary for 1942, as well as effects relating to QX4046 Frederick Tonge, who served in just about every major campaign the 2nd AIF fought in during the second world war, before he was medically discharged in 1944
1939 – 45 Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Defence & War Medals (1939 – 45), Australian Service Medal 1939 – 45. All impressed named QX4046 F. TONGE. Period swing mounted as worn.; With the corresponding miniature medals and award document; 2 sets of ribbon bars; diary for 1942, showing every page has been written in; 2 booklets - You and the Native & The Native Carrier. Comes with copies of Army service papers, newspaper articles with picture and 1925 Ships passenger list.
Frederick Sylvester Tonge, was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire on the 27/4/1908. He emigrated to Australia on the ‘Hobsons Bay’ landing in Brisbane 11/1/1926. He was 17 years old at the time and his occupation was recorded as ‘clerk’.
He enlisted into the Australian Army on the 22/10/1939 in Brisbane. His trade was recorded as ‘French polisher’. He was posted to the 1st Anti-Tank Regiment 18/12/1939 (The unit was equipped with 48 - 2 pounder guns, and comprised 556 men, including 30 officers).
He was charged several times with A.W.O. before he sailed with the unit on the 4/5/1940. At the time the unit was Initially assigned to the 6th Division, however it was diverted to England due to the fall of France, landing in Scotland 17/6/1940.
After another A.W.O.L charge, he sailed from Liverpool 11/4/40 landing in the Middle East 29/12/40. He embarked for Greece with the unit 1/4/1941, landing there on the 3rd.
He was involved in heavy fighting:
The regiment deployed one battery in support of the 16th Infantry Brigade around the Veria Pass, while the remaining batteries were assigned to Mackay Force, supporting the 19th Infantry Brigade at Vevi, On 11–12 April, three batteries from the regiment took part in the Battle of Vevi. Positioned close to the infantry in the forward positions, the regiment’s guns were positioned on the forward slopes so that they could fire down the road from Vevi. In the early stages of the battle, mobile German guns inflicted casualties on the anti-tank gunners who were exposed on the forward slopes, and after the arrival of a large column of German troops heavy fighting followed. By the final stages, the gunners were engaging the advancing German infantrymen over open sights before withdrawing by battery. Due to its dispositions, the regiment lost 16 guns and 79 men captured. After falling back towards Servia, the regiment’s batteries became separated as they were hastily tasked with supporting Australian and New Zealand rearguard actions around Kalabaka, Bralos Pass and Erithrai while the Allied forces withdrew steadily. As the withdrawal continued, the decision was made to evacuate from several locations including Athens and Kalamata. The regiment's losses during the campaign amounted to 18 killed and 16 wounded, in addition those captured at Vevi. The main body was evacuated by sea back to Palestine.
He was initially posted as missing 24/4/1941 but re joined the unit 15/5/41 in Palestine. The Regiment then fought the Vichy French in Syria.
He embarked with the unit 13/3/42 en-route for Australia but was diverted to Ceylon to garrison the island in fear of a Japanese invasion. On the 12/7/42 the unit embarked landing in Melbourne 7/8/42.
New guinea: He was deployed to Port Morsby 24/9/42 as part of the 6th Brigade which was then deployed on the Kakoda track. The unit was involved in fighting in Milne Bay, Greta Buna- Gona. He returned to Townsville Qld, 12/12/43. He remained in Australia until medically discharged 16/4/1944. He remained in Qld until his death in Brisbane 1986.
Note the war diary for the unit is available to download from the Australian National Archives. The Greece campaign is well documented in this. Truly an intense period for the unit and its men.
