Australian Military Units

Lieutenant Albert Chowne, VC, MM

Date of birth  1920-07-19  Sydney, NSW. 
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs)  1940-05-30  Chowne enlisted with the AIF and was assigned to the 2/13 Battalion. 
Other  1940-11  The 2/13 Battalion arrived in the Middle East. 
Date promoted  1941-09  Promoted to sergeant. 
Date wounded  1941-10  Wounded in the leg at El Alamein. 
Date returned to Australia  1943-01   
Other  1943-07  The 2/13 Battalion arrived in Papua New Guinea. 
Date commissioned  1944-01  Comissioned as a lieutenant. 
Date of honour or award  1944-03-02  Military Medal. 
Other units  1944-10  Chowne was posted to the 2/2 Battalion and he served with them in Papua New Guinea. 
Date of death  1945-03-25  Killed in action in New Guinea. 
Date of honour or award  1945-03-25  Posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross whilst serving with 2/2 Battalion, 16 Brigade, 6 Division as a Lieutenant. Chowne and the 2/2 battalion attacked an enemy position, near Dagua, which was holding up further movement towards Wewak. Chowne seeing the leading platoon was suffering heavy casualties charged forward, without awaiting orders, calling for the 2/2 battalion to follow him. Although he was mortally wounded during the battle, his actions helped result in the capture of the enemy position.