Defence Medal : Leading Aircraftman J A Robinson, RAAF

Defence Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details.

Awarded to VX18316 Private John Allan Robinson. Robinson was born in 1918 in Junee, NSW. He enlisted for service in 2/2 Australian Pioneer Battalion, on 28 May 1940. After training at Puckapunyal military camp, Robinson and his unit embarked for the Middle East in the 'Queen Mary'. The unit was concentrated in Palestine and participated in the Syrian campaign before being recalled to Australia. Most of the unit was diverted to Java where they were captured by the Japanese. The remainder reformed and moved to New Guinea and established headquarters in Port Moresby. In late 1942 Robinson returned to Australia for the second time to await official discharge from the army. In January 1943 he enlisted for service in RAAF with the service number 434705. He completed training at Somers and Benalla in Victoria and graduated as a Leading Aircraftman and was sent to Canada for further training. In November 1943 he was diagnosed with Tuberculosis and spent the next year in hospital in Calgary, Canada. He died from the disease at No 3 RAAF Hospital in Albury, NSW, on 24 June 1945.