Australia Service Medal : Lieutenant A N Dening, Far Eastern Liason Office, AIF

Places
Accession Number REL36467.004
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Medal
Physical description Nickel Silver
Maker Royal Australian Mint
Place made Australia
Date made c 1950
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Description

Australia Service Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details.

History / Summary

NX43585 Arthur Neville Dening was born in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales in March 1921. When the Second World War broke out he was living in Tamworth NSW, working as a stockman. He enlisted in the army on 25 August 1941 and served first with 2/33 Infantry Battalion as a driver-mechanic and later with the Far East Liaison Office (FELO). He was promoted to acting corporal in April 1943, sergeant in September that year and warrant officer II in September 1944. He was appointed lieutenant on 25 July 1945. Dening, known as ‘Nev’, was a patrol member, and sometime leader, with FELO, responsible for gathering intelligence in the New Guinea islands and spreading Allied propaganda, encouraging native populations to resist the Japanese. From March to May 1944 he was a member of Party ‘O’ which operated in the Rees Lake and Demta regions of Hollandia ahead of the landing of an Allied task force. For his work during this mission he was Mentioned in Despatches. In early 1945 he was also a member of Party ‘J’ which gathered intelligence on Japanese strength, movements and Allied Prisoners of War in Ceram and the Halmaheras. He was awarded the United States Bronze Star Medal for his achievements with FELO from July 1943 to June 1945. Dening remained in the army in the immediate post-war period, serving in Rabual in 1946 as a movements officer. After the war he returned to Australia and took up farming in Victoria. He died in 2004.