Ashton, George (Private, b.1910 - d.1994)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX54217 Private George Ashton, 2/21 Australian Infantry Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, Netherlands East Indies and Australia, 1941-1942.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of one handwritten account by Private George Ashton, covering his experiences of service with 2/21 Australian Infantry Battalion in the Netherlands East Indies between December 1941 and February 1942. This account was written by Private Ashton shortly after the recorded events occurred. In this account, Private Ashton writes about his embarkation, landing on Ambon as part of Gull Force, his first impressions of Ambon, living conditions in the camp, daily duties, assisting with transport work, Japanese air raids, being bombed and machine gunned by enemy aircraft, and Ambon’s inadequate defences. He goes on to write about the landing of Japanese troops, the destruction of Allied infrastructure, manning an artillery post, being in action against Japanese troops, being injured by a grenade splinter, retreating, being fired at by warships, discarding supplies and equipment, feeling hungry and sad, volunteering for a small fighting patrol, hearing of his battalion’s surrender, deciding to attempt to escape to Australia with other members of the patrol, sailing away from Ambon in a leaky boat, being seasick on a choppy sea, washing up on an island, being looked after by the local people, readying the boat, and leaving the island.

Digital File 1 of 1 – Consists of typed transcript of account by Private George Ashton, transcribed by Marilla Rootsey.

George Ashton enlisted to the Second Australian Imperial Force on 5 May 1941, and initially held the rank of private. He was posted to 2/21 Australian Infantry Battalion, and served as a gunner. With his unit, Ashton served in Darwin before being posted to Ambon, Netherlands East Indies, in December 1941 as part of Gull Force. In January 1942, Ashton assisted his unit in defending Ambon against Japanese forces. The majority of his unit were captured or killed when the Japanese took the island. However, at the time of Allied surrender, Ashton and a small group of fellow soldiers were on a patrol, separated from the main body of the unit. They escaped Ambon in a leaky boat and, with the assistance of local people, made their way back to Australia. George Ashton went on to serve in New Guinea between July 1944 and October 1945. He was discharged on 16 October 1945, holding the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2.