Pacific Star : Lieutenant R Booth, 9 Field Company Engineers

Pacific Star, impressed on reverse with recipient's details.

Medal group awarded to Lieutenant Rex Booth, born 28 October 1917. A civil engineering draftsman in civilian life, Booth enlisted in the militia part time in 31 October 1941 as a lieutenant, and served with the 2 Field Company Engineers. He went full time at the end of the year. In August 1942 he announced his engagement to Jean Churcher; they had met in 1939 at Marysville. He was attached to the 9 Field Company Engineers on 14 September 1942 and attended the Land Head Quarters Bomb Disposal School at Liverpool in November- December 1942. He was attached to 1 Division (then in Queensland) on 8 January 1943 and enlisted with the AIF on 15 January 1943.

He served in Milne Bay (February-March 1943) before moving to New Guinea where he was involved in construction road work from Wau to Bulldog (a vital link) from March to August 1943. This involved surveying the route, designing draining, culverts and bridges. Because of the urgency of the work, Booth often did manual labour as well. The most arduous part was the journey was the trip to get there. Booth describes the work camp as ‘the highest point on the road being 9,857 feet (about 3000 metres) and consisted of canvas tents among the trees.’
It is this section of his service that forms the bulk of his memoirs, mainly because of the extremely tough conditions, lack of food, the continual rain, and the constant mud.

Towards the end of 1944 they moved to Lae working on wharf construction. From September to November 1944 he served in Jacquinot Bay, New Britain before returning to Australia in November 1944; here he married Jean on 20 December at the Methodist Church at Northcote. He was transferred to the 8 Mechanical Equipment Company (a newly formed company) in April 1945 and departed for Lae. He was there when the war ended and didn't return to Australia until February 1946.