| Place | Oceania: New Guinea1, Mubo Salamaua Area, Salamaua |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | AWM2019.296.1 |
| Collection type | Private Record |
| Record type | Collection |
| Measurement | Extent: .5 cm; Wallet/s: 1 |
| Object type | Letter |
| Maker |
Ayre, Gordon Raymond Charles |
| Place made | New Guinea |
| Date made | 1943 |
| Access | Open |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copying Provisions | Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction. |
Ayre, Gordon Raymond Charles (Sergeant, b.1902-d.1978)
Description
Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX89711 Sergeant Gordon Raymond Charles Ayre, 58/59 Australian Infantry Battalion, New Guinea, 1943.
Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of page one and page four of a letter from Sergeant Raymond to his sister, Myrtle Gills, dated 14 September [1943]. In his letter, Sergeant Ayre writes about poor weather, wading through mud to Salamaua on the day it was captured by the Allies, and being filmed by war photographer Damien Peter Parer.
History / Summary
Sergeant Gordon Raymond Charles Ayre was called up to serve in the Second Australian Imperial Force on 27 June 1940, after previously serving in the Militia. He served with the 58/59 Australian Infantry Battalion in New Guinea. During the advance on Salamaua in September 1943, Sergeant Ayre was filmed by war correspondent, Damien Peter Parer, while assisting a wounded fellow soldier. For his outstanding courage during this action, he was a awarded the Military Medal. Sergeant Ayre was discharged on 3 June 1947.