Lance Betts (1915 - 2003)

Born 29 Apr 1915 in Wingham, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Eunice May (Findlay) Betts — married 1945 in Wingham, New South Wales, Australia

Died 23 Aug 2003 at age 88 in Forster, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Lance Betts was born on 29th April 1915 in Wingham, New South Wales, Australia. He was the younger son of Robert Betts and Pearl Garlick. ^[1]

Lance Betts is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Second Australian Imperial Force 1940-1944
2/13th Australian Infantry Battalion

On 27th May 1940, soon after the 'mad' evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk, France, Lance enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force, his nation's all-volunteer expeditionary force for the Second World War. ^[2] He was a 'Digger' in the 2/13th Australian Infantry Battalion; also known as the "Devil's Own". The battalion was part of the 20th Brigade. It sailed from Sydney Harbour for the Middle East in October 1940, whereupon it became a unit of the 9th Division. Early in March 1941 the 9th Division moved into Cyrenaica where the 2/13th became the first complete Australian unit to fight German troops during the Second World War, at Er Regima (previous battles had been against the Italians). It then helped defend the Tobruk fortress for eight months, being the only Australian battalion to see out the siege. Lance and his mates had won the title, Rats of Tobruk! The 9th Division was rushed to El Alamein in 1942 as the Germans again threatened Egypt. The 9th Division was recalled to Australia in 1943 to face an enemy much closer to home - the Japanese. The 2/13th saw jungle action at Lae and Finschhafen. ^[3] Lance was demobilised on 31st August 1944. ^[2] For his war service he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945 and Australia Service Medal 1939-1945.

Lance married Eunice Findlay in 1945 in St Matthew's Church of England (Anglican Church), Wingham. ^[4]

He passed away, aged 88 years, on 23rd August 2003 at the Aged Care Facility in Forster Tuncurry, New South Wales. He was cremated on 27th August 2003 following a funeral service in St Paul's Anglican Church, Gloucester, New South Wales.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #27388/1915
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: NX17400 Private Lance Betts; accessed 25 Oct 2018
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial unit record: 2/13th Australian Infantry Battalion; accessed 25 Oct 2018
4. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #18241/1945