Alan Henry Moorhouse Bohle MBE (1913 - 2002)

Born 31 Dec 1913 in Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Ellinor Hirst (Sutherland) Bohle — married 1952 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Husband of Rhona Denise (Cunningham) Bohle — married 1959 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Died 12 Feb 2002 at age 88 in Wahroonga, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

Alan Bohle MBE was born in New South Wales, Australia

Alan Bohle MBE is an Anzac who served in World War Two.

Captain Alan Bohle MBE served in the Australian Army in World War II
Service started: 8 July 1940
Unit(s): 2/4 BN 6 DIV
Service ended: 1969

Alan Bohle MBE is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australian Army 2nd Australian Imperial Force 1940-1969

Alan Henry Moorhouse Bohle MBE was born in Lidcombe, New South Wales on 31 Dec 1913. He was the older son of Hubert Bohle and Lillian Hooker. ^[1]

Alan served in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force during the Second World War; enlisted 8th July 1940. ^[2]

He was an officer in the 2/4th Australian Infantry Battalion. The battalion played only a small role at Bardia (3rd-5th January 1941) but was more active during the battle for Tobruk (21st-22nd January 1941), and had to fight particularly hard to secure the Wadi Derna (26th-30th January). It was the first Australian unit to enter Benghazi, on 6th February, and subsequently garrisoned the town until 22nd February.

In early April, the 2/4th, with the rest of the 6th Division, deployed to Greece to resist the anticipated German invasion. It fought a fierce battle at Vevi in northern Greece on 11th and 12th April and then withdrew through a series of rearguard positions until evacuated, by sea, from Megara on 26th April. The battalion landed on Crete the next day and eventually joined the force defending Heraklion airfield. As German paratroops overwhelmed defenders, Heraklion was evacuated by sea on 29th May. In June, the 19th Brigade was deployed to defend Darwin and the 2/4th remained there for what became a boring and frustrating year.

The 2/4th landed at Aitape in New Guinea on 2nd November 1944 to undertake its only campaign against the Japanese. ^{[3] [4]}

Alan remained in the army after the war, serving through to the late 1960's, attaining the senior field rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1965 Queen's Birthdays Honours. ^[5]

Alan married American-born Jay Sutherland in 1952 at Sydney, New South Wales. ^[6]

He married Rhona Denise Cunningham in 1959 at Sydney.^[7]

Alan H M Bohle died on 12 Feb 2002 at Wahroonga, New South Wales and is memorialised in the New South Wales Garden of Remembrance, Rookwood, New South Wales. ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #5349/1914
2. ↑ Australian War Memorial nominal roll: 2191 (NX46374) Captain Alan Henry Moorhouse Bohle; accessed 19 Nov 2018
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial unit record: 2/4th Australian Infantry Battalion; accessed 19 Nov 2018
4. ↑ World War Two Service (Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs : accessed 08 Feb 2023), Veteran Details for ALAN HENRY MOORHOUSE BOHLE for Service with the Australian Army. Service Number: 2191 (NX46374); Rank: Captain; Enlistment from 8 July 1940 to FALSE.
5. ↑ Australian War Memorial Honours and Awards: Major Alan Henry Moorhouse Bohle; accessed 19 Nov 2018
6. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #476/1952
7. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #15648/1959
8. ↑ FindAGrave, database and images, memorial page for Alan H M Bohle; Died: 12 Feb 2002; Cemetery: New South Wales Garden of Remembrance, Rookwood, New South Wales; Find A Grave: Memorial #248546095; created by: ! woowoo; accessed: 08 Feb 2023