Herbert John Shearwin MM (1916)

Ancestors

Biography

Herbert John Shearwin MM was born on 10th October 1916 in North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He was the son of Leonard Shearwin and Matilda Chandler. ^[1]

On 11th August 1941 at Grenfell, New South Wales, Herbert enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force, Australia's overseas expeditionary force for the Second World War. He was allocated to the 2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion. ^[2] In September 1942 Herbert stepped on to the Kokoda Track, Papua, with the remainder of his battalion. He was then a section commander, with the junior non-commissioned rank of Corporal, of 13th Platoon, C Company. ^[3]

On 11th November, although wounded, he remained in position maintaining fire on the enemy until all members of his section, all wounded, were evacuated. He was awarded the Military Medal (MM) for 'outstanding bravery and devotion at Gorari Creek 11 Nov 1942'. ^[4][5]

Herbert married Maria Shaw in 1944 in Redfern, New South Wales. ^[6]

He was discharged on 12th March 1945. ^[2] At the time of receiving his award, 23rd November 1945, he was living at 34 Robinson Road, Mascot, New South Wales. Following the war he was issued the campaign and service medals 1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945 and Australia Service Medal 1939-1945.

He passed away in the Australian Captital Territory. ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales, Births, Deaths and Marriages regitry online; F= Leonard H, M= Matilda A; registered at Chatswood
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: NX42526 Private Herbert John Shearwin; accessed 24 May 2021
3. ↑ Smith, Graham J. The Making of Warriors. Rosenberg, Dural NSW, 2020. ISBN 978 0 6484466 6 8
4. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards (recommendation): Military Medal; accessed 24 May 2021
5. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: Military Medal; accessed 24 May 2021
6. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #18741/1944
7. ↑ unsubstantiated family records