Hi All, Knowing the expert researchers we have out there, I thought I'd throw this one out there. My Dad's cousin, who hailed from just up the road from him at Boonah, also served in New Guinea. (Though in a different unit to my father.) His name was Pte. Ivan Coram Zupp QX56634 and he was awarded the Military Medal after an exchange of fire with the Japanese. I have bits and pieces, as well as some recollections of childhood days, but thought that you experts might turn up something from your immense vault! Cheers and thanks, Owen
Name ZUPP, IVAN CORAM Service Australian Army Service Number QX56634 Date of Birth 12 Feb 1921 Place of Birth BOONAH, QLD Date of Enlistment 24 Jul 1943 Locality on Enlistment BOONAH, QLD Place of Enlistment PAPUA NEW GUINEA Next of Kin ZUPP, FERDINAND Date of Discharge 7 Jun 1946 Rank Private Posting at Discharge 61 AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION WW2 Honours and Gallantry Military Medal Prisoner of War No His service file hasn't been digitised yet http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/ItemDetail.asp?M=0&B=4466902 However, he was awarded the MM on 14 May 1945 (note, they have his initials wrong - maybe worth contacting them to let them know: Name: ZUPP, F C Award: Military Medal Post-nominal: MM Date granted: 14 May 1945 State: n/a Suburb: n/a Postcode: n/a Citation: MM 1945. QX 56634 PTE 61 BN AMF It's an Honour - Honours - Search Australian Honours There maybe more details in the Batt Diary, but again it is not digitised: 61 Australian Infantry Battalion - Summary of Operations, 29 January - 7 May 1945 http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/ItemDetail.asp?M=0&B=468695 I shall have a look at the Official Histories to see if I ca find anything. BTW, I'm sure you've seen this: Ivan Coram ZUPP, brother, died 11 Nov 1995 aged 74 years; Dugandan Trinity Lutheran cemetery, Boonah Shire
Aha, found the Official Diaries for the 61st: Australian War Memorial - Australian Army War Diaries - Second World War
Fantastic. Thanks Kyt. I have a copy of the Citation associated with the award of the Military Medal here. However, for a number of reasons I must start visiting the AWM research centre. Thanks again for the references. Cheers Owen
The diaries are making me cross-eyed because of the quality Will take some reading to ascertain the details - unless you fancy sharing the citation Owen? And this looks interesting (though expensive): The 61st Battalion 1938-1945
Hi Kyt, I finally found the Citation relating to Ivan's Military Medal and an extract regarding the action. The date of the encounter is 22nd February 1945. View attachment 1856 Cheers Owen
