A Second War Group To The Australian Imperial Force

Australia. Second World War Group of Six, Private (Driver) Norman John Astley, Australian Army Ordnance Corps, Australian Imperial Force: 1939-1945 Star (NX23123 N.J. ASTLEY); Africa Star (NX23123 N.J. ASTLEY); Pacific Star (NX23123 N.J. ASTLEY); Defence Medal (NX23123 N.J. ASTLEY); War Medal 1939-1945 (NX23123 N.J. ASTLEY); and Australia Service Medal 1939-1945 (NX23123 N.J. ASTLEY). Naming is officially impressed. Mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, as worn by the veteran, contact marks, very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Service Records, a Letter from Homebush Strathfield R.S.L. (Returned and Services League of Australia) Club (dated August 12, 1959), along with assorted research papers.

Footnote: Norman John Astley was born on September 5, 1915 in Auburn, New South Wales. He was a resident of Homebush, New South Wales, when he enlisted as a Private (NX23123) in the Australian Imperial Force on May 30, 1940 in Paddington, New South Wales, at the age of 24, naming his next-of-kin as his father, William Edward Astley of Homebush, stating that he was Single, his religion as Church of England and his occupation as that of Storeman. He was posted to the Sydney Showgrounds, where he was attached to 2/1st Ordnance Stores Company, Australian Army Ordnance Corps. Private Astley embarked from Melbourne, Victoria for the Middle East on October 1, 1940, disembarking at Al Qantarah El Sharqiyya (AKA Kantara, as referred to by the Allies) on November 3, 1940, for duty at Camp Banara near Gaza, Palestine, followed later by postings to Cairo, Egypt and Tel El Kebir, Egypt. After fifteen and a half months in the Middle East, he returned to Australia aboard the SS Strathallan on February 16, 1942, arriving in Adelaide, South Australia on March 17th. Three and a half weeks later, he was posted to Headquarters 1st Australian Corps on April 11th. Private Astley embarked Brisbane, Queensland aboard the SS John Hart on August 12, 1942, disembarking at Port Moresby, New Guinea on the 19th, where he was assigned to Headquarters New Guinea Force (HQ NG Force), for operations in New Guinea. After having served one year in New Guinea, he embarked Port Moresby aboard the Bathurst-class corvette HMAS Katoomba on August 30, 1943, disembarking in Townsville, Queensland on September 1st. He is documented as having been "sick" at 113th Australian General Hospital from September 21 to October 6, 1943. He returned to New Guinea for a second tour of duty, embarking Townsville for Port Moresby on November 22, 1943. Three weeks after arriving in New Guinea, he was hospitalized from December 15th to 31st, "sick" with Dyspepsia (also known as indigestion, is a condition of impaired digestion. Symptoms may include upper abdominal fullness, heartburn, nausea, belching, or upper abdominal pain. People may also experience feeling full earlier than expected when eating. Dyspepsia is a common problem and is frequently caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or gastritis. In a small minority it may be the first symptom of peptic ulcer disease (an ulcer of the stomach or duodenum) and occasionally cancer). Early in the new year, he achieved the status of Storeman III on January 3, 1944, followed by a posting eight months later to the 10th Advanced Ordnance Depot at Schwimmer Airfield (14 Mile Drome) near Port Morseby on September 2nd. After having served another ten months in New Guinea, he embarked Port Moresby for Townsville aboard the merchant ship SS Ormiston, on September 24, 1944. He was posted to the 5th Base Ordnance Depot in Midland, Western Australia on November 10th and is documented as having again been "sick" with Dypepsia for two days, December 5th and 6th. Private (Driver) Norman John Astley was discharged at Headquarters 1 Australian Corps in Sydney, New South Wales, on October 18, 1945. For his Second World War service, he was awarded the the 1939-1945 Star, the Africa Star, the Pacific Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal 1939-1945 and the Australia Service Medal 1939-1945.