Private Walter Damien Osborne

49th Australian Infantry Battalion

Service Number:                                              Q28973

Place of Enlistment:                                        Southport

Age of Enlistment:                                           21 Years 11 months

Date of Enlistment:                                          2^nd of April 1941

Embarked:                                                        Brisbane, 13^th of September 1941

Transport Ship:                                                HMAT ‘Z’ For Port Moresby

Education:                                                        Coomera State School: 1932

Medals Awarded:                                             1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal, Australian Service Medal

Place of Death:                                                 Missing and officially presumed Killed in Action Battle of Sanananda Road 7^th of December 1942

Resting Place:                                                  Commemorated Port Moresby Memorial, Panel 7, Papua New Guinea (No Grave)

Unit Badge:                                                       49th Australian Infantry Battalion 

 

Additional Information:

The Battle of Sanananda Road on the 7^th of December 1942 was a costly and unsuccessful attack against well entrenched Japanese positions. In five hours, the Battalion lost 14 officers and 215 men killed or wounded. This amounted to nearly 60 percent of the attacking force.

 

The 49th was a militia battalion that was sent to Papua as there were no AIF troops available at the time. Initially used to Garrison Port Moresby, the 49th Battalion saw extensive action against the Japanese in Papua, notably at Sanananda.