Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Murray John Egel S27024 Private, C.Company, 43rd Battalion.

Murray completed three months training at Warradale Adelaide, and after a period of three months at home he was called up in the Citizen Military Forces on 15th December 1941.

Christmas 1941 was sent on the train heading to Darwin. He was assigned to C.Company 43rd Battalion, which was posted to West Point across the bay from Darwin about 12 miles (19 kms) by sea. It was from this camp that he saw the first Japanese air raid on Darwin.

The 43rd Battalion C.Company was credited with shooting down the first Japanese Zero fighter plane. Private Egel was the only machine gunner. He was using a Lewis machine gun with a magazine of 47 rounds. A bullet pierced the oil line on the aeroplane engine and it crashed on Melville Island.

After 17 months in the Darwin area he returned back to South Australia on leave. After the leave he was sent to the Townsville area and for many months was engaged in unloading and loading of ships deployed in servicing the troops in the New Guinea and New Britain area.

He also unloaded ships for the Americans who were stationed in Australia at that time. In early 1944 while in the 43rd Battalion, he took leave at home then went back to Brisbane for a six week training course in the Canungra Jungle camp. He had no wish to ever see Canungra again. He did not see much of camp life. Most of the time was spent training in the jungle forest.

When training was completed, Murray transferred to the 14/32nd Vic. A.I.F Unit at Port Moresby. It was his first sea trip in a United States Troop Carrier. The Unit landed at Jaekanott Bay in Japanese held territory. Working their way towards Rabaul, bullets were a constant threat and one cut right through Murray's webbing of his rifle sling.

In total he was outside Australia for 233 days. In May 1945 another Battalion took over, and the 14/32nd came back to Australia for leave. After leave he went back to Brisbane and was transferred to another Unit.

The war ended in August 1945, and Murray returned to Adelaide on compassionate leave in September because his father suffered a heart attack.

Murray received his discharge early in October and came home to Moorook. His father passed away in November and Murray reapt the harvest that his father had sown.

He started work in 1946 for Perc Wachtel on a fruit block at Moorook. Murray applied for and was granted a war service block at Loxton in 1953. He commenced work on the block in June 1954 with plantings of vines and Moorpark apricots.

Murray sold the block in May 1973, and moved into Loxton with his wife and family. He obtained a job at the Loxton Co-Op Winery and worked there for almost five years. Failing health then caused his retirement. Sadly two of his children and his wife had pre-deceased him prior to him telling this history to Margaret Egel in 1995.

For his war service the following medals were awarded:
1939-45 Star.
5 Defence Medal.
6 War Medal 1939-45.
7 Australian Service Medal.
Returned from Active Service Badge.

Murray John Egel died 23th Jan.2005 aged 87yrs.
Buried at the Loxton Cemetery.