Middle East Group of Five
Name: Gordon McDonald Bryant Hewitt
Service No: VX43296
Unit: 2/3rd L.A.A. Regiment
Naming Details: 1939-45 and Africa Stars, Defence, War and Australian Service Medals all impressed - VX43296 G. McD.B. HEWITT.
Notes: The ASM is impressed in a later style font and was posted to Gordon in 1979. His other awards were posted to him in 1950.
Additional Information
Record of Service:
Gordon Hewitt was born on the 26th of August 1907 in Warragul, Victoria. He was working as an Estate Agent when he enlisted in the 2nd A.I.F on the 22nd of July 1940. He was allocated service number VX43296 and was posted to the 3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment on the 5th of September 1940.
Gordon embarked from Melbourne on the 29th of December 1940 and disembarked in the Middle East on the 31st of January 1941. On the 22nd of April 1941 he embarked from Alexandria for service in Greece. Gordon was a member of “A” Troop, 7th Battery who were tasked with defending the Maleme Airfield outside the town of Heraklio. The German paratroopers suffered horrific losses with many transport planes being accounted for by the anti-aircraft defence which included the 7th Battery.
On the 29th of May 1941 (during their chaotic evacuation from Crete, by the British Mediterranean Fleet) Gordon was reported as Missing in Action, however by the 1st of June 1941 he was reported back in the Middle East. He returned to Australia on the 18th of February 1942 and was promoted to BQMS on the 26th of April 1944.
Gordon discharged on the 29th of November 1945 and died on the 14th of December 1976.
Notes:
1939-45 and Africa Stars, Defence, War and Australian Service Medals all impressed VX43296 G. McD.B. HEWITT. Note: The ASM is impressed in a later style font and was posted to Gordon in 1979. His other awards were posted to him in 1950.