Description

1942(Feb 10) Plain envelope via airmail to VX 20649 L/Cpl W. J. Chung, HQ Coy, 2/21st Batt A.I.F. [This was Gull force who landed 17.12.41. Japanese invaded 30.1.42 & occupied the island by 2.2.42] bearing Platypus 9d tied Abbotsford/Vic d/s & with red on white 3 Opened By Censor labeltied 3 / Passed / By / Censor / 265 h/s in violet & boxed Army Postal Service / Delivery Impracticable / Return to Sender h/s in black with Pointing finger h/s & on reverse Returned to Sender/from Dead Letter Office Melbourne label …….[The 2/21st Bn (23 Bde) Gull force landed on Ambon 17 Dec 41, the Japanese started bombing the island 6 Jan 42 & at the end of January Japanese Marines landed with the allies surrendering by 3 Feb 42. Of the Australians taken POW 75% died in captivity by the end of the war.]