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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 890

(x) Four: Sergeant G. G. Curry, "Z" Special Unit, late "M" Special Unit, Australian Army

Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Australia Service Medal, the last three officially impressed 'VX79121 G. G. Curry', very fine and better (4)

Godfrey Grieveson Curry was born on 15 April 1905 at Newcastle, England, and worked as a shipping clerk. He later emigrated to Australia, where he lived with his wife Norma at Park Street, Moonie Ponds, Victoria.

He enlisted on 13 April 1942 at Caulfield, and was taken on strength with the Australian Imperial Forces. Promoted Temporary Corporal on 12 October 1942, he transferred to Melbourne where he served with 'Z' Special Unit at home from 23 November 1942. This unit was a joint Allied Special Forces unit designed to operate behind Japanese lines in South East Asia. Predominantly Australian, it specialised in reconnaissance and sabotage, and operated in Borneo and the islands of the former Dutch East Indies. Inserted by parachute or submarine, the unit carried out a total of 81 covert operations.

Promoted Acting Sergeant on 8 May 1943, Curry transferred to 'M' Special Unit five days later and arrived in the Operational Area north of Katherine on 19 May 1944. This unit continued to gather intelligence and paid particular attention to Japanese shipping and troop movements. Posted to Timor for 2 days, his foreign service was curtailed by a ruptured duodenal ulcer, resulting in transfer to the Heidelberg Military Hospital on 28 December 1944. He was discharged on 13 December 1945; sold with copied service record.


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Sold for
£190