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Burrows, John Leslie

Private John Burrows was a member of the 17th's Brigade's 2/6 Battalion. His service number was VX4221. He was living in Fitzroy when he enlisted on 21 Oct 1939.

From the AWM website: In early April, the 2/6th, with the rest of the 6th Division, deployed to Greece to resist the anticipated German invasion. For the 2/6th, the Greek campaign was essentially one long withdrawal through a series of rearguard positions, beginning on 16 April. In the last days of the campaign its companies were dispersed by higher command; some were subsequently evacuated by sea between 26 and 29 April, but approximately a quarter of the battalion was left behind and taken prisoner. Some of the evacuees were landed on Crete and, after fighting with the 17th Brigade Composite Battalion, many of these men were also captured.

John was captured at Kalamata, Greece and was transported to Corinth by train and then on to Salonika before arriving at Stalag 18A at Wolfsberg, Austria. His POW number was 3668.

AWM Nominal Roll

John was born in Mundalla, South Australia on 27 May 1902 (Ancestry). This date is precisely four years earlier that that shown on the AWM website making him 37 when he enlisted, not 33. He died from disease (retro peritoreal abscess, epiploitis & hepatic cirrhosis with ascites) shortly after returning to Australia, on 31/1/1946, in Caulfield Repat Hospital and was buried at Springvale Cemetery the following day. He was 43.

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