A Second War Australian Group To The 2/31St Battalion; Australian Imperial Forces

1939-1945 Star; Africa Star, 1 Clasp - 8th ARMY; Pacific Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-1945 (NX11001 C.D. MULHALL); and Australia Service Medal 1939-1945 (NX11001 C.D. MULHALL). Naming is officially impressed on the WM and ASM, the other four awards are un-named. Mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, as worn by the veteran, surface wear evident on the reverse of the ASM, very light contact, near extremely fine. Accompanied by two Medal Awards Slips (one indicating he was awarded the three stars along with the DM and WM, inscribed "FIVE / NX11001 / MULHALL CD", 98 mm x 189 mm; the other indicating he was awarded the three stars along with the DM, WM and ASM, inscribed "SIX / NX11001 / C.D. MULHALL", with a typed note attached inscribed "The Australia Service Medal 1939-45 is not yet available for issue, but will be forwarded without further application as soon as possible", 171 mm x 239 mm; both slips with fold marks and edge tears); and a Photograph of Private Mulhall Seated in Front of a Building (black and white, gloss finish, inscribed in black ink "This is where I live" and inscribed in pencil "NX11001 C.D. MULHALL" on the reverse, 61 mm x 86 mm, creased in the upper left corner).

Footnote: C.D. Mulhall enlisted as a Private (NX11001) with the Australian Imperial Forces in New South Wales. The 2/31st Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army that served during the Second World War. It was raised in June 1940 and was assigned to the 25th Brigade, 7th Division. It initially served in the United Kingdom where it undertook defensive duties before being moved to the Middle East in 1941. After taking part in the fighting in Syria and Lebanon, the battalion undertook garrison duties around Tripoli before being transferred back to Australia in 1942. In late 1942, the battalion was sent to New Guinea, to fight against the Japanese along the Kokoda Track. They subsequently fought a number of battles throughout 1942, 1943 and early 1944. Their last campaign came in mid-1945 when they landed on Borneo. After the war, the battalion was disbanded in March 1946. NX11001 Private C.D. Mulhall's passing is documented in The Returned and Services League of Australia, New South Wales Branch "Reveille", Volume 64, Number 24 of January/February 1991, page 22, under the heading "Last Post" and subheading "Army".