https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=829275.msg6936432#msg6936432
and
Can anyone help me? I am trying to find the actual records of a soldier in WW2. He was at one stage a Rat of Tobruk and later was called out of this unit to join his brother in another.
I am keen to trace the battles in which he fought, what life was like. I believe he put his age up to join up. I can find his basis record but need help In tracing the other information. His name is Walter Charles Horsfall NX 11278. enlisted at Paddington NSW. He apparently was 'a last man standing' in one particular incident could not get a citation for it as there were no officers still alive - or so I am led to believe. Any help would be greatly appreciated as his family know nothing of his time in the Army and we now feel it is time to find. out more. Thank you.
Re your uncle ...
Perhaps you could look up the nominal roll for his brother's unit - afterall, he too would be your uncle? and then check to see if that brother's service file for 2nd AIF service has been digitised. That would likely go a long way towards determining the unit they both served in together.
Walter's NSW birth registration is indexed online at the free to search index of the NSWBDM :
Walter C HORSFALL, parents as William H and Sarah, registered Parramatta District. Ref 11874/1920. His date of birth drills down to 2 December 1919 at the online link :
https://www.nsw.gov.au/topics/family-history-search So I do not understand any concern about him adjusting his age to enlist.
The B883 Series at the NAA are for the Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947. Their website notes :
The National Archives will digitise all records in these series by June 2023. Records will be progressively added to RecordSearch as they are digitised and will be available free of charge. If you wish to digitise a record in advance, please select ‘continue’ to order an online copy. We aim to make that copy available within 30 business days of receiving your paid request.https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/defence-and-war-service-records/army-world-war-ii-1939-45I have paid for the digitisation of several 2nd AIF files in that series. All are very detailed and I would expect both your Uncles' files will be worthwhile for their family history value, not just for WWII service.
JM