Soldier
He enlisted in the Second AIF on 11 July 1940, and Private Archibald Frederick Roberts (VX44381) was assigned to the 2/21 Australian Infantry Battalion. He was trained at Bonegila, and then his group moved through to Alice Springs, and then Darwin, and then, eventually they marched into the barracks at Tan Tui, just north of Ambon town, the main port of Ambon Island, on 16 December 1941, nine days after the Japanese had entered the war.
As part of the Australian Army's "Gull Force" he took part in the Battle of Ambon during World War II.
He was captured by the Japanese in January 1942. He was taken prisoner by the Japanese, and was treated brutally (as were all of his comrades). He died of illness, due to maltreatment and malnourishment, still a prisoner of war, on 6 June 1945.
Read more about this topic: Archie Roberts (Australian Footballer)
Famous quotes containing the word soldier:
“Life contracts and death is expected,
As in a season of autumn.
The soldier falls.”
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)
“He’s a soldier fit to stand by Caesar
And give direction.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“For a shirt verminously busy
Yon soldier tore from his throat, with oaths
Godhead might shrink at, but not the lice.”
—Isaac Rosenberg (1890–1918)