Description
World War II: Group of 7 to N.P. MCEACHERN, Member of the Order of the British Empire, P.O.W Camp Leader in Austria.
MBE and WWII Stars unnamed as issued.
WWII Service medals each impressed “VX7620 N.P. MCEACHERN”.
LSGC medal correctly engraved “3/501 WOI. N. P. McEACHERN A.P.A.” (CAG 52/57).
Born on the 30th December 1905 in Casterton, Victoria, Neville Poynton McEachern served as a Lieutenant of the 38th Militia Brigade from 1st July 1934 to 14th January 1939, then enlisting in the 58th Infantry Brigade on 16th January 1939 and then into Australian Imperial Force in Melbourne on 1st Nov 1939. He was then taken on strength into the 17th Infantry Brigade and stationed at HQ until embarking for the Middle East per ‘Y2’ as Company Quartermaster Sergeant 14th April 1940, disembarking on 18th May 1940 at Alexandria, and then to camp Gaza, Palestine. McEachern saw operations in North Africa near Derna and Bardia from 14th September 1940.
He then embarked Alexandria for Greece 19th March 1941. During operations on 29th April 1941, McEachern, amongst a group of approximately 60 other men, was taken as Prisoners of War after a long confrontation with enemy forces, reportedly being heavily surrounded by the Germans on each front, taking heavy casualties until they were finally forced to surrender. He was initially interned at P.O.W. Camp Stalag XVIIIA on 16th September 1941 and was then moved between Corinth, Salonica and Wolfsberg until he was recovered by Allied forces in Western Europe on 28th April 1945. McEachern arrived back to the United Kingdoms on 30th May 1945 and quickly embarked for Australia, disembarking Sydney on 8th August 1945 per the ‘Mauretania’.
Staying in the army McEachern served as a Clerk in the Ordnance Branch of Army Headquarters from 24 October 1945. Later becoming a WOI with the Australian Regular Army, AASC. from July 1955 to August 1958 he served with the Australian Army Staff in London. After returning he discharged on the 30th December 1960.
McEachern was awarded his military MBE in 1953 (Com Gaz 37/53, 11 June 1953) for service especially as a POW Camp Leader in Austria during the second World War, and as Chief Clerk at AHQ Melbourne.
A very scarce Military MBE group to an ex POW, swing mounted as worn and accompanied with his corresponding court-mounted miniature dress medal group as well as his extensive file. Extremely Fine