Buried at Labuan War Cemetery Name Albert Cleary Rank Gunner | Years of service 1941–1945 Allegiance Australia | |
Born 16 June 1919
Geelong, Victoria ( 1919-06-16 ) Died 20 March 1945(1945-03-20) (aged 25)
Sandakan, Borneo Service/branch Second Australian Imperial Force |
Albert Neil Cleary (16 June 1919 – 20 March 1945) was an Australian soldier during World War II. Part of the 2/15th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, he became a prisoner of war to the Japanese following the Battle of Singapore. He died following an escape attempt in 1945. In 2001, the Australian Labor Party introduced a bill to have Cleary and two others awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia, however this was defeated by the Federal Liberal Government. In 2011, Cleary was awarded a posthumous Commendation for Gallantry. Cleary's death was revealed by historian Lynette Silver to have been caused by dysentery, calling into doubt his elevation as a war hero.
References
Albert Cleary Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA