Albert Cleary

Albert Neil Cleary
Albert Neil Cleary
	Cleary upon enlistment
Born	16 June 1919; Geelong, Victoria
Died	20 March 1945 (aged 25); Sandakan, Borneo
Buried	Labuan War Cemetery
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Second Australian Imperial Force
Years of service	1941–1945
Rank	Gunner
Service number	VX52128
Unit	2/15th Field Regiment
Battles/wars	World War II South West Pacific theatre; Battle of Singapore;
Awards	Commendation for Gallantry

Albert Neil Cleary (16 June 1919 – 20 March 1945)^[1] 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.^[2] In 2011, Cleary was awarded a posthumous Commendation for Gallantry.^[3] Cleary's death was revealed by historian Lynette Silver to have been caused by dysentery, calling into doubt his elevation as a war hero.^[4]

References[edit]

^ "Cleary, Albert Neil". World War II Nominal Roll. Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
^ Sidebottom, Sid, MP (4 June 2001). "First Reading Speech of the Defence Act Amendment". Victoria Cross Bill 2001. House of Representatives – Commonwealth of Australia. pp. 1–3. Retrieved 22 July 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Commendation for Gallantry Archived 22 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S143, 28 September 2011.
^ "VC award would be based on lies, military historian warns". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 March 2012.