1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 1946-47  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 01/01/1947   
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AUSTRALIAN SERVICES DURING WORLD WAR II, 1939-45 (ENLISTMENTS, CASUALTIES, DECORATIONS, ETC).

PERSONNEL, 1939-45 WAR

The figures in the table hereunder represent gross enlistments of war service personnel, plus permanent personnel at the beginning of the war, plus gross enlistments in the permanent forces. Particulars for the Navy and Air Force are as at 31st December, 1945, and for the Army as at 28th February, 1946. The term "gross enlistments" indicates that no deductions have been made because of discharges, dead, deserters, etc.



PERSONNEL, 1939-45 WAR: GROSS ENLISTMENTS, ALL SERVICES (Thousands)
Service
Males
Females
Persons
Royal Australian Navy
45.8
3.1
48.9
Australian Military Forces
691.4
35.8
727.2
Royal Australian Air Force
189.7
27.2
216.9
Total
926.9
66.1
993.0


CASUALTIES, 1939-45 WAR.

The following table shows the numbers of persons killed, wounded and missing, and of prisoners-of-war escaped, recovered or repatriated in each of the services, classified according to theatre of operations:-

CASUALTIES (a) 1939-45 WAR: ALL SERVICES.
(As at 30th April, 1947)
Particulars
Royal
Australian
Navy
Australian
Military
Forces
Royal
Australian
Air Force
All Services
AGAINST GERMANY
Killed (b)
913
3,536
7,095
11,544
Missing
..
9
..
9
Prisoners-of-war escaped, recovered or repatriated
26
7,055
1,012
8,093
Wounded and injured
(c) 26
8,577
1,601
10,204
    Total
965
19,177
9,708
29,850
AGAINST JAPAN
Killed (b)
1,094
15,140
2,911
19,145
Missing
..
11
33
44
Prisoners-of-war escaped, recovered or repatriated
237
13,865
235
14,337
Wounded and injured
(c) 553
13,275
1,630
15,458
    Total
1,884
42,291
4,809
48,984
ALL THEATRES OF WAR
Killed (b)
2,007
(d) 18,676
10,006
30,689
Missing
..
20
33
53
Prisoners-of-war escaped, recovered or repatriated
263
20,920
1,247
22,430
Wounded and injured
(c) 579
(e) 21,852
3,231
25,662
    Total
2,849
61,468
14,517
78,834
(a) All casualties except deaths from natural causes
(b) Includes died of wounds,. died while prisoner-of-war, and missing presumed dead
(c) Excludes injured
(d) Excludes 6,041 non-battle deaths
(e) Excludes 149,489 non-battle injuries.


DECORATIONS AND AWARDS, 1939-45 WAR.

The numbers of the various awards and decorations conferred on members of each of the fighting forces for gallantry or other meritorious service during the 1939-45 War appear below:

DECORATIONS AND AWARDS : AUSTRALIAN SERVICES, 1939-45 WAR
Decoration or Award
Royal Australian
Navy
Australian Military
Forces
Royal Australian
Air Force
All Services
British Decorations or Awards:
Victoria Cross (V.C.)
..
17
2
19
George Cross (G.G.)
4
1
..
5
Knight Grand Cross Order of British Empire (G.B.E.)
..
1
..
1
Knight Commander Order of Bath (K.C.B.)
..
2
..
2
Knight Commander Victoria Order (K.C.V.O.)
1
..
..
1
Knight Commander Order of British Empire (K.B.E.)
..
4
..
4
Companion Order of Bath (C.B.)
3
20
4
27
Companion Order of St. Michael and St. George (C.M.G.)
1
..
..
1
Commander Order of British Empire (C.B.E.)
8
93
15
116
Officer Order of British Empire (O.B.E.)
31
230
61
322
Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.)
18
177
68
263
Distinguished Service Order Bar
3
21
4
28
Member Victorian Order (M.V.O.)
..
..
1
1
Member Order of British Empire (M.B.E.)
42
381
96
519
Royal Red Cross (R.R.C.)
..
18
3
21
Royal Red Cross (Associate)
..
32
4
36
Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.)
149
..
..
149
Distinguished Service Cross, Bar
10
..
..
10
Distinguished Service Cross, Second Bar
2
..
..
2
Military Cross (M.C.)
..
500
7
507
Military Cross, Bar
..
15
..
15
Distinguished Flying Cross (D.F.C.)
1
1
2,179
2,181
Distinguished Flying Cross, Bar
..
..
124
124
Distinguished Flying Cross, Second Bar
..
..
1
1
Air Force Cross (A.F.C.)
..
..
165
165
Albert Medal
1
..
..
1
Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field (D.C.M.)
..
197
2
199
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (C.G.M.)
1
..
10
11
George Medal (G.M.)
9
13
20
42
George Medal, Bar
3
..
..
3
Distinguished Service Medal (D.S.M.)
157
..
..
157
Distinguished Service Medal, Bar
2
..
..
2
Military Medal (M.M.)
..
983
4
987
Military Medal, Bar
..
5
..
5
Distinguished Flying Medal (D.F.M.)
..
..
409
409
Distinguished Flying Medal, Bar
..
..
2
2
Air Force Medal (A.F.M.)
..
..
16
16
British Empire Medal (B.E.M.)
35
168
57
260
Mention in Despatches
601
6,189
1,786
8,576
King's Commendation for Brave
..
12
..
12
Knight of Grace of order of St. John of Jerusalem
..
3
..
3
Commander-in-Chief Cards
..
1,082
..
1,082
Commendation Cards
12
177
168
357
Total British Decorations or Awards
1,094
10,342
5,208
16,644
Foreign Decorations or Awards
57
145
171
373
Grand Total
(a)1,151
(b)10,487
(c)5,379
17,017
(a) In addition, 45 decorations or awards were made to British personnel in Australian Services, and one to a civilian with the Australian Services. (b) In addition, 18 decorations or awards were made to British or Allied personnel on loan to A.M.F., 41 to civilians with A.M.F., and 363 to natives with A.M.F. (c) Excludes decorations and awards to R.A.F. personnel on loan to R.A.A.F. and to members of R.A.F. who were Australian by birth - particulars are not available.

Foreign awards include those of the United States of America, Russia, Greece, Poland, France, Holland. Belgium and Lebanon.