Service: Army – 2/2 Pioneer Battalion
Service number: VX72232
Locality on Enlistment: 15 Jan 1942 Glen Aire
Duration of Service: 15 Jan 1942 – 29 Jan 1946
Prisoner of War: No
Honours: None for display
Date and Place of Birth: 18 May 1917 Colac
Parents: Frederick Clarence BAULCH and Sarah Anne WARRY
Spouse: Iris Emily CALDER
School/s: Pirron Yallock, Gellibrand and Swan Marsh State Schools
Occupation: Labourer
Date and Place of Death: 31 Jan 1990 Marengo
Place of Burial: Apollo Bay Cemetery
NOTES: Served In: New Guinea – Lae, Port Moresby, Borneo, Balikpapan.
After nearly being wiped out in Java in February 1942, the 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion reformed in Australia. In June 1943 they were deployed to New Guinea undertaking both traditional and engineering tasks. They saw combat in the Markham Ramu Valley, advancing overland from Tsili Tsili and conducting an airfield at Nadzab. They were reroled as Infantry and joined the drive on Lae. Early in 1944 they returned to Australia for rest and reorganisation. In mid 1945 they participated in the Battle of Tarakan and Battle of Balikpapan, being used primarily as a labour force around the beachhead, unloading stores and equipment, maintaining defensive positions and guarding prisoners. Ref: Wikipedia