George Frederick Cleeland

=== ww2roll.gov.au ===
Service Record
Name CLEELAND, GEORGE FREDERICK
Service Australian Army
Service Number VX82346 (V325429)
Date of Birth 2 Sep 1914
Place of Birth HANSFIELD, VIC
Date of Enlistment 1 Aug 1942
Locality on Enlistment HAINDAMPLE, VIC
Place of Enlistment CASINO, NSW
Next of Kin CLEELAND, FREDERICK
Date of Discharge 8 Mar 1946
Rank Corporal
Posting at Discharge 2/43 AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION
WW2 Honours and Gallantry Military Medal
Prisoner of War No

=== THE ARGUS 16 May 1946 ===

ISLANDERS
DECORATED
FOR BRAVERY

Four Victorians
Win M M

CANBERRA, Wed: A Manus Island native who killed 110 Japanese has been awarded the DCM. This record belongs to Acting W02 Matpi, whose citation bristles with more mass shootings than the most ambitious wild west story.

Scarcely less Impressive is the re- cord of Sgt Rovai, of Kieta, Bougain- ville, who has received the MM. When, in charge of a patrol of 10 natives, on March 7, 1945, he was instructed to destroy dumps above Arawa and rescue a Catholic priest who was guarded by nine Japanese, he was faced with the problem of doing this without raising the alarm. Without ' a shot being fired the priest's guard was killed, the priest released, and the dump destroyed by time bombs. Under -the leadership of Sgt Rovai further patrols killed 300 Japanese.

Other awards were: MM: W02 L. J. Hogan, of Kyabram, who showed great courage in mine clearing during the advance on Buin rd, Bougain- ville; Sgt J. C. Fletcher, of Nigrello, who knocked one Japanese uncon- scious after a struggle for his empty submachine-gun, and later killed three with grenades, enabling his platoon to advance; Cpl H. H. Ray, of Alberton, whose feats included the killing of five enemy and capture of their mortar and ammunition; Cpl G. F. Cleeland, of Maindample, a Bren gunner, who on two occasions stood in full view of the enemy to engage him with devastating fire and repulse an attack which came to within 15 yards.