Alexandria (Alex) James Mundy’s occupation and marital status on enlistment was detailed as a Clerk, who was single.
- Date of Birth – 28 April 1922.
- Parents – Cecil and Ethel May Mundy, North Araluen.1Commonwealth War Graves, https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2166010/alexandria-james-mundy/. Accessed 22 March 2024.
- Enlisted at Canberra on 30 August 1941, and embarked from Townsville in May 1942 for Port Moresby.
- Regimental Number – N243350.2National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA: B884, Mundy Alexandria James, Item ID– 5571557. Accessed 23 March 2024.
- Aged at embarkation – 19 years and 5 months.
- Military service – 3rd Australian Infantry Battalion, Rank – Private. Served in the Pacific and awarded the 1939/45 Star, and the Pacific Star.3Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/640840. Accessed 23 March 2024.
- Died in Papua New Guinea on 25 November 1942 (aged 20 years).4Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10286520. Accessed 23 March 2024.
- Buried – Soputa Cemetery, New Guinea. Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea: grave C5. D. 19. (Soputa War Cemetery, grave W.C.6 on AWM Roll of Honour circular).5Find a Grave.com. Panel 61, on a monument at the Australian War Memorial, Campbell. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/249827502/alexandria-james-mundy and https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23790537/alexandria-james-mundy. Accessed 23 March 2024.
Cecil and Ethel May Booth married in 1922, and had three children – Alexandria [Alex] (1922-1942); William [Bill] (1923-2002) and John [Jack] (1926-1978).6Canberra Times (ACT: 1926-1995), Saturday 9 October 1976, p 17.
Alex’s brother William was born on 19 December 1923 in Araluen, and served in WWII. William enlisted on 20 January 1942 (Service Number NX194611) and was discharged as a Private on 21 February 1946.7National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA: B883, Mundy William, Item ID– 5591646. Accessed 23 March 2024. Enlisted 20 January 1942 Private, NX194611 and was Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), 21 February 1946. Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/1358934. Accessed 23 March 2024.
Alex enlisted in the 3rd Battalion on 21 October 1941, after being mobilised two months earlier. He embarked from Townsville in May 1942 for Port Moresby where he was one of a number of 3rd Battalion men hospitalised with measles. He re-joined his unit in July and on 5 September 1942 was detached to the Maroubra Force. It was then that the 3rd Battalion entered the Kokoda track and took part in the Australian defence at Imita Ridge and Ioribaiwa. Thereafter, they patrolled forward through Menari, Efogi and Templeton’s Crossing. Alex was hospitalised with dysentery at the end of September and re-joined the 3rd Battalion, as the Japanese retreated to their strongholds at Gona, Buna and Sanananda on the north coast of Papua. The 3rd Battalion was part of the campaign at Gona during November 1942 where Alex Mundy was killed in action on 25 November 1942. Alex was initially buried at Gona but was reinterred in Bomana War Cemetery in 1943.8ACT Memorial. http://www.memorial.act.gov.au/search/person/mundy-alexandria-james. Accessed 19 April 2024.
The Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal9Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday 18 December 1942, p 2. Roslyn Maddrell, Braidwood. Letters from the Front, Hypercet Printing, Goulburn. 2004. p 158. reported in an article titled ROLL OF HONOUR. ‘It is with profound regret that we have to announce the death of Pte. Alexander James Mundy, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Mundy, North Araluen. Quite a gloom was cast over Araluen and surrounding districts when a cable was received by his parents from the military authorities announcing that he was killed in action during the fighting in New Guinea.
… [Alex] was born at North Araluen 20 years ago and lived there until he removed to Canberra, where he was employed for two years as a clerk in the Canberra brickworks before he joined the Forces. Possessing a happy disposition, Alex was loved by all with whom he came into contact. He was of splendid physique, 6ft. 2in. in height and built in proportion. He was a good cricketer and played for several seasons with the Araluen club. He also took part in other athletic events in the district! Only a few months ago the deceased was home on leave before he sailed for New Guinea with his two cousins, Ptes. Cecil Gibson and George Mundy, and it seems hard to realise that one in perfect young manhood should meet his end so quickly. Besides his parents he is survived by two brothers, William (also of the A.M.F. [Australian Military Forces]) and John. His grandmother Mrs. Jane Mundy, and grandfather Mr. S. G. Booth, also survive. The flag at the Araluen school was flown at half-mast on Monday in memory of a brave ex-pupil.’