Cleary, Albert Neil

Date of birth:: June 16th, 1922 (Geelong, Austealia)
Date of death:: March 20th, 1945 (Ranau)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Cemetery Labuan
Plot: 21. Row: E. Grave: 6.
Service number:: VX52128
Nationality:: Australian

Biography

Gunner Albert Cleary was tortured to death after a failed escape attempt from Ranau POW camp.

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Commendation for Gallantry

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Gunner
Unit:: 2/15th Field Regiment, Australian Army
Awarded on:: 2011

“Gunner Cleary was one of approximately two thousand Allied prisoners of war held in the Sandakan POW camp. The retribution he experienced after an attempted escape was brutal."

Posthumously awarded
- In 2001, recommened by the Australian Labor Party for a Victoria Cross (VC) for bravery, but his case was mismissed by a special Federal Liberal Government tribunal:

"Available records do not suggest that Cleary, during his period in captivity at Sandakan and Ranau, including his escape, carried out actions or conducted himself in a way which was above and beyond what a serviceman’s duty at the time required. The Tribunal believes there is no basis for it to consider recommending Gunner Cleary for any further recognition under the Australian honours and awards system. The Tribunal also notes that the weight of submissions taken as a whole is against any further recognition of Gunner Cleary"