POYZER, Robert Frederick

  General Notes:

Service Record - National Archives Website
Title: POYZER ROBERT FREDERICK
Service Number - SX14257
Date of birth - 27 Nov 1919
Place of birth - PARKSIDE SA
Place of enlistment - ADELAIDE SA
Next of Kin - POYZER YVONNE
Barcode: 6413795
Series number: B883
Series accession number: 2002/05081482
Control symbol: SX14257
Contents date range:1939 - 1948
Extent
Location: Canberra
Access status: Not yet examined
Reason for restriction
Date of decision: 1 Jan 1970
The 2/9th
The 9th Division was first formed in the United Kingdom during 1940, using one of the 6th Division units, the 18th Brigade, as its core. A second Brigade was formed from other Australian units then in Britain. Major General H.D.Wynter was appointed as commander. Some shuffling of component units occurred, and by early 1941, when it arrived in North Africa the 9th Division consisted of the 20th, 24th and 26th Brigades. In February of 1941 Major General Leslie Morshead became commander.
9th Australian Infantry Division
20th Brigade, 24th Brigade, 26th Brigade
Battalions:
2/13th, 2/15th, 2/17th 2/28th, 2/32nd, 2/43rd 2/23rd, 2/24th, 2/48th

By early 1943 the 9th Division was back in Australia. It was stationed with the 7th at Atherton in North Queensland, and training for the jungle fighting against the Japanese yet to come north of Australia. Together they were formed into the 11th Australian Corps, with the entire Corps being under the command of Lt.General Morshead, the 9th Division's experienced North African commander.

On 4 September 1943, the lead Brigade of the 9th Division (20th Brigade with 2/13th, 2/15th and 2/17th Battalions) landed near Lae on the northern New Guinea coast. Lae was quickly captured, and the 9th advanced to Finschafen and Sio on the Huon Peninsula. On 21 January 1944, the division handed over to the Australian 5th Division at Sio. They had suffered 1028 casualties (including 283 men killed) since landing at Lae in September.

In May 1945 the Division was again in action, this time in Borneo. The 26th Brigade invaded Tarakan Island on the east coast to create a base for supporting operations elsewhere in Borneo. Fighting was fierce and the Australians suffered nearly 900 causalities.

The balance of the 9th Division (the 20th and 24th Brigades) went ashore at Labuan Island and Brunei on the north-west coast of Borneo on 10 June 1945. The opposition was sporadic, but sometimes determined, and when the Japanese surrender on 15 August 1945 ended the fighting in Borneo, the 9th division had suffered 114 men killed during this final campaign.
Photo Details
ID Number: 086952
Date made: 20 February 1945
Physical description: Black & white
Summary: Wondecla, Qld. 20 February 1945. Headquarter Squadron, 2/9th Armoured Regiment Personnel. Back row, left to right: SX14002 Trooper (Tpr) C. E. Trenorden; SX32175 Tpr W. A. Verco; SX23567 Tpr R. E. Jenkins; SX16169 Tpr J. A. Ceasarowicz; VX66109 Lance Corporal (L Cpl) J. F. Sanders; SX23563 L Cpl J. R. McLay; SX16775 Tpr A. E. Modistach; SX23743 Tpr R. G. Wese. Middle row: SX14257 Corporal (Cpl) R. Poyzer; SX23466 Cpl W. J. Lowe; NX164268 Tpr L. Harland; VX51550 Captain A. W. Furphy; VX74078 Tpr J. F. Smith; SX16544 Tpr L. V. Rogers; SX14507 Tpr P. J. Casey. Front row: VX63637 Tpr G. R. W. Freeman; VX56223 Tpr J. G. Marchant; SX13738 Tpr J. Bawden; SX16934 Tpr R. Heuzenroeder; SX14889 Tpr E. Kerin.
Copyright: Status to be assessed
Related subject: Group portraits
Related unit: 2/9 Armoured Regiment; Headquarters units
Related place: Wondecla
Related conflict: Second World War, 1939-1945

Robert married Nancy Eileen GRIBBLE, daughter of Wesley Wycliffe GRIBBLE and Rebecca SMITH, on 23 Jun 1978 in Port Pirie. (Nancy Eileen GRIBBLE was born on 30 Nov 1919 in Carrondown, Dist Hindmarsh, South Australia, died on 16 Jul 2006 in The Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park, South Australia and was buried on 20 Jul 2006 in Jamestown cemetery, Jamestown, SA.)

Robert next married.