RODDA, BERNARD ROY Rank: Private Service No: WX10575 Date of Death: 28/07/1942 Age: 42 Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry A.I.F. 2/28 Bn. Grave Reference: XXII. E. 4. Cemetery: EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of Matthew and Mary Rodda, of Claremont, Western Australia.http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2211654/RODDA,%20BERNARD%20ROY
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P07062.002/ Studio portrait of the Rodda family of Northam, WA. Identified from left: nephews Rick and Fred (standing); uncle, WX10575 Private (Pte) Bernard Roy Rodda, 2/28 Battalion; niece, Fay; Pte Rodda's sister Ivy. Formerly a station overseer, Pte Rodda enlisted on 14 January 1941 and served in the Middle East in Libya, where he died of wounds on 28 July 1942, aged 42.
The AWM ROH shows that he died of wounds but his service file has not been digitised as yet by the NAA so no further details so far. His nominal roll entry states that he was a POW, it is possible that he was captured by the enemy after being wounded but succumbed to his wounds shortly afterwards. His ROH circular shows that his brother also served in the AIF - Private RODDA, PATRICK VERNON 5900184 (WX1885) survived the war and was discharged in September 1945 (no idea on the alternate service number, possibly member of the pre-war militia or he re-enlisted and got a new type of number)
From wiki & https://www.awm.gov.au/unit/U56071/ - the 27th of July 1942 was a major loss for the 2/28th After training in Australia, in January 1941 the battalion was shipped to the Middle East, where it undertook further training in Palestine before deploying to Libya. There it took part in the Siege of Tobruk, during which it helped defend the vital port for over six months before being withdrawn via the sea to Palestine. After serving in a garrison role in Syria and Lebanon, the battalion was then moved back to the Western Desert, where it took part in the First Battle of El Alamein in July 1942. On 27 July, the battalion was tasked with capturing "Ruin Ridge". After taking the position in a night attack, the 2/28th was then cut off and surrounded by German infantry and armour. Suffering heavy casualties, the majority of the battalion – around 500 men – was forced to surrender. A small group, about 90 men, were not captured, and they were later used as a cadre upon which the battalion was reformed in Palestine. In September, the 2/28th returned to the front line, and, on 23 October, it was committed to the Second Battle of El Alamein, conducting raids behind German lines before being moved into the main area of operations around a position dubbed the "Saucer" on 31 October. They remained there until being withdrawn in December.
