Thomas Elrick Rixon
Stephen LearmonthTom was born on the 4th of March 1920 at Corryong, Victoria. He was one of four children to Alfred Oswald and Adelaide Maud (née Scammell).
Tom was educated at Corryong Higher Elementary School where he was a keen sportsman and student. He played football for the Federals football club where he was noted for his good sportsmanship and clean play.
Dr Greenham gave Tom his medical examination prior to enlisting in the 2nd AIF on the 19th of May 1941. He was given the highest of the three possible ratings, fit for class 1. After seeing Dr Greenham, Tom filled in his Attestation Form for the Army. He was allocated the Army Number VX56513 and initially placed in the general reinforcements. He was 21 years of age and was a single labourer, working for the local Shire Council. His father was listed as his next of kin. Four days later he was at Royal Park in Melbourne signing and taking his oath of enlistment. On that day he was taken on strength with the Recruit Reception Depot based at Royal Park. On the 27th of that month he was given two weeks leave without pay. He rejoined his unit a little more than two weeks later on the 10th of June. In mid June he was transferred to the 4th Training Battalion based at Darley near Bacchus Marsh in Victoria. Joe took a little “extended leave” from 2359 hours on the 20th of August to 2200 on the 22nd of August. As a result of this he was “awarded” 2 days confined to barracks and forfeited 2 days pay.
On the 3rd of September 1941 he embarked on a troopship at Sydney. Twenty days later he was standing on the ship looking out over the Suez Canal in Egypt. Tom was taken on strength with the 26th Australian Infantry Training Battalion at Mughazi in Palestine. On Remembrance Day 1941 he was transferred to the 2/23rd Battalion.
Much has been written of the 2/23rd’s movements in Arthur Chitty and Joe Hamilton's stories. Tom would have been part of those movements. Some time during the fighting on the 21st and 22nd of July that saw both Arthur and Joe killed in action, Private Tom Rixon was hit and severely wounded. Two days later he died of those wounds.
Tom was buried in the El Alamein War Cemetery in Egypt. He is also remembered on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, and the Corryong War Memorial. For his service, he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the Africa Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal 1939-1945 and the Australian Service Medal 1939-1945.
The loss of loved ones during the war was still affecting families well after the war had finished. The 21st of July 1949 issues of the Corryong Courier contained three “In Memoriam” notices for Tom; one from his parents and siblings, one from his Aunty Marg (who was also Ray Nugent’s aunt) and one from his Uncle Bill and Aunt Thelma (which also included Ray Nugent).
