Religious medalet : Private K R Rose, 2/13 Battalion

Round white metal medallion. The image on the obverse is damaged, but shows either the adult Jesus, or Joseph holding the child Jesus. Around the figure are the words 'MOST GENTLE CHILD JESUS HAVE MERCY ON US' . On the reverse is a five pointed star with a cross and rays behind. Around the edge are the words 'ARCHONFRATERNITY OF THE DIVINE CHILD JESUS'.

Associated with the service of NX45126 Private Kenneth Russell Rose. Rose was born in September 1922 and enlisted on 19 September 1941. He served briefly in Malaya as a general reinforcement from 10 January 1942 and appears to have escaped from Singapore to Java when the city fell to the Japanese on 15 February. He was evacuated from Batavia on 23 February, aboard SS Edendale, arriving in Fremantle, WA on 5 March. In August 1942 he was posted to the Middle East where he was assigned to 2/13 battalion, returning to Australia on 26 January 1943. After training in Queensland the battalion arrived in New Guinea, at Milne Bay, in July 1943. Rose received a bullet wound to the right shoulder, eyelid and brow on 22 September 1943 during the Scarlet Beach landings to take Finschhafen. He was evacuated to Australia, where he also developed malaria. Rose saw no further service outside Australia, and was discharged medically unfit on 31 May 1945. He had married Susan May Frances MacKay on 4 November 1944. The devotional association called the Archconfraternity of the Divine Child began with Marguerite of the Blessed Sacrament. She was a member of the Carmelite Order, known for its devotion to the Holy Infant. In one of her vision Jesus told her he had chosen her to honour his infancy and the mysteries of Bethlehem and Nazareth. The new association was founded on 24 March 1636. In 1885 the title was changed to ‘The Archconfraternity of the Infant Jesus’ by Pope Pius IX.