Brigadier Sir Frederick Oliver Chilton DSO and Bar

[Antipodean Andy]

Geoff, he was the last surviving commanding officer of the famous 2/2nd Infantry Battalion of the 6th Division.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...-31477,00.html

A WAR hero who dedicated his life after World War II to helping his fellow soldiers in civilian life was farewelled in Sydney yesterday by a handful of his former colleagues.

Frederick Chilton was 102 when he died a week ago, so only a sprinkling of his contemporaries who fought at Tobruk and Kokoda survive.

At St Swithun's Anglican Church in the northern Sydney suburb of Pymble, Brigadier Sir Frederick Oliver Chilton, DSO and Bar, was remembered as the last surviving commanding officer of the famous 2/2nd Infantry Battalion of the 6th Division.

Never married, Sir Frederick rarely spoke of his military life. Defence Minister Brendan Nelson attended the funeral, along with a number of Australian servicemen including Major General Gordon Maitland. "Sir Fred Chilton represented the very finest qualities of value in Australia and Australian life and everything we should aspire to be," Dr Nelson said outside the church.

The handful of soldiers from Sir Frederick's 2/2 Battalion, all in their late 80s, reflected on their experiences serving under a man they described as "inspirational and genuine". Former sergeant Carl Parrott said: "He was an excellent man. He wasn't highfalutin; he was just a good bloke. There are some commanding officers I wouldn't walk five miles for, but I'd go miles and miles for him."

Born in Sydney in 1905 and educated at North Sydney High School, Sir Frederick studied law at Sydney University, joining the Sydney University Regiment. He was a general staff officer in 1939 and was seconded to the AIF at the outbreak of war. Promoted to the rank of major, he fought as commanding officer of D Company with the 2/2 infantry battalion of the 6th Division in the first Libyan and Greek campaigns and in May 1941 was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, which cited his "conspicuous gallantry, coolness and initiative". In March 1941, the battalion was moved to Greece to face the anticipated German invasion.

Reassembled in Palestine, the 2/2 remained in the Middle East until March 1942 when they were brought back to Australia to face the advancing Japanese.

The 2/2's first campaign against the Japanese was along the Kokoda Trail in September 1942. The battalion had arrived in Port Moresby with 670 men. When they withdrew from fighting on the Sanananda Track, their numbers were down to only 88 men.

From 1943 to 1945, Sir Frederick, with the rank of brigadier, commanded the 19th Australian Infantry Brigade in Buna, the Ramu Valley and later in Borneo. In March 1945 he was awarded the Bar for his DSO. Three times he was mentioned in dispatches.

At the war's end, Sir Frederick joined the Joint Intelligence Service and helped map out Australia's Cold War strategy that led to the formation of ASIO and ASIS. He is credited with helping crack a Russian spy ring attempting to operate in Australia.

In 1948, he was appointed assistant secretary of the Defence Department and two years later promoted to the position of chairman of the Repatriation Commission, the forerunner of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sir Frederick held the position until he retired in 1970. He was knighted for his efforts the year before.

[spidge]

Big talk day today.

My dad was 2/8th 19th brigade.

Bill Robertson was 2/8th 19th brigade.

Brigadier Chilton 2/2nd who was CO of 19th brigade in New Guinea.


All my dad's friends from the 6th & 9th Div who used to come to our house have all now passed away.

[Kyt]

RIP

Tobruk and Kokoda! Definately an adventure -packed war. And 102 is a very good innings.