Rob Crossing

From time to time, stories are published that overlook the significant contribution of the men of the 2/2. One such story appeared in the newsletter Commando News. President of the 2/2 Commando Association, Peter Epps, recently sent a letter to the editor of the newsletter, seeking to set the record straight. Letter to editor of Commando News.pdf

Colleen Thornton-Ward and her brother, Murray Thornton, both committee members of the association, are once again volunteering as international observers at the forthcoming Timor-Leste election on 12 May 2018. To see the story as published by the Eastern Reporter, please click here.

Donald embarked with the unit for New Guinea as a Trooper aboard "DUNTROON" on 17 Jun 1943 and returned to Australia with them aboard "TAROONA" on 3 Sept 1944. After leave and reorganisation, he embarked for New Britain aboard "TAROONA" on 9 Apr 1945 with the unit as a Trooper. He was discharged on 12 Oct 1945. Donald served post war with Service No 31096.

Allan was an original member of the unit, embarking aboard SS Zealandia on 8 Dec 1941 for Timor as a Signaller in the Signals Section, Headquarters Group. After the campaign on Timor, he embarked with the unit for Australia aboard the Royal Dutch destroyer Tjerk Hiddes on 16 Dec 1942. After leave and reorganisation, he embarked with the unit for New Guinea aboard SS Duntroon on 17 Jun 1943 as a Trooper in No 8 Section, "C" Troop and left the unit at Faita Flats, New Guinea, on 25 Mar 1944 and returned to Australia aboard "TAROONA on 2 Apr 1944. Allan transferred to 2/12th Commando Squadron on 7 Aug 1944 and then to 2/9th Cavalry Commando Squadron on 2 Nov 1944 and embarked for MOROTAI aboard "FREDERICK LYKES" on 26 Apr 1945. On the 31 May 1945 he embarked for Borneo aboard Landing Ship Troops 619. He returned to Australia aboard Landing Ship Troops 321 on 3 Nov 1945 and was discharged on 11 Dec 1945. He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below. He is now also entitled to the Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with a clasp "S.W.Pacific".

George served in the Senior Cadets 1915-1918, joined the Citizen Military Force (Reserve) 39th Battalion 1931, promoted Corporal on 13 Oct 1931, Sergeant on 1 oct 1932 and Lieutenant on 6 Oct 1933. He transferred to 37/39 Infantry Battalion on 1 Dec 1936, to 24/39 Infantry Battalion on 24 Aug 1939 and promoted to Captain on 10 Sept 1939. He was transferred to the A.I.F on 24 Jun 1940 and posted to Headquarters, 23rd Infantry Brigade on 1 Jul 1940. He transferred to Headquarters, Sparrow Force and flew to Koepang on 10 Feb 1942. George joined the unit on Timor as a Captain from Sparrow Force Headquarters, after the fall of Koepang, in about March 1942. He embarked at SUAI on 8 July 1942 aboard "KURU", as a Captain for Australia. He was Mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette, 25 May 1943 and in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No 119-3 Jun 1943. These are the two Gazettes for the Timor Campaign. See photo below. He was posted to Army Headquarters and promoted Temporary Major on 21 Jul 1942 and Major on 1 Sept 1942. He was awarded a Commander in Chief Commendation Card for service in Timor, Authority, Army Order 69/43, on 31 Aug 1943. He was promoted to temporary Lieutenant Colonel on 16 Mar 1944 and flew to HOLLANDIA, West New Guinea on 29 Nov 1944. He relinquished the Temporary rank of Lieutenant Colonel on 1 Dec 1944. He was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) Military Division, London Gazette, 8 June 1944. See photo below. He embarked for the LEYTE, PHILLIPINES aboard "EMPIRE SPEARHEAD" on 12 Feb 1945, embarked for MANILLA aboard Landing Ship Troops (LST) 635 on 8 Apr 1945, flew to MOROTAI on 4 Aug 1945, flew to Australia on 8 Aug 1945, flew back to MOROTAI on 20 Aug 1945, flew to MANILLA on 24 Aug 1945 and flew back to Australia on 8 Sept 1945. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 22 Feb 1946 and was awarded an Australian Efficiency Decoration (ED) on 14 Nov 1946. See photo below. He was discharged on 9 Dec 1947. He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below. Citation for Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) Military Division. Major Arnold has given continuous voluntary service as an Officer in the C.M.F. from the 6th Oct 1933, until 1 Jul 1940, when he enlisted in the A.I.F. for overseas service. He was appointed Staff Captain 23rd Aust. Inf. Bde. during 1940-42 whilst that formation was in the Darwin Ares, and then served with distinction in a special force despatched to Timor early in 1942. he was Mentioned in Despatches for his services therewith. On 21 July 1942, he was appointed Admin L.O. at Adv L.H.Q.. and later in the year was transferred to the Appointment of D.A.A.G. (Org) "A" Br. L.H.Q. His work throughout this later period, during which the A.M.F. has undergone considerable expansion and reorganisation, has been outstanding, in-as-much as he has been entrusted with the difficult problem of detailed maintenance of personnel throughout the A.M.F. In this work he has devoted himself unsparingly and at all times his work has been of an exceptionally high standard, he has set an outstanding example by his devotion to duty, efficiency, and loyalty, and a ready acceptance of responsibility in matters beyond those normally associated with his rank and appointment. It is considered that for his unselfish devotion he is well worthy of recognition.

Roy enlisted on 26 Jul 1940 and was posted to 75th Light Aid Detachment (LAD), he embarked for Timor on 8 Dec 1941 and joined the 2/2nd on Timor as a Private from 75th LAD, after the fall of Koepang, in about March 1942. After the campaign on Timor, he embarked with the unit for Australia aboard the Royal Dutch destroyer Tjerk Hiddes on 11 Dec 1942. He transferred to 106th LAD on 17 Feb 1943, No 5 Australian Motor Transport Workshop on 12 Feb 1944, then to Lines of Communication, Workshop on 21 Feb 1944. He was discharged on 17 Dec 1945. He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below.

Henry enlisted in the Citizens Military Forces (Reserves) with Service No Q267274 on 4 Dec 1942, he transferred to the A.I.F. on 11 Sept 1943 and after training, embarked on 20 Apr 1944 for New Guinea aboard "ORMISTON" as a Trooper and joined the 2/2nd on 6 May 1944. He returned to Australia with them aboard "TAROONA" on 3 Sept 1944. After leave and reorganisation, he embarked for New Britain aboard "TAROONA" on 9 Apr 1945 with the unit as a Trooper. He returned to Australia aboard "WESTRALIA" on 13 Dec 1945 and was discharged on 19 Dec 1945. e was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below. He is now also entitled to the Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with a clasp.