Australian Military Units

Captain Reginald Walter (Reg) Saunders, MBE

Date of birth  1920-08-07  Puruim, VIC. 
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs)  1940-04-24  Enlisted 2nd AIF. 
Other  1940-04-24  Posted to 2/7th Battalion, 6th Division. 
Other  1942-05  Escaped capture in Crete. Later returning to Australia before rejoining his battalion in New Guinea as a sergeant. 
Date commissioned  1944-11-25  Graduated as a lieutenant from course 14, Officers Training School, at the Infantry Wing of the Officer Cadet Training Unit, Seymour. Saunders became the first Aboriginal comissioned officer to serve in the Australian Forces. He returned to service in New Guinea. 
Date promoted  1950  Appointed captain in charge of C Company, 3rd Battalion. Captain Saunders was the first Aboriginal serviceman to command a rifle company. 
Other  1951  Fought in the Battle of Kapyong, Korea. 
Date of discharge  1954-10-05   
Other  1967  Joined the Office of Aboriginal Affairs as a liaison and public relations officer. 
Date of honour or award  1971-06-12  Member of the Order of the British Empire. 
Other  1985-07  Appointed to the Council of the Australian War Memorial. 
Date of death  1990-03-02