VX24325 Heathcote Howard 'Sledge' Hammer, CBE, DSO, ED

VX24325 Heathcote Howard 'Sledge' Hammer, CBE, DSO, ED

Date of birth1905-02-15 Southern Cross, WA 
Date commissioned  1926-02-25  Lieutenant, 8th Battalion. 
Date promoted  1935-02-25  Appointed captain. 
Other  1936-07-03  Reserve of Officers. 
Other units  1937-01-26  17th Machine Gun Regiment. 
Date promoted  1939-01-09  Appointed major. 
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs)  1940-06-08  Enlisted in the 2nd AIF. 
Other units  1940-06-14  Headquarters 1 Australian Corps. 
Other units  1940-07-01  7th Division Cavalry Regiment. 
Other units  1940-08-01  Seconded Headquarters Australian General Base Depot. 
Other  1940-10-13  Arrived Middle East. 
Other units  1940-11-02  Attached 16th Australian Infantry Training Battalion. 
Other  1940-11-20 - 1940-12-21  Course Middle East Tactical School. 
Other units  1941-01-21  Seconded AIF Middle East reinforcements S Depot. 
Other units  1941-01-21  Commanding officer (temporary) Depot Battalion. 
Other units  1941-03-05  Brigade major Headquarters 16th Brigade. 
Other  1941-05  Arrived Middle East. 
Other  1941-06-14  Course Middle East Combined Training Centre. 
Other units  1942-01-08 - 1943-06-18  Lieutenant colonel commanding officer 2/48th Battalion. 
Date wounded  1942-10-31  Wounded in action - gun shot wound right cheek. 
Other  1942-11-09  Returned to unit. 
Date of honour or award  1943-01-16  Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. 
Date returned to Australia  1943-02-25  Returned to Melbourne. 
Other units  1943-06-18  Temporary brigadier, commander 15th Brigade. 
Other  1943-06-25  Arrived New Guinea. 
Other units  1943-11-23  Attached Headquarters 29th Brigade. 
Date of honour or award  1944-05-01  Bar to Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. 
Date returned to Australia  1944-06-27  Returned to Townsville. 
Date promoted  1944-10-24  Appointed colonel (retains rank of temporary brigadier). 
Other  1944-11-16  Arrived Bougainville. 
Date returned to Australia  1944-11-24  Returned to Townsville. 
Other  1944-12-30  Arrived Bougainville. 
Date of honour or award  1945-07-20  Commander of the Order of the British Empire. 
Date returned to Australia  1945-10-01  Returned to Brisbane. 
Other  1945-11-29  Reserve of Officers. 
Date of honour or award  1947-03-06  Mention in Despatches. 
Other units  1953-01-01  Command 2nd Armoured Brigade. 
Other units  1956-07-02  Temporary major general command 3rd Division. 
Other  1959-07-01  Reserve of Officers. 
Other  c 1941-03-20  Arrived Greece. 
Date of death1961-03-10