Major General Heathcote Howard Hammer

Service number	VX24325, 3107396
Ranks Held	Brigadier, Temporary Brigadier
Birth Date	1905-02-15
Birth Place	Australia: Western Australia, Southern Cross
Death Date	1961-03-10
Death Place	Australia: Victoria, Melbourne, Brighton
Final Rank	Major General
Service	Australian Army
Units	15th Australian Infantry Brigade 2/48th Australian Infantry Battalion
Places	Brighton Southern Cross
Conflicts/Operations	Second World War, 1939-1945 Second World War, 1939-1945
Gazettes	Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1947-03-06 Published in London Gazette in 1944-04-27 Published in London Gazette in 1945-07-19 Published in London Gazette in 1943-02-11 Published in London Gazette in 1947-03-06 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1944-04-27 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1945-07-19

Collection items

Rolls

Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945
Honours and Awards:

Unit

15th Australian Infantry Brigade

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945

Rank

Brigadier

London Gazette

27 April 1944 on page 1927 at position 1

Commonwealth Gazette

27 April 1944 on page 893 at position 36
Honours and Awards:

Unit

15th Australian Infantry Brigade

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945

Rank

Brigadier

London Gazette

19 July 1945 on page 3715 at position 8

Commonwealth Gazette

19 July 1945 on page 1547 at position 7
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945
Honours and Awards:

Unit

2/48th Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945

Rank

Brigadier

London Gazette

11 February 1943 on page 743 at position 6
Honours and Awards:

Unit

15th Australian Infantry Brigade

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945

Rank

Temporary Brigadier

London Gazette

06 March 1947 on page 1091 at position 10

Commonwealth Gazette

06 March 1947 on page 750 at position 68

Timeline

Date of birth	15 February 1905	Southern Cross, WA.
Date commissioned	25 February 1926	Lieutenant, 8th Battalion.
Date promoted	25 February 1935	Appointed captain.
Other	03 July 1936	Reserve of Officers.
Other units	26 January 1937	17th Machine Gun Regiment.
Date promoted	09 January 1939	Appointed major.
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs)	08 June 1940	Enlisted in the 2nd AIF.
Other units	14 June 1940	Headquarters 1 Australian Corps.
Other units	01 July 1940	7th Division Cavalry Regiment.
Other units	01 August 1940	Seconded Headquarters Australian General Base Depot.
Other	13 October 1940	Arrived Middle East.
Other units	02 November 1940	Attached 16th Australian Infantry Training Battalion.
Other	1940-11-20 - 1940-12-21	Course Middle East Tactical School.
Other units	21 January 1941	Commanding officer (temporary) Depot Battalion.
Other units	21 January 1941	Seconded AIF Middle East reinforcements S Depot.
Other units	05 March 1941	Brigade major Headquarters 16th Brigade.
Other	1941-05	Arrived Middle East.
Other	14 June 1941	Course Middle East Combined Training Centre.
Other units	1942-01-08 - 1943-06-18	Lieutenant colonel commanding officer 2/48th Battalion.
Date wounded	31 October 1942	Wounded in action - gun shot wound right cheek.
Other	09 November 1942	Returned to unit.
Date of honour or award	16 January 1943	Companion of the Distinguished Service Order.
Date returned to Australia	25 February 1943	Returned to Melbourne.
Other units	18 June 1943	Temporary brigadier, commander 15th Brigade.
Other	25 June 1943	Arrived New Guinea.
Other units	23 November 1943	Attached Headquarters 29th Brigade.
Date of honour or award	01 May 1944	Bar to Companion of the Distinguished Service Order.
Date returned to Australia	27 June 1944	Returned to Townsville.
Date promoted	24 October 1944	Appointed colonel (retains rank of temporary brigadier).
Other	16 November 1944	Arrived Bougainville.
Date returned to Australia	24 November 1944	Returned to Townsville.
Other	30 December 1944	Arrived Bougainville.
Date of honour or award	20 July 1945	Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Date returned to Australia	01 October 1945	Returned to Brisbane.
Other	29 November 1945	Reserve of Officers.
Date of honour or award	06 March 1947	Mention in Despatches.
Other units	01 January 1953	Command 2nd Armoured Brigade.
Other units	02 July 1956	Temporary major general command 3rd Division.
Other	01 July 1959	Reserve of Officers.
Date of death	10 March 1961
Other	c 1941-03-20	Arrived Greece.