Major General Charles Hector Finlay

Service number NX73, 225
Ranks Held Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Major General
Birth Date 06/10/1910
Birth Place Australia: New South Wales, Sydney
Death Date 22/11/1993
Death Place Australia: Australian Capital Territory, Canberra
Final Rank Major General
Service Australian Army
Units
  • 21st Australian Infantry Brigade
  • 26th Australian Infantry Brigade
  • Army
Places
Conflicts/Operations
  • Second World War, 1939-1945
  • Period 1945-1959
  • Period 1960-1979

Rolls

Timeline

Citations 3 Lt. Col. FINLAY was BM 26 Aust Inf Bde during the above operations near TEL EL AISA. [sic] From the commencement of operations until the Bde was withdrawn from the line, he worked unceasingly, and with a strong determination in the preparation of plans and orders. He maintained a sure and guiding hand on the pulse of all actions during the whole of the operational period.
Citations 5 Despite the exceptional volume of work involved in the operations themselves, Lt-Col. FINLAY displayed a cool demeanour and sound judgement under all conditions of stree and did much hereby to ensure the smooth organization throughout the whol Bde, and the Bde Staff in particular, that alone could have made success possible.
Citations 4 In this time no less than four attacks took place involving the Bde and attached troops. In one attack three additional major units were under command. Despite the resultant pressure of work, an abnormal period without rest, and the short time available to prepare for each attack, the Bde orders were carefully drawn up and many complicated moves were satisfactorily co-ordinated.
Citations 9 For a devoted contribution to the AMF.
Career summary 36 General service officer grade 1 Headquarters 4MD.
Citations 11 Devotion to duty in the AMF.
Citations 7 Ext Sheet DN 57/43, LG Supp 36209/43.
Citations 6 His work throughout was an inspiration to all who dealt with him and by his own personal determination and example helped to obtain in no small way the results achieved.'
Date of birth 06/10/1910
Royal Military College 1928-02-15 - 1931-12-08
Date and unit at enlinstment (ORs) 15/02/1928
Interwar Service 1 15/02/1928 Inducted Staff Captain
Date commissioned 09/12/1931
Interwar Service 2 09/12/1931 Lieutenant
Interwar Service 3 01/02/1932 1/21st Light Horse Regiment
Interwar Service 4 1932-08-01 - 1935-01-15 aide de camp to Governor General
Interwar Service 6 1935-09-10 - 1936-10-26 Training in India.
Interwar Service 5 06/02/1935 adjutant & QM 20 Light Horse Regiment
Interwar Service 7 26/10/1936 Adjutant & QM 13th Light Horse Regiment.
Career summary 2 23/10/1939 Enlisted 2 AIF.
Interwar Service 8 19/06/1939 Instructor Central Training Depot.
Career summary 3 01/11/1940 Arrived Middle East.
Career summary 4 1940-11-01 - 1941-02-23 Course Middle East Staff School #3 Jnr War Staff Course.
Career summary 8 01/10/1941 General service officer grade 2 Headquarters 7th Division.
Career summary 7 25/05/1941 Major (bd 23 Feb 41) promul
Career summary 1 13/10/1941 Seconded Captain 6th Division Cavalry regiment.
Career summary 5 23/02/1941 Seconded brigade major Headquarters 21st Brigade.
Career summary 6 05/04/1941 Temporary Major.
Career summary 9 28/12/1941 General service officer grade 2 (ED) G Headquarters Middle East.
Career summary 13 07/11/1942 Temporary Lieutenant Colonel, commanding officer 2/24th battalion.
Appointment 1942-11-07 - 1943-04-18 Battalion: 2/24th; Rank on appointment: Major, temporary Lieutenant Colonel; Appointed from: Brigade Major 26th Brigade; Reason for end of appointment: staff appointment: general service officer (Liasion) Headquarters 2 Australian Corps.
Citations 2 04/11/1942 'For meritorious service and devotion to duty throughout the period 23 Oct to 23 Jan 43, and in particular during the Western Desert operations.
Career summary 14 22/12/1942 Lieutenant Colonel (bd 7 Nov 42) promul.
Career summary 10 17/05/1942 Assistant liaison officer G Headquarters Middle East.
Career summary 12 09/06/1942 Brigade Major Headquarters 26th Brigade.
Career summary 11 25/06/1942 Mention in Despatches.
Career summary 18 18/04/1943 General service officer (Liaison) Headquarters 2 Australian Corps.
Career summary 22 15/12/1943 General service officer grade 1 (Adv LHQ) director Mil Int.
Career summary 17 18/04/1943 Relinquished command 2/24th battalion.
Career summary 20 07/10/1943 Arrived Moresby.
Career summary 15 01/1943 (Was wanted for job in Australian Army Staff London, wasn't appt though).
Career summary 21 03/11/1943 Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
Career summary 19 26/08/1943 Mention in Despatches (1 May-22 Oct 42).
Career summary 16 25/02/1943 Returned to Australia (Melbourne).
Career summary 24 24/07/1944 General service officer grade 1 (Special Ops) SRD, liaison officer (SRD-DMI), Dir'e Mil Int, G Br, Adv LHQ.
Career summary 23 06/03/1944 Returned to Australia.
Career summary 26 13/11/1944 General service officer grade 1 (Int) Headquarters Adv Land Headquarters.
Career summary 25 1944-08-03 - 1944-11-13 Administering commanding officer Z Special Unit (in addition to general service officer grade 1 (Spec Ops).
Career summary 29 24/08/1945 Arrived Morotai.
Career summary 27 15/01/1945 Arrived Hollandia.
Career summary 28 12/04/1945 Arrived Manila.
Career summary 30 22/09/1945 Returned to Australia (Brisbane).
Career summary 31 22/09/1945 Attached Int General Staff Headquarters AMF.
Career summary 32 26/08/1946 General service officer grade 1 Exchange officers (general service officer grade 1 (Mil Operations & Planning) A Headquarters Canada) with Canadian Army.
Career summary 34 18/10/1948 Lieutenant Colonel (Australian Staff Corps).
Career summary 35 14/03/1949 Assistant adjutant and quarter master general Headquarters 4MD.
Career summary 37 04/09/1950 Temporary Colonel DMI, A Headquarters.
Career summary 38 1952-05-15 - 1955-06-19 HON aide de camp Governor General.
Career summary 39 09/07/1952 Colonel (Australian Staff Corps).
Career summary 42 08/11/1953 Arrived Japan.
Career summary 40 03/11/1953 Temporary Brigadier.
Career summary 43 23/11/1953 Arrived Korea.
Career summary 41 13/11/1953 Command BCFK (Australian Army Component).
Career summary 44 15/10/1954 Relinquished command Australian Component BCFK.
Career summary 46 30/10/1954 Brigadier (Australian Staff Corps).
Career summary 45 11/01/1955 Attached AAustralian United Kingdom for 1955 Imp Def Coll Cse.
Career summary 47 10/01/1956 Australian Army Rep United Kingdom.
Career summary 49 08/07/1957 Relinquish AAR United Kingdom.
Career summary 48 30/09/1957 Major General.
Career summary 50 09/09/1957 Quarter Master general A Headquarters.
Career summary 51 16/01/1958 Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Career summary 52 15/01/1962 Commandant Royal Military College.
Career summary 53 01/01/1966 Companion of the Order of the Bath.
Career summary 55 08/01/1968 Retired List.
Career summary 54 07/01/1968 Relinquish commandant Royal Military College.
Date of death 22/11/1993