| Service number | 225, NX73 |
|---|---|
| Ranks Held | Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Major General |
| Birth Date | 1910-10-06 |
| Birth Place | Australia: New South Wales, Sydney |
| Death Date | 1993-11-22 |
| Death Place | Australia: Australian Capital Territory, Canberra |
| Final Rank | Major General |
| Service | Australian Army |
| Units |
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| Places | |
| Conflicts/Operations |
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| Gazettes |
Published in London Gazette in 1958-01-01 Published in London Gazette in 1966-06-11 Published in London Gazette in 1943-10-14 Published in London Gazette in 1941-12-30 Published in London Gazette in 1943-06-24 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1958-01-16 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1944-03-16 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1944-01-06 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1966-06-23 |
Major General Charles Hector Finlay
Collection items
Rolls
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- Army
- Conflict
- Period 1960-1969
- Rank
- Major General
- London Gazette
- 11 June 1966 on page 6565 at position 1
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 23 June 1966 on page 3193 at position 1
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Conflict
- Second World War, 1939-1945
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 26th Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- Second World War, 1939-1945
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel
- London Gazette
- 14 October 1943 on page 4540 at position 4
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 06 January 1944 on page 6 at position 2
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Conflict
- Second World War, 1939-1945
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- Australian Army Service Corps
- Conflict
- Period 1950-1959
- Rank
- Major General
- London Gazette
- 01 January 1958 on page 39 at position 6
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 16 January 1958 on page 157 at position 3
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 26th Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- Second World War, 1939-1945
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel
- London Gazette
- 24 June 1943 on page 2865 at position 34
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 16 March 1944 on page 650 at position 52
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 21st Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- Second World War, 1939-1945
- Rank
- Major
- London Gazette
- 30 December 1941 on page 7358 at position 9
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Conflict
- Second World War, 1939-1945
Timeline
| Date of birth | 06 October 1910 | |
|---|---|---|
| Date and unit at enlinstment (ORs) | 15 February 1928 | |
| Interwar Service 1 | 15 February 1928 | Inducted Staff Captain |
| Royal Military College | 1928-02-15 - 1931-12-08 | |
| Date commissioned | 09 December 1931 | |
| Interwar Service 2 | 09 December 1931 | Lieutenant |
| Interwar Service 3 | 01 February 1932 | 1/21st Light Horse Regiment |
| Interwar Service 4 | 1932-08-01 - 1935-01-15 | aide de camp to Governor General |
| Interwar Service 5 | 06 February 1935 | adjutant & QM 20 Light Horse Regiment |
| Interwar Service 6 | 1935-09-10 - 1936-10-26 | Training in India. |
| Interwar Service 7 | 26 October 1936 | Adjutant & QM 13th Light Horse Regiment. |
| Interwar Service 8 | 19 June 1939 | Instructor Central Training Depot. |
| Career summary 2 | 23 October 1939 | Enlisted 2 AIF. |
| Career summary 3 | 01 November 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 5 | 23 February 1941 | Seconded brigade major Headquarters 21st Brigade. |
| Career summary 6 | 05 April 1941 | Temporary Major. |
| Career summary 7 | 25 May 1941 | Major (bd 23 Feb 41) promul |
| Career summary 8 | 01 October 1941 | General service officer grade 2 Headquarters 7th Division. |
| Career summary 1 | 13 October 1941 | Seconded Captain 6th Division Cavalry regiment. |
| Career summary 9 | 28 December 1941 | General service officer grade 2 (ED) G Headquarters Middle East. |
| Career summary 10 | 17 May 1942 | Assistant liaison officer G Headquarters Middle East. |
| Career summary 12 | 09 June 1942 | Brigade Major Headquarters 26th Brigade. |
| Career summary 11 | 25 June 1942 | Mention in Despatches. |
| Citations 2 | 04 November 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 13 | 07 November 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. |
| Career summary 14 | 22 December 1942 | Lieutenant Colonel (bd 7 Nov 42) promul. |
| Career summary 15 | 1943-01 | (Was wanted for job in Australian Army Staff London, wasn't appt though). |
| Career summary 16 | 25 February 1943 | Returned to Australia (Melbourne). |
| Career summary 17 | 18 April 1943 | Relinquished command 2/24th battalion. |
| Career summary 18 | 18 April 1943 | General service officer (Liaison) Headquarters 2 Australian Corps. |
| Career summary 19 | 26 August 1943 | Mention in Despatches (1 May-22 Oct 42). |
| Career summary 20 | 07 October 1943 | Arrived Moresby. |
| Career summary 21 | 03 November 1943 | Officer of the Order of the British Empire. |
| Career summary 22 | 15 December 1943 | General service officer grade 1 (Adv LHQ) director Mil Int. |
| Career summary 23 | 06 March 1944 | Returned to Australia. |
| Career summary 24 | 24 July 1944 | General service officer grade 1 (Special Ops) SRD, liaison officer (SRD-DMI), Dir'e Mil Int, G Br, Adv LHQ. |
| 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 26 | 13 November 1944 | General service officer grade 1 (Int) Headquarters Adv Land Headquarters. |
| Career summary 27 | 15 January 1945 | Arrived Hollandia. |
| Career summary 28 | 12 April 1945 | Arrived Manila. |
| Career summary 29 | 24 August 1945 | Arrived Morotai. |
| Career summary 30 | 22 September 1945 | Returned to Australia (Brisbane). |
| Career summary 31 | 22 September 1945 | Attached Int General Staff Headquarters AMF. |
| Career summary 32 | 26 August 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 October 1948 | Lieutenant Colonel (Australian Staff Corps). |
| Career summary 35 | 14 March 1949 | Assistant adjutant and quarter master general Headquarters 4MD. |
| Career summary 37 | 04 September 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 July 1952 | Colonel (Australian Staff Corps). |
| Career summary 40 | 03 November 1953 | Temporary Brigadier. |
| Career summary 42 | 08 November 1953 | Arrived Japan. |
| Career summary 41 | 13 November 1953 | Command BCFK (Australian Army Component). |
| Career summary 43 | 23 November 1953 | Arrived Korea. |
| Career summary 44 | 15 October 1954 | Relinquished command Australian Component BCFK. |
| Career summary 46 | 30 October 1954 | Brigadier (Australian Staff Corps). |
| Career summary 45 | 11 January 1955 | Attached AAustralian United Kingdom for 1955 Imp Def Coll Cse. |
| Career summary 47 | 10 January 1956 | Australian Army Rep United Kingdom. |
| Career summary 49 | 08 July 1957 | Relinquish AAR United Kingdom. |
| Career summary 50 | 09 September 1957 | Quarter Master general A Headquarters. |
| Career summary 48 | 30 September 1957 | Major General. |
| Career summary 51 | 16 January 1958 | Commander of the Order of the British Empire. |
| Career summary 52 | 15 January 1962 | Commandant Royal Military College. |
| Career summary 53 | 01 January 1966 | Companion of the Order of the Bath. |
| Career summary 54 | 07 January 1968 | Relinquish commandant Royal Military College. |
| Career summary 55 | 08 January 1968 | Retired List. |
| Date of death | 22 November 1993 | |
| Career summary 36 | General service officer grade 1 Headquarters 4MD. | |
| Citations 11 | Devotion to duty in the AMF. | |
| 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 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 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 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.' | |
| Citations 7 | Ext Sheet DN 57/43, LG Supp 36209/43. | |
| Citations 9 | For a devoted contribution to the AMF. |
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