| Service number | VX5172 |
|---|---|
| Ranks Held | Acting Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Temporary Lieutenant Colonel |
| Birth Date | 05/01/1914 |
| Birth Place | Australia: Victoria, Melbourne |
| Final Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Service | Australian Army |
| Units |
|
| Place | Melbourne |
| Conflict/Operation | Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Lieutenant Colonel Walter Roadknight Dexter
Rolls
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 2/6th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- Second World War, 1939-1945
- Rank
- Acting Major
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 61st Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- Second World War, 1939-1945
- Rank
- Temporary Lieutenant Colonel
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Conflict
- Second World War, 1939-1945
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Conflict
- Second World War, 1939-1945
Timeline
| Citations 5 | Throughout these five attacks Major DEXTER's personal courage and leadership were at all time an inspiration to his command and carried them through a most vital and dangerous period. the loss of our positions on the LABABIA RIDGE would most seriously have prejudiced the success of the operations for clearing the enemy from the MUBO area. | |
|---|---|---|
| WW2 Service 5 | New Guinea | |
| WW2 Service 1 | Bougainville | |
| WW2 Service 2 | Bardia-Benghazi | |
| Citations 3 | On taking over command of the Coy defensive area on the LABABIA RIDGE, he completely redesigned and reconstructed the defences. On 20 Jun 43 his position was heavily attacked but the enemy was driven off with heavy casualties. | |
| Career summary 19 | Land Headquarters Tactical School (senior Offr) 16 Aug-26 Sep 43 (hung around at Tactical School for a while admitted to hospital with malria from there in Nov, was on leave b'n 28 Sep and 24 Oct) | |
| Citations 4 | On 21 Jun the enemy made three determined attacks in force and again on the 22nd a further large scale attack was made against Major DEXTER's Company by an enemy infantry battalion supported by artillery. By skilful manoeuvring of his small reserve, complete disregard of personal danger and his continual close contact with all threatened points, all attacks were repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy who were finally driven back to their original positions. | |
| Date of birth | 05/01/1914 | |
| Interwar Service 1 | 26/01/1939 | 23/21st battalion |
| Career summary 3 | 13/11/1939 | temporary sergeant |
| Career summary 1 | 12/11/1939 | 2/6th battalion |
| Career summary 2 | 13/11/1939 | enlisted 2AIF |
| Date commissioned | 13/11/1939 | |
| Career summary 4 | 13/11/1939 | lieutenant 22 Jan 40 (bd |
| Date and unit at enlinstment (ORs) | 26/01/1939 | |
| Career summary 5 | 18/05/1940 | arrived Middle East |
| Career summary 6 | 22/07/1940 | attached Headquarters 6Division13 |
| Career summary 7 | 25/07/1940 | Platoon command course Middle East Tactical School 22 |
| Career summary 11 | 1941-06-06 - 1941-07-04 | seconded 17 Australian infantry training battalion as adj |
| Career summary 8 | 22/03/1941 | wounded in action 1 Jan 41 (returned to unit |
| Career summary 10 | 05/1941 | arrived Middle East ex Greece |
| Career summary 9 | c 1941-04-01 | arrived Greece |
| Career summary 12 | 16/03/1942 | captain |
| Career summary 15 | 11/08/1942 | Married |
| Career summary 16 | 20/10/1942 | arrived New Guinea |
| Career summary 14 | 04/08/1942 | Returned to Australia (Melbourne) |
| Career summary 13 | 24/03/1942 | arrived Ceylon |
| Career summary 18 | 29/07/1943 | Returned to Australia (Townsville ) |
| Career summary 17 | 15/05/1943 | temporary major |
| Citations 2 | 22/06/1943 | For inspiring leadership and gallanrty in action on LABABIA RIDGE in the MUBO area during 20 to |
| Career summary 20 | 1943-11-16 - 1943-12-12 | Malaria benign tertian (a type of malaria) hosp |
| Career summary 26 | 01/04/1944 | lieutenant colonel 19 Jul 45 (bd |
| Appointment | 1944-04-01 - 1945-05-13 | Battalion: 61st; Rank on appointment: major, temporary lieutenant colonel ; Appointed from: 2iC 2/6th battalion ; Reason for end of appointment: deemed medically unfit for duty: neuritis |
| Career summary 21 | 01/04/1944 | temporary lieutenant colonel, commanding officer 61st battalion |
| Career summary 22 | 24/07/1944 | arrived Madang |
| Career summary 23 | 13/11/1944 | arrived Bougainville |
| Career summary 27 | 27/07/1945 | Reserve of Officers |
| Career summary 24 | 08/05/1945 | Neuritis-neck hosp 8 Apr 45 (requires Returned to Australia cervical neuritis ancylostomiasis (on |
| Career summary 25 | 13/05/1945 | relinquished command 61st battalion |
| Career summary 28 | 21/02/1946 | Mention in Despatches |