Lieutenant Colonel Mervyn Roderick Jeanes

Service number SX9364
Ranks Held Captain, Lieutenant Colonel
Birth Date 1911-12-21
Birth Place Australia: South Australia, Adelaide
Death Date 1978-06-23
Final Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Service Australian Army
Unit 2/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion
Place Adelaide
Conflict/Operation Second World War, 1939-1945
Gazettes Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1947-03-06
Published in London Gazette in 1942-06-30
Published in London Gazette in 1942-09-24
Published in London Gazette in 1947-03-06

Rolls

  • Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
  • Honours and Awards:

    Unit
    2/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
    Rank
    Captain
    London Gazette
    30 June 1942 on page 2857 at position 78
  • Honours and Awards:

    Unit
    2/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
    Rank
    Captain
    London Gazette
    24 September 1942 on page 4155 at position 4
  • Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
  • Honours and Awards:

    Unit
    2/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
    Rank
    Lieutenant Colonel
    London Gazette
    06 March 1947 on page 1089 at position 27
    Commonwealth Gazette
    06 March 1947 on page 748 at position 19

Timeline

Date of birth 21 December 1911
Date commissioned 27 February 1934
Interwar Service 1 27 February 1934 lieutenant 43/48th battalion
Interwar Service 2 01 July 1939 43rd battalion
Career summary 1 08 February 1940 temporary captain 43rd battalion
Career summary 2 22 July 1940 TFD 2/43rd battalion as captain
Career summary 3 23 July 1940 enlisted 2AIF
Career summary 4 02 February 1941 arrived Middle East
Career summary 5 14 September 1942 wounded in action (Shell/shrapnel wound lt thigh) 17 Jul 42 (returned to unit
Career summary 8 1942-10-05 - 1943-01-10 temporary major commanding officer 24th Australian infantry training battalion
Career summary 7 14 October 1942 Mention in Despatches
Career summary 9 10 January 1943 relinquish temporary major & commanding officer 24th Australian infantry training battalion
Career summary 10 27 February 1943 Returned to Australia (Syd)
Career summary 11 08 June 1943 temporary major
Career summary 12 10 August 1943 arrived Milne Bay
Career summary 13 31 January 1944 Returned to Australia (T'Ville) ex Finschhafen
Career summary 14 17 February 1944 major (bd 8 Jun 43) reported
Career summary 15 1944-12-18 - 1945-01-21 course Land Headquarters Tactical School (senior Offr) # 15
Career summary 16 31 March 1945 temporary lieutenant colonel, commanding officer 2/43rd battalion
Appointment 1945-03-31 - 1945-12-16 Battalion: 2/43rd; Rank on appointment: temporary lieutenant colonel; Appointed from: 2/43rd battalion ; Reason for end of appointment: new command -acting command: 24th Brigade
Career summary 17 16 April 1945 arrived Morotai
Career summary 19 27 September 1945 lieutenant colonel (bd 31 Mar 45) reported
Career summary 20 16 December 1945 relinquished command 2/43rd battalion
Career summary 21 16 December 1945 administering command 24th Brigade
Career summary 22 17 January 1946 Returned to Australia (Bris) ex Labuan
Career summary 23 28 February 1946 relinquish administering command 24th Brigadee
Career summary 24 20 March 1946 Reserve of Officers
Career summary 25 16 October 1946 ED
Career summary 26 11 April 1947 Companion of the Distinguished Service Order
Date of death 23 June 1978
Date of death 23 June 1978
Career summary 18 c 1945-06-01 arrived British North Borneo
Career summary 6 Military Cross
Citations 2 'Capt. M.R. JEANES was the commander of a highly successful raid on enemy positions at 8883276, SOUTH of EL ALEMEIN [sic] on the night 7/8 July 42 which resulted in the complete destruction oof four enemy A Tk guns, one 75 or 105mm gun, six tractors one A Tk gun destroyed by the enemy three damaged British Tanks with haulage gear attached, the recapture of one British Bren carrier, and the caputre of nine prisoners of war, one Machine Gun, one Machine Pistol, besides inflicting some 40 casualties. Daring personal recces and careful organisation by Capt JEANES prior to the raid, contributed to its success, and th inspiration of his gallantry in the attack, which he led, and spurred on, was most marked. His coolness and leadership set a very hihg example to those under his command.'
Citations 3 Recom'd by: LTCOL W.J. Wain CO 2/43rd Bn
Citations 4 BRIG AHL Godfrey COMD 24th Bde
WW2 Service 1 Benghazi
WW2 Service 2 El Alamein
WW2 Service 3 New Guinea