Date of birth |
17 July 1909 |
|
Date and unit at enlinstment (ORs) |
01 June 1927 |
|
Interwar Service 1 |
01 June 1927 |
PTE-SGT Sydney University Regiment |
Date commissioned |
10 February 1931 |
|
Interwar Service 2 |
10 February 1931 |
lieutenant Sydney University Regiment |
Interwar Service 3 |
10 September 1937 |
captain |
Career summary 1 |
14 October 1939 |
course Command and Staff School company commander #11 1 |
Career summary 2 |
21 May 1940 |
enlisted 2AIF |
Career summary 3 |
01 June 1940 |
seconded captain liaison officer Headquarters 7thDivision |
Career summary 4 |
01 June 1940 |
POSTED 2/15th battalion remain seconded for STAFF DUTIES |
Career summary 5 |
07 June 1940 |
temporary major |
Career summary 6 |
24 November 1940 |
arrived Middle East |
Career summary 7 |
1940-11-30 - 1941-01-26 |
course Middle East Tactical School (Int) |
Career summary 8 |
12 March 1941 |
major |
Career summary 9 |
29 November 1941 |
returned to unit (2/15th battalion ) as 2iC |
Career summary 10 |
1942-02-17 - 1942-04-08 |
course Middle East Tactical School (senior O |
Career summary 11 |
22 October 1942 |
attached Headquarters 20th Brigade 14 |
Career summary 12 |
27 February 1943 |
Returned to Australia (Syd) |
Career summary 13 |
11 May 1943 |
temporary lieutenant colonel, commanding officer 2/15th battalion |
Appointment |
1943-05-11 - 1945-12-14 |
Battalion: 2/15th; Rank on appointment: major, temporary lieutenant colonel ; Appointed from: 2iC 2/15th battalion ; Reason for end of appointment: demobilised |
Career summary 14 |
04 August 1943 |
arrived New Guinea |
Career summary 16 |
12 March 1944 |
Returned to Australia (Bris) |
Career summary 17 |
17 March 1944 |
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order |
Career summary 18 |
1944-07-03 - 1944-08-05 |
attached Land Headquart |
Career summary 19 |
18 August 1944 |
medical (malaria) 6 |
Career summary 20 |
1945-04-09 - 1945-05-19 |
Special |
Career summary 21 |
21 April 1945 |
arrived Morotai |
Career summary 24 |
14 December 1945 |
relinquished command 2/15th |
Career summary 25 |
19 December 1945 |
Returned to Australia (Bris) ex Labuan |
Career summary 26 |
15 January 1946 |
Reserve of Officers |
Career summary 27 |
18 July 1947 |
ED |
Career summary 29 |
01 April 1948 |
commanding officer Sydney University Regiment |
Career summary 30 |
30 June 1951 |
Reserve of Officers |
Career summary 31 |
21 January 1955 |
S Comd officers Staff group |
Career summary 32 |
22 July 1958 |
Reserve of Officers |
Career summary 15 |
|
lieutenant colonel (bd 11 May 43) substantive rank confirmed during 44 |
Career summary 22 |
|
medical |
Career summary 23 |
|
medical |
Career summary 28 |
|
*** POST WAR *** |
Citations 2 |
|
'Shortly after landing at SCARLET BEACH on 22 Sep 43 Lt.-Col GRACE'S battalion was ordered to overcome an enemy position at KATIKA which by heavy fire from strongly constrcuted posts had caused numerous casualties and was delaying our advance inland, Lt.-Col GRACE himself went forward to make a reconnaissance from a position in close proximity to the enemy whose snipes were most active. As a result of this close reconnaissance he was able to form a plan for the employment of his mortars and the move of part of his battalion, which, threatening the enemy's flank, caused him to withdraw. Later in the campaign his battalion crossed the BUMI River against enemy opposition and captured dominating ground from which the final attack on the enemy defences of FINSCHHAFEN was launched. These engagements of his unit were directed by Lt.Col GRACE with skill and again as the result of reconnaissance which he made from forward positions. |
Citations 3 |
|
In October his battalion drove the enemy from strongly defended positions near KUMAWA and later again by vigorous action forced his retirement from the NONGARA area. |
Citations 4 |
|
In these operations Lt-Col GRACE showed not only sound military judgement but also a marked disregard of danger in getting by close personal observation of the ground, the information he wanted for the formation of his plans.' |