Lieutenant Colonel Colin Henry Grace

Service number NX457
Birth Date 1909-07-17
Birth Place Australia: New South Wales, Sydney
Final Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Service Australian Army
Unit 2/15th Australian Infantry Battalion
Place Sydney
Conflict/Operation Second World War, 1939-1945
Gazettes Published in London Gazette in 1944-04-20
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1944-04-13

Rolls

  • Honours and Awards:

    Unit
    2/15th Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
    Rank
    Lieutenant Colonel
    London Gazette
    20 April 1944 on page 1817 at position 6
    Commonwealth Gazette
    13 April 1944 on page 803 at position 3
  • Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945

Timeline

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.'