Charles Hercules Green
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Colonel
Charles Hercules Green DSO
(26 December 1919 – 1 November 1950) was a senior officer in the Australian Army
. He served as a battalion commander in World War II
, and again later during the Korean War
, where he was killed in action while commanding the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
. He was the youngest battalion commander in the Second AIF, and was reputed to have been one of the Australian Army's better unit-level commanders.
, New South Wales
, Charles Green was the second of three children to Hercules John Green and Bertha Deville, and was raised at Swan Creek. He attended school at Swan Creek Public School and Grafton High School. In 1933, he began working for his father on the family dairy farm.
, a militia unit, and was promoted to sergeant
in 1938 and lieutenant
in March 1939.
, he enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 13 October 1939 and was posted to the 2/2nd Battalion. The 2/2nd Battalion was subsequently deployed to the Middle East
in February 1940, however Green missed out on the North African campaign
between December 1940 and January 1941 due to accidentally injuring himself. The battalion was later committed to Greece
, where Green participated in the fighting at Pineios Gorge on 18 April. In the subsequent retreat from Greece he evaded capture by undertaking a hazardous journey through the Aegean Islands
, through Turkey
, and reached Palestine
on 23 May.
Green's battalion then was sent to undertake garrison duties in Syria
and Ceylon, before finally returning to Australia in August 1942. Again he could not participate with the battalion in the New Guinea campaign
as he had injured his foot and contracted typhoid whilst in Ceylon. Posted as an instructor to the First Army's Junior Tactical School, Southport, Queensland
, in December. He married Edna Olwyn Warner at St Paul's Anglican Church, Ulmarra, New South Wales
on 30 January 1943.
Promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel
on 9 March 1945 and given command of the 2/11th Battalion, and at the age of only 25 he was the youngest Australian battalion commander during the war. The battalion then took part in the attack on Wewak and operations around Boram
during 1945. Conditions were difficult, and during the early part of the campaign supply lines were constantly raided by the Japanese causing difficulty with rations and creature comforts. Later the battalion suffered significant casualties, but still Green managed to maintain morale and efficiency—all objectives assigned to the unit during the campaign were achieved. As a result he was later awarded the Distinguished Service Order
.Green's brigade commander, Brigadier
J. Martin, recommended him for appointment as Officer of the Order of the British Empire, this was endorsed by Major General
Horace Robertson
, commanding 6th Division, upgraded to the Distinguished Service Order
by Lieutenant General
Vernon Sturdee
of First Army, this recommendation was in turn endorsed by General
Thomas Blamey
, Commander-in-Chief, Australian Military Forces, and Green was duly awarded the DSO on 6 March 1947. See and
when it reformed in April 1948 as its commander, while on 6 January 1949 he again joined the Regular Army. In 1950 he was selected to attend Staff College.
was committed to the Korean War
, he was appointed the Commanding Officer in September 1950. After only two weeks training the battalion was sent to Korea where it formed part of 27th British Commonwealth Brigade. Leading the battalion with distinction through the battles at Yongju
, Kujin
, and Chongju
he was severely wounded by a shell burst while resting in his tent. He could not be saved, however, and died the next day in a nearby US Army Mobile Army Surgical Hospital
at Anju
. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star
and was buried in the United Nations War Cemetery in Pusan, South Korea.
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Charles Hercules Green DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(26 December 1919 – 1 November 1950) was a senior officer in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
. He served as a battalion commander in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and again later during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, where he was killed in action while commanding the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment is a parachute infantry battalion of the Australian Army, based in Sydney. 3 RAR was initially formed in 1945 as the 67th Battalion and has seen active service in Japan, Korea, Malaya, South Vietnam, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan and Iraq...
. He was the youngest battalion commander in the Second AIF, and was reputed to have been one of the Australian Army's better unit-level commanders.
Early life
Born on 26 December 1919 at GraftonGrafton, New South Wales
The city of Grafton is the commercial hub of the Clarence River Valley. Established in 1851, Grafton features many historic buildings and tree-lined streets. Located approximately 630 kilometres north of Sydney and 340 km south of Brisbane, Grafton and the Clarence Valley can be reached...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Charles Green was the second of three children to Hercules John Green and Bertha Deville, and was raised at Swan Creek. He attended school at Swan Creek Public School and Grafton High School. In 1933, he began working for his father on the family dairy farm.
Early service
On 28 October 1936, at the age of 16, he enlisted in the 41st Battalion41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment
The 41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment, , is an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. A Reserve unit, it is one of four battalions of the Royal New South Wales Regiment and is attached to the 8th Brigade, 2nd Division...
, a militia unit, and was promoted to sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
in 1938 and lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in March 1939.
World War II
With the outbreak of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 13 October 1939 and was posted to the 2/2nd Battalion. The 2/2nd Battalion was subsequently deployed to the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
in February 1940, however Green missed out on the North African campaign
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
between December 1940 and January 1941 due to accidentally injuring himself. The battalion was later committed to Greece
Battle of Greece
The Battle of Greece is the common name for the invasion and conquest of Greece by Nazi Germany in April 1941. Greece was supported by British Commonwealth forces, while the Germans' Axis allies Italy and Bulgaria played secondary roles...
, where Green participated in the fighting at Pineios Gorge on 18 April. In the subsequent retreat from Greece he evaded capture by undertaking a hazardous journey through the Aegean Islands
Aegean Islands
The Aegean Islands are the group of islands in the Aegean Sea, with mainland Greece to the west and north and Turkey to the east; the island of Crete delimits the sea to the south, those of Rhodes, Karpathos and Kasos to the southeast...
, through Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, and reached Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
on 23 May.
Green's battalion then was sent to undertake garrison duties in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and Ceylon, before finally returning to Australia in August 1942. Again he could not participate with the battalion in the New Guinea campaign
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II.Before the war, the island of New Guinea was split between:...
as he had injured his foot and contracted typhoid whilst in Ceylon. Posted as an instructor to the First Army's Junior Tactical School, Southport, Queensland
Southport, Queensland
-Sport:The Southport Sharks Australian rules football club has a presence in the area, including a club and function centre.-Transport:The Broadwaterway is a foreshoreway that encourages pedestrians and cyclists to travel along the Broadwater foreshores of Southport.A ferry terminal is planned for...
, in December. He married Edna Olwyn Warner at St Paul's Anglican Church, Ulmarra, New South Wales
Ulmarra, New South Wales
Ulmarra is a small town on the south bank of the Clarence River in New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the Clarence Valley district. At the 2006 census, Ulmarra had a population of 446 people....
on 30 January 1943.
Promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
on 9 March 1945 and given command of the 2/11th Battalion, and at the age of only 25 he was the youngest Australian battalion commander during the war. The battalion then took part in the attack on Wewak and operations around Boram
Aitape-Wewak campaign
The Aitape–Wewak campaign was one of the final campaigns of the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Between November 1944 and the end of the war in August 1945, the Australian 6th Division, with air and naval support, fought the Imperial Japanese 18th Army in northern New Guinea...
during 1945. Conditions were difficult, and during the early part of the campaign supply lines were constantly raided by the Japanese causing difficulty with rations and creature comforts. Later the battalion suffered significant casualties, but still Green managed to maintain morale and efficiency—all objectives assigned to the unit during the campaign were achieved. As a result he was later awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
.Green's brigade commander, Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
J. Martin, recommended him for appointment as Officer of the Order of the British Empire, this was endorsed by Major General
Major General (Australia)
Major General is a senior rank of the Australian Army, and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of Major General. It is the third-highest active rank of the Australian Army, and is considered to be equivalent to a two-star rank...
Horace Robertson
Horace Robertson
Lieutenant General Sir Horace Clement Hugh Robertson KBE, DSO was a senior officer in the Australian Army who served in the First World War, the Second World War and the Korean War...
, commanding 6th Division, upgraded to the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
by Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General (Australia)
Lieutenant general is the second-highest active rank of the Australian Army and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of lieutenant general. It is also considered a three-star rank....
Vernon Sturdee
Vernon Sturdee
Lieutenant General Sir Vernon Ashton Hobart Sturdee KBE, CB, DSO was an Australian Army commander who served two terms as Chief of the General Staff...
of First Army, this recommendation was in turn endorsed by General
General (Australia)
General is the second highest rank, and the highest active rank, of the Australian Army and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of General; it is also considered a four-star rank....
Thomas Blamey
Thomas Blamey
Field Marshal Sir Thomas Albert Blamey GBE, KCB, CMG, DSO, ED was an Australian general of the First and Second World Wars, and the only Australian to date to attain the rank of field marshal....
, Commander-in-Chief, Australian Military Forces, and Green was duly awarded the DSO on 6 March 1947. See and
Post World War II
After discharging on 23 November 1945, he returned to Grafton where he worked at the Producers' Co-operative Distributing Society Ltd and studied accountancy. During this time he and his wife had a daughter, Anthea. He returned to the 41st Battalion as part of the Citizens Military ForcesAustralian Army Reserve
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the reserve units of the Australian Army. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the...
when it reformed in April 1948 as its commander, while on 6 January 1949 he again joined the Regular Army. In 1950 he was selected to attend Staff College.
Korean War
After the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment is a parachute infantry battalion of the Australian Army, based in Sydney. 3 RAR was initially formed in 1945 as the 67th Battalion and has seen active service in Japan, Korea, Malaya, South Vietnam, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan and Iraq...
was committed to the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, he was appointed the Commanding Officer in September 1950. After only two weeks training the battalion was sent to Korea where it formed part of 27th British Commonwealth Brigade. Leading the battalion with distinction through the battles at Yongju
Battle of Yongju
The Battle of Yongju , also known as the Battle of the Apple Orchard, took place as part of the United Nations offensive towards the Yalu River, against the North Korean forces which had invaded South Korea during the Korean War...
, Kujin
Battle of Kujin
The Battle of Kujin , also known as the Battle of the Broken Bridge, took place during the United Nations offensive towards the Yalu River, which followed the North Korean invasion of South Korea at the start of the Korean War...
, and Chongju
Battle of Chongju (1950)
The Battle of Chongju took place during the United Nations offensive towards the Yalu River, which followed the North Korean invasion of South Korea at the start of the Korean War...
he was severely wounded by a shell burst while resting in his tent. He could not be saved, however, and died the next day in a nearby US Army Mobile Army Surgical Hospital
Mobile Army Surgical Hospital
The Mobile Army Surgical Hospital refers to a United States Army medical unit serving as a fully functional hospital in a combat area of operations. The units were first established in August 1945, and were deployed during the Korean War and later conflicts. The U.S...
at Anju
Anju (city)
Anju-si is a city in the South Pyongan province of North Korea at the coordinates of . Its current population is unknown, but judging from satellite imagery, at least 100,000 people reside there. The Ch'ongch'on River passes through Anju....
. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
and was buried in the United Nations War Cemetery in Pusan, South Korea.