Frederick Oliver Chilton
Encyclopedia
Brigadier
Sir Frederick Oliver Chilton CBE
, DSO & Bar
(23 July 1905 - 1 October 2007) was a senior officer in the Australian Army
.
Chilton was remembered as the last surviving commanding officer of the 2/2nd Infantry Battalion of the 6th Division; he was farewelled in Sydney
by a handful of his former colleagues.
The handful of soldiers from Sir Frederick's 2/2 Battalion, all in their late 80s, reflected on their experiences serving under a man they described as "inspirational and genuine". Former sergeant Carl Parrott said: "He was an excellent man. He wasn't highfalutin; he was just a good bloke. There are some commanding officers I wouldn't walk five miles for, but I'd go miles and miles for him."
Born in Sydney in 1905 and educated at North Sydney High School
, Sir Frederick studied law at Sydney University, joining the Sydney University Regiment
, which produced a number of notable A.I.F. leaders. He was the commanding officer of D Company with the 2/2 infantry battalion of the 6th Division in the first Libyan
and Greek campaigns.
In the Libyan campaign, Chilton was described as an exceptionally careful planner who liked to leave nothing to chance. In May 1941 Chilton was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
, which cited his "conspicuous gallantry, coolness and initiative". During the Greek campaign, New Zealand
General Bernard Freyberg
praised Chilton as a fine man and Freyberg also praised Chilton for his calm attitude during the campaign.
From 1943 to 1945, Sir Frederick, with the rank of brigadier, commanded the 18th Australian Infantry Brigade
in Buna
, the Ramu Valley
and later in Borneo
.
In the New Guinea campaign
, Chilton was described as modest and self-effacing but with a keen sense of duty; Chilton had already proved himself a resolute leader and careful planner. At the end of hostilities he was military governor of the Celebes (now Sulawesi) and accepted the Japanese surrender from General Fusataro Teshima.
At the war's end, Sir Frederick joined the Joint Intelligence Service and helped map out Australia's Cold War strategy that led to the formation of ASIO
and ASIS
. He is credited with helping crack a Russian spy ring attempting to operate in Australia.
In 1948, he was appointed assistant secretary of the Defence of Department and two years later promoted to the position of chairman of the Repatriation Commission, the forerunner of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Chilton said that the time when he led the Repatriation Department was "perhaps the most useful, productive and satisfying years of my working life, and they gave full scope to whatever leadership qualities I may have possessed".
Never married, Sir Frederick rarely spoke of his military life.
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....
Sir Frederick Oliver Chilton CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DSO & Bar
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...
(23 July 1905 - 1 October 2007) 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...
.
Chilton was remembered as the last surviving commanding officer of the 2/2nd Infantry Battalion of the 6th Division; he was farewelled in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
by a handful of his former colleagues.
The handful of soldiers from Sir Frederick's 2/2 Battalion, all in their late 80s, reflected on their experiences serving under a man they described as "inspirational and genuine". Former sergeant Carl Parrott said: "He was an excellent man. He wasn't highfalutin; he was just a good bloke. There are some commanding officers I wouldn't walk five miles for, but I'd go miles and miles for him."
Born in Sydney in 1905 and educated at North Sydney High School
North Sydney Boys High School
North Sydney Boys High School is an academically selective, public high school for boys, located at Crows Nest in Sydney, Australia.- History :...
, Sir Frederick studied law at Sydney University, joining the Sydney University Regiment
Sydney University Regiment
Sydney University Regiment is an officer training regiment of the Australian Army Reserve. It can trace its lineage back to 1900 when the University Volunteer Rifle Corps was raised as a unit of the colonial New South Wales Defence Force. Over time this unit has undergone a number of name and role...
, which produced a number of notable A.I.F. leaders. He was the commanding officer of D Company with the 2/2 infantry battalion of the 6th Division in the first Libyan
Western Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
and Greek campaigns.
In the Libyan campaign, Chilton was described as an exceptionally careful planner who liked to leave nothing to chance. In May 1941 Chilton was 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...
, which cited his "conspicuous gallantry, coolness and initiative". During the Greek campaign, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
General Bernard Freyberg
Bernard Freyberg, 1st Baron Freyberg
Lieutenant-General Bernard Cyril Freyberg, 1st Baron Freyberg VC, GCMG, KCB, KBE, DSO & Three Bars , was a British-born New Zealand Victoria Cross recipient and soldier who later served as the seventh Governor-General of New Zealand.A veteran of the Mexican Revolution, he became an officer in the...
praised Chilton as a fine man and Freyberg also praised Chilton for his calm attitude during the campaign.
From 1943 to 1945, Sir Frederick, with the rank of brigadier, commanded the 18th Australian Infantry Brigade
18th Brigade (Australia)
The 18th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army, which served during the Second World War. The brigade was raised on 13 October 1939 and was one of the first three infantry brigades of the Second Australian Imperial Force to be formed. Initially commanded by Brigadier Leslie...
in Buna
Buna, Papua New Guinea
Buna is a village in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. It was the site in part, of the Battle of Buna-Gona during World War II, when it constituted a variety of native huts and a handful of houses with a airstrip...
, the Ramu Valley
Finisterre Range campaign
The Finisterre Range campaign, also known as the Ramu Valley–Finisterre Range campaign, was a series of actions in the New Guinea campaign of World War II...
and later in Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
.
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:...
, Chilton was described as modest and self-effacing but with a keen sense of duty; Chilton had already proved himself a resolute leader and careful planner. At the end of hostilities he was military governor of the Celebes (now Sulawesi) and accepted the Japanese surrender from General Fusataro Teshima.
At the war's end, Sir Frederick joined the Joint Intelligence Service and helped map out Australia's Cold War strategy that led to the formation of ASIO
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is Australia's national security service, which is responsible for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage, sabotage, acts of foreign interference, politically-motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, and...
and ASIS
Australian Secret Intelligence Service
The Australian Secret Intelligence Service is the Australian government intelligence agency responsible for collecting foreign intelligence, undertaking counter-intelligence activities and cooperation with other intelligence agencies overseas...
. He is credited with helping crack a Russian spy ring attempting to operate in Australia.
In 1948, he was appointed assistant secretary of the Defence of Department and two years later promoted to the position of chairman of the Repatriation Commission, the forerunner of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Chilton said that the time when he led the Repatriation Department was "perhaps the most useful, productive and satisfying years of my working life, and they gave full scope to whatever leadership qualities I may have possessed".
Never married, Sir Frederick rarely spoke of his military life.
External links
- Index to "Australia’s Official Histories – Second World War", Australian War Memorial, retrieved 2008-10-27.