Summary
Brigadier Sir Frederick Oliver Chilton, CBE, DSO & Bar (23 July 1905 – 1 October 2007) was a senior officer in the Australian Army and a public servant.
Sir Frederick Oliver Chilton | |
|---|---|
 Brigadier Chilton, Trinity Beach, Queensland, 23 July 1944 | |
| Secretary of the Repatriation Department | |
| In office 1958–1970 | |
| Preceded by | Sir George Wootten |
| Succeeded by | Richard Kingsland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 July 1905 Woollahra, New South Wales |
| Died | 1 October 2007 (aged 102) Sydney, New South Wales |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney |
| Civilian awards | Knight Bachelor Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Branch/service | Citizen Military Forces Second Australian Imperial Force |
| Years of service | 1923–1937 1939–1946 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Commands | 18th Brigade (1943–45) 2/2nd Battalion (1940–41) |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Military awards | Distinguished Service Order & Bar Mentioned in Despatches (3) |
Early life edit
Born in Sydney on 23 July 1905 and educated at North Sydney High School, Chilton studied law at University of Sydney, joining the Sydney University Regiment, which produced a number of notable army leaders.[1] He was the officer commanding D Company with the 2/2nd Infantry Battalion of the 6th Division in the first Libyan and Greek campaigns.[2]
Military career edit
In the Libyan campaign, Chilton was described as an exceptionally careful planner who liked to leave nothing to chance.[1] In May 1941 Chilton was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), which cited his "conspicuous gallantry, coolness and initiative".[2] During the Greek campaign, New Zealand General Bernard Freyberg praised Chilton as a fine man for his calm attitude during the campaign.[3]
From 1943 to 1945, Chilton, 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.[4] Chilton was awarded a Bar to his DSO in March 1945.[5] At the end of hostilities he was military governor of the Celebes (now Sulawesi) and accepted the Japanese surrender from General Fusataro Teshima.[6]
Public servant edit
At war's end, Chilton 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, Chilton was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Department of Defence and two years later was 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 Commission 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".[6] He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1957,[7] and was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1963.[8] In 1969, the year before he retired, he was knighted.[9]
Personal life and death edit
Chilton, who never married and rarely spoke of his military life, died on 1 October 2007 at age 102.[2] He was remembered as the last surviving commanding officer of the 2/2nd Infantry Battalion. He was farewelled in Sydney by a handful of surviving soldiers from the 2/2nd Battalion, who 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."[2]
In 2012, a street in the Canberra suburb of Casey was named Chilton Street in Chilton's honour.[10]
References edit
- ^ a b Volume I – To Benghazi Archived 8 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Australia's Official Histories – Second World War, Australian War Memorial, retrieved 2008-10-27.
- ^ a b c d Obituary, The Australian, 9 October 2007
- ^ Volume II – Greece, Crete and Syria Archived 7 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Australia's Official Histories – Second World War, Australian War Memorial, retrieved 2008-10-27.
- ^ Volume VI – The New Guinea Offensives Archived 11 April 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Ch.26, Kankiryo Saddle, Jan–Feb 1944, Australia's Official Histories – Second World War, Australian War Memorial, retrieved 2008-10-27.
- ^ London Gazette, 8 March 1945
- ^ a b Obituary, The Sydney Morning Herald, 11 October 2007
- ^ London Gazette, 13 June 1957
- ^ London Gazette, 1 January 1963
- ^ London Gazette, 14 June 1969
- ^ Chilton Street, ACT Government Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate, archived from the original on 27 February 2014
External links edit
- Index to "Australia's Official Histories – Second World War, Australian War Memorial, retrieved 27 October 2008
- Frederick Chilton: Alumni remembered, University of Sydney
- "Frederick Chilton", generals.dk
- "Gallantry Awards in SW Pacific". The Argus. 9 March 1945.