Charles Green (Australian soldier)
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Green 41st Battalion | |
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Charles Hercules Green
Green performed instructional duties and attended courses until July 1943 when he rejoined the 2/2nd Battalion as its
He was attending
Early life
Born on 26 December 1919 at
World War II
Middle East and Greece
With the outbreak of World War II, Green volunteered for overseas service and on 13 October 1939, he enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) which was being raised for that purpose. He was posted to the 2/2nd Battalion, which was one of the first units raised upon the outbreak of the war and formed part of the 16th Brigade that was assigned to the 6th Division. The 2/2nd Battalion was deployed to the Middle East in February 1940.[1] Green initially served as one of the 2/2nd's platoon commanders,[3] but accidentally injured himself, and missed out on taking part in 6th Division's first combat action, which took place during the North African campaign between December 1940 and January 1941.[1]
![a group of males wearing a variety of uniform and civilian clothing items](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Officers_and_men_of_the_Australian_2_2nd_Battalion_on_Euboea_Island.jpg/330px-Officers_and_men_of_the_Australian_2_2nd_Battalion_on_Euboea_Island.jpg)
On 12 March he was promoted to
Green and many other members of the battalion evaded capture by undertaking a hazardous journey through the Aegean Islands, then Turkey, to Palestine, which Green reached on 23 May.[1] Green reached the island of Euboea in the Aegean on 7 May, where he met several other members of the battalion. They travelled on to the island of Skyros,[6] and after narrow escapes from detection by German troops and aircraft, reached Smyrna (modern İzmir) on the Turkish coast, where they obtained the assistance of two Turkish officers who had fought the Australians at Gallipoli in World War I. Disguised as "English civil engineers" they caught a train to Alexandretta (modern İskenderun), from where they boarded a Norwegian ship to Port Said, Egypt.[7] Green learned a great deal from his experiences in Greece. According to Margaret Barter, the author of his entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, he contributed a "sensitive account" of the campaign to a battalion history, Nulli Secundus Log, which was published in 1946. During his time in Greece, Green developed a reputation as a calm and reassuring leader who communicated clearly with the soldiers under his command, a fellow officer observing that "[t]roops would follow Charlie anywhere because he understood them and they understood he was fair dinkum [meaning: authentic]".[1]
After being rebuilt in Palestine, the 2/2nd Battalion was sent to undertake garrison duties in northern
Australia
The battalion finally disembarked at Melbourne on 4 August.
Green returned to regimental duties in July 1943 and was made
Aitape-Wewak campaign
On 30 December 1944, Green arrived in the town of Aitape, on the north coast of New Guinea,[2] where the 6th Division was taking over responsibility for the area from US forces.[9] On 9 March 1945, Green took over command of the 2/11th Battalion,[2] part of Brigadier James Martin's 19th Brigade of the 6th Division.[10] At the age of only 25 he was the youngest Australian battalion commander during the war.[11][12] Green was promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel five days later.[2]
The battalion had landed at Aitape on 13 November 1944 to take part in the
![a half-profile of a male wearing a broad-brimmed hat with the brim turned down, with a beach in the background](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Charles_Green_1945_%28AWM_097970%29.jpg/220px-Charles_Green_1945_%28AWM_097970%29.jpg)
In early April, after Green had taken charge, the 19th Brigade was committed to an offensive against Wewak, and concentrated at the base at the village of But.[15] As part of this offensive, the 2/11th and the 2/7th Commando Squadron were sent on a wide sweeping movement inland to cut off the Japanese, who were abandoning Wewak in the face of pressure from the 2/4th Battalion and withdrawing their main force into the Prince Alexander Mountains. After an arduous cross-country march across a swamp, the battalion arrived near Wirui Mission on 10 May and killed three Japanese who stumbled into their perimeter. This was followed by a series of clashes, culminating in the capture of a hill on 15 May by a company that lost four killed and 18 wounded, while killing 16 Japanese and capturing four machine guns. This was considered the hardest fighting the battalion had been involved in since arriving in New Guinea.[16] This fighting in the foothills continued until the 27th when Green ordered a two-company attack to clear a pocket of Japanese. Supported by a 2,360-round artillery bombardment, the two companies killed 15 Japanese for the loss of two killed and six wounded. In total, during the May offensive, the 2/11th lost 23 killed and 63 wounded, and by the end of the month it was only 552 strong from a strength of 627 at the beginning of May, and only fielded 223 riflemen instead of 397. Soldiers from Headquarters Company were redistributed to the rifle companies to bring them closer to establishment strength.[17][18]
At the end of May, the 19th Brigade received orders to capture Mount Tazaki and Mount Shiburangu in the Prince Alexander Mountains. Initially, the 2/11th was placed in reserve, as it was depleted and its soldiers were weary. On 10 June, the battalion was given the task of protecting the area from Boram airfield to Cape Moem, and on the 19th the battalion contributed one company for an attack on Mount Tazaki. After an airstrike and artillery bombardment, B Company of the 2/11th secured its objective which had been abandoned by the Japanese.[19][20] In early July, the 8th Brigade relieved elements of the 19th Brigade, including the 2/11th.[21] During the Aitape-Wewak campaign, the 2/11th suffered 144 casualties.[22]
As a result of his efforts while commanding the 2/11th, Green was later appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).[23][24][a] The citation highlighted: the challenging terrain and conditions throughout the campaign; the interdiction of the battalion's supply lines by the Japanese early in the campaign; the particularly stiff and determined enemy resistance and considerable casualties; Green's deft handling of his logistics; his outstanding leadership which helped him maintain morale and efficiency within the battalion; and the fact that all objectives assigned to the unit during the campaign were achieved.[23] After the Japanese surrendered on 15 August, members of the battalion began to be sent home in groups to Australia for demobilisation. The last members of the unit left Wewak on 10 November.[10]
Post World War II
After being discharged from the 2nd AIF on 23 November 1945,
Korean War
On 25 June 1950, the
When the Australian government committed 3 RAR, Army Headquarters determined that it would be led by an officer who had served in World War II and had a distinguished record.
The 27th British Commonwealth Brigade advanced towards
Battle of the Apple Orchard
Green's battalion was involved in its first major action on 22 October.
Battle of the Broken Bridge
Three days later, Green's battalion was again the brigade vanguard after it had crossed the Chongchon River and advanced towards Pakchon.[39] When the lead elements of 3 RAR reached the Taeryong River near Kujin it found KPA engineers had destroyed the centre span of the bridge. A reconnaissance patrol crossed the river using debris.[40][41] When aerial reconnaissance identified KPA forces on the high ground,[42] Green ordered the patrol to withdraw to the near side of the river, which they did, bringing ten prisoners with them.[32] Airstrikes and the battalion mortars were called in onto the KPA positions across the river,[43][44] and Green ordered D Company to clear nearby Pakchon.[43] Once this was achieved—D Company returned with 225 prisoners—he sent A and B Companies across the river to establish a bridgehead, commencing at 19:00.[42][45] Using the broken bridge, the two companies crossed without KPA resistance and established positions on both sides of the road about 400 m (440 yd) north of the river, with A Company on the left and B Company on the right.[46][47]
That night, the KPA made several concerted attacks on both forward companies, B Company suffering the worst.[41][48] Green sent reinforcements from C Company across the river to bolster B Company.[49][50] About 04:00 on 26 October, the KPA launched an attack on both forward companies supported by T-34 tanks,[46] but the level of coordination needed to push the Australians from the bridgehead was lacking,[51] and while the KPA assault was renewed,[49] by dawn the two companies remained in position.[46][51] Airstrikes, including napalm, were called in on the KPA elements holding the ridges north of the river, and late that morning the remaining rifle companies of 3 RAR joined the forward companies,[52] and after a flanking effort by other elements of the brigade,[53][54] the KPA withdrew.[55] KPA casualties in the battle were 100 killed and 350 captured, Green's battalion suffering eight killed—its first fatalities of the war—and 22 wounded.[46]
Battle of Chongju and death
The brigade continued its advance, and Green's battalion again took over the vanguard role on 29 October about 6 km (3.7 mi) from Chongju. Aerial reconnaissance indicated that a KPA force of around 500–600, supported by tanks and
![two men in different uniforms walking past a tank, followed by soldiers](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Lieutenant_Colonel_Charles_Green_and_Brigadier_Basil_Coad_on_29_November_1950.jpg/330px-Lieutenant_Colonel_Charles_Green_and_Brigadier_Basil_Coad_on_29_November_1950.jpg)
The two companies attacked before dusk, D Company being supported by US tanks, and despite the heavy enemy fire, both secured their objectives on the ridge by 17:30.[46][59] Eleven T-34 tanks and two SU-76 SPGs were destroyed by 3 RAR and the accompanying tanks, contrary to the reports of their destruction by USAF airstrikes earlier in the day.[56] Green moved B Company up to occupy the road between the two assault companies, moved battalion headquarters in behind them, and held C and Support Companies in reserve at the rear. A hasty and limited resupply followed as the unit dug in.[60]
The KPA counter-attacked in battalion strength following preparatory artillery fire beginning at 19:00, first against D Company.[60][61] Although the North Koreans managed to overrun parts of the company position, counter-attacks restored the situation after two hours of fierce fighting.[52] D Company was cut off from battalion headquarters for some time by infiltrating KPA troops, who were cleared away by Headquarters Company.[61] A second assault fell on A Company, but it was beaten off in heavy fighting, the company commander calling in artillery within 10 m (11 yd) of his forward positions. The KPA withdrew about 22:15.[60] In the morning, 150 dead KPA soldiers were found inside the 3 RAR perimeter. The total KPA casualties in the battle were 162 killed and ten captured, while Green's battalion suffered nine dead and 30 wounded.[60] The fighting around Chongju was the heaviest undertaken by the Australians since they had entered the war.[52]
The battalion moved forward to a reserve position on the Talchon River on 30 October,
A popular and respected commanding officer, Green's loss was keenly felt by the Australians,[66] and according to Barter, "cast a pall of gloom over his battalion".[1] Ferguson, who was soon appointed to command 3 RAR,[67] asserted that Green was "the best commander any man could ever have",[66] and according to three officers that served with 3 RAR in Korea, he was one of the Australian Army's better unit-level commanders.[68] Coad kept a photograph of Green in his study for the remainder of his life.[66] Green remains the only commanding officer of a battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment to die on active service.[69]
Legacy
Green was initially buried in the Christian churchyard at Pakchon on the day he died,[70][71] but his body was soon exhumed and buried in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery (UNMC) in Pusan.[72] He was posthumously awarded the US Silver Star in June 1951.[1][73] According to Barter, Green's career as a battalion commander in New Guinea and Korea had been "exemplary",[1] and serving Australian soldiers were still inspired by it at the time she wrote his entry in 1996. A commemorative cairn was erected at the barracks of the 41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment, in Lismore, New South Wales, and as of 1996, a United Nations emblem was affixed to the gates of the Swan Creek farm where he grew up.[1]
Green's wife, Olwyn, who survived him along with their daughter, wrote his biography, The Name's Still Charlie, which was published in 1993 and republished in 2010.[74] Following her death, Olwyn’s remains were buried with Green’s at the UNMC on 21 September 2023.[72]
Notes
- Lieutenant General Vernon Sturdee of the First Army. That 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.[23][24]
Footnotes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Barter 1996.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Australian War Memorial 2012.
- ^ Pratten 2009, p. 239.
- ^ a b c d e f Australian War Memorial 2014.
- ^ Long 1953, p. 122.
- ^ Long 1953, p. 186.
- ^ Long 1953, pp. 187–188.
- ^ a b Pratten 2009, p. 263.
- ^ Keogh 1965, p. 402.
- ^ a b c d Australian War Memorial 2008.
- ^ Butler, Argent & Shelton 2002, p. 41.
- ^ Pratten 2009, pp. 238–239, 262.
- ^ Grant 2016, p. 215.
- ^ Long 1963, pp. 284–286.
- ^ Long 1963, p. 338.
- ^ Long 1963, pp. 346–349.
- ^ Long 1963, pp. 353–354.
- ^ AWM52 8/3/11/24, pp. 144 & 147.
- ^ Long 1963, pp. 369 & 374.
- ^ AWM52 8/3/11/25, p. 10.
- ^ Long 1963, p. 379.
- ^ Long 1963, p. 385.
- ^ a b c National Archives 2009.
- ^ a b c The London Gazette 6 March 1947.
- ^ a b c Butler, Argent & Shelton 2002, p. 49.
- ^ Grey 2008, pp. 200–201.
- ^ Dennis et al. 1995, p. 302.
- ^ Horner & Bou 2008, pp. 85–92.
- ^ Horner & Bou 2008, p. 85.
- ^ Horner & Bou 2008, pp. 90–92.
- ^ Horner & Bou 2008, p. 94.
- ^ a b c Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 258.
- ^ Horner & Bou 2008, pp. 94–95.
- ^ Horner & Bou 2008, pp. 95–96.
- ^ Horner & Bou 2008, pp. 96–97.
- ^ Horner & Bou 2008, p. 97.
- ^ Horner & Bou 2008, pp. 97–98.
- ^ Horner & Bou 2008, p. 80.
- ^ a b c Horner & Bou 2008, p. 98.
- ^ O'Neill 1985, p. 41.
- ^ a b Odgers 2009, p. 46.
- ^ a b Bartlett 1960, p. 32.
- ^ a b Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 254.
- ^ Australian War Memorial 2009.
- ^ Odgers 2009, p. 47.
- ^ a b c d e f g Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 259.
- ^ O'Neill 1985, p. 43.
- ^ Gallaway 1999, p. 85.
- ^ a b O'Dowd 2000, p. 13.
- ^ Bartlett 1960, p. 33.
- ^ a b Gallaway 1999, p. 86.
- ^ a b c d Odgers 2009, p. 48.
- ^ O'Neill 1985, p. 46.
- ^ Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 256.
- ^ Bartlett 1960, p. 34.
- ^ a b O'Dowd 2000, p. 14.
- ^ Gallaway 1999, pp. 91–92.
- ^ Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 258.
- ^ O'Neill 1985, p. 48.
- ^ a b c d Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 260.
- ^ a b Gallaway 1999, p. 94.
- ^ Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 260.
- ^ Bartlett 1960, p. 35.
- ^ Gallaway 1999, pp. 96–97.
- ^ Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 261.
- ^ a b c d Horner & Bou 2008, p. 99.
- ^ Horner & Bou 2008, p. 100.
- ^ Butler, Argent & Shelton 2002, p. 39.
- ^ Horner & Bou 2008, p. 90.
- ^ Forbes 2010, p. 231.
- ^ Australian War Memorial 2020.
- ^ a b UNMCK 2023.
- ^ The London Gazette 19 June 1951.
- ^ Green 2010.
References
Books
- Barter, Margaret (1996). "Charles Hercules Green (1919–1950)". Green, Charles Hercules (1919–1950). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 14. Melbourne, Victoria: Melbourne University Press. pp. 313–314. ISBN 0-522-84717-X.
- Bartlett, Norman, ed. (1960). With the Australians in Korea (3rd ed.). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 488462542.
- ISBN 1-876439-56-4.
- Coulthard-Clark, Chris (2001). The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles (2nd ed.). Sydney, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-1-86508-634-7.
- Dennis, Peter; ISBN 978-0-19-553227-2.
- ISBN 978-0-11-630953-2.
- Forbes, Cameron (2010). The Korean War. Sydney, NSW: Pan Macmillan Australia. ISBN 978-1-74262-414-3.
- Gallaway, Jack (1999). The Last Call of the Bugle: The Long Road to Kapyong (2nd ed.). St Lucia, Queensland: University of Queensland Press. ISBN 978-0-7022-3106-3.
- Grant, Lachlan (2016). "Given a Second Rate Job: Campaigns in Aitape–Wewak and New Britain, 1944–45". In Dean, Peter J. (ed.). Australia 1944–45: Victory in the Pacific. Port Melbourne, Victoria: Cambridge University Press. pp. 213–231. ISBN 978-1-107-08346-2.
- Green, Olwyn (2010). The Name's Still Charlie (2nd ed.). Brisbane, Queensland: Australian Military History Publications. ISBN 978-0-9805674-3-4.
- ISBN 978-0-521-69791-0.
- ISBN 978-1-74175-374-5.
- OCLC 7185705.
- OCLC 3134080.
- Long, Gavin (1963). The Final Campaigns. Australia in the War of 1939–1945, Series 1, Army. Vol. VII (1st online ed.). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 464094764.
- ISBN 978-1-74110-807-1.
- O'Dowd, Ben (2000). In Valiant Company: Diggers in Battle – Korea, 1950–51. St Lucia, Queensland: University of Queensland Press. ISBN 978-0-7022-3146-9.
- ISBN 978-0-642-04330-6.
- ISBN 978-0-521-76345-5.
Gazettes, unit diaries and websites
- "2/11th Battalion". Second World War, 1939–1945 Units. Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
- "2/2nd Battalion". Second World War, 1939–1945 Units. Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
- "AWM52 8/3/11/24: March–May 1945". 2nd AIF (Australian Imperial Force) and CMF (Citizen Military Forces) unit war diaries, 1939–45 War. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- "AWM52 8/3/11/25: June–August 1945". 2nd AIF (Australian Imperial Force) and CMF (Citizen Military Forces) unit war diaries, 1939–45 War. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- "Kujin/Broken Bridge 25–26 October 1950". Out in the Cold: Australia's Involvement in the Korean War. Australian War Memorial. 2009. Archived from the original on 4 July 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
- "No. 37898". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 March 1947. p. 1089.
- "No. 39265". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 June 1951. p. 3411.
- "NX121 Lieutenant Colonel (WW2). 237504 Lieutenant Colonel (Korea) Charles Hercules Green, DSO". Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- "Pakchon, Korea. 1950-11. The bodies of 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), killed in action (including Lieutenant Colonel Charles Hercules Green) being exhumed for removal to the United Nations Cemetery". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- "Recommendations for Honours and Awards (Army)—Image details—Green, Charles Hercules" (fee usually required to view pdf of full original recommendation). DocumentsOnline. The National Archives. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
- "UNMCK: Grave No. 2974". United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Guide to the papers of Papers of Charles and Olwyn Green Collection Number: PR00466, Australian War Memorial