David Dexter

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David Dexter
1958 portrait
Born(1917-01-08)8 January 1917
St Albans, Hertfordshire, England
Died15 March 1992(1992-03-15) (aged 75)
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Academic work
Main interestsAustralian military history
Second World War
Notable worksVolume VI of Australia in the War of 1939–1945
Military career
Service/branchAustralian Army
Years of service1940–1946
RankMajor
Service numberVX38890
Commands held2/4th Commando Squadron
Battles/warsSecond World War
Awards
mentioned in despatches
(2)

David St Alban Dexter (8 January 1917 – 15 March 1992) was an Australian military historian, commando, diplomat and university administrator.

A 1940 graduate of the University of Melbourne, Dexter enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force in 1940. He volunteered for commando training. He was commissioned as a lieutenant and transferred to the 2/2nd Independent Company. The 2/2nd Independent Company was sent to Portuguese Timor, where it waged a guerrilla war against the Japanese after they invaded the island in February 1942. He returned to Australia with the unit in December. In June 1943 it was sent to New Guinea, where Dexter was wounded while carrying out an ambush on a Japanese force. In 1945, it went to New Britain. Shortly before the end of the war in August 1945, he assumed command of the 2/4th Commando Squadron with the rank of major. He later wrote the New Guinea volume of the Australia in the War of 1939–1945 series.

After the war, Dexter joined the

South East Asia Treaty Organization and the United Nations. He became the secretary of the Australian Universities Commission in 1960, and then the Registrar (Property and Plans) at the Australian National University
(ANU) in 1967.

Early life

David St Alban Dexter was born on 8 January 1917 at St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, the second of five sons and one daughter of Colonel Walter Ernest Dexter, and his wife Dora Stirling, née Roadknight. His father was on active service at the time as an Army Church of England chaplain with the First Australian Imperial Force (AIF). The family returned to Australia in 1920, where his father's AIF appointment was terminated. His father decided to become a farmer, and he took up a soldier settlement block near Kilsyth, Victoria.[1]

Like so many others, Dexter's father's farming venture was a failure. He then returned to the church in 1923, and the family moved to a

Dick Hamer and his brother Alan, David Hay and David Fairbairn; John Gorton was a friend of his brother.[1][2]

After

Melbourne Grammar, which he did while he studied French and history at the University of Melbourne part-time. He also played football for the Melbourne University Football Club. Max Crawford persuaded him to do honours, so he did this year full-time. He was able to live with his parents, as his father had taken up the parish in Footscray, Victoria. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree with honours in 1940.[1][2]

Second World War

Dexter joined the

Bonegilla, Victoria, on 19 October. This was part of the 23rd Brigade of the 7th Division. The 23rd Brigade was later transferred to the 8th Division. After a chance meeting with Major Freddie Spencer Chapman and Major Mike Calvert in a Melbourne pub, Dexter volunteered for commando training. He became a sergeant on 7 March 1941. He was commissioned as a lieutenant and transferred to the 2/2nd Independent Company at Wilsons Promontory on 11 July. He assumed command of 1 Section, A Platoon.[2][3]

Dexter in 1943

In October 1941, the 2/2nd Independent Company moved by train to

mentioned in despatches for his service on East Timor.[8]

After hospital treatment for

Ramu Valley, inflicting severe casualties on the Japanese, and was wounded in this action.[10] He was mentioned in despatches again for his service in New Guinea.[11]
Dexter returned to Australia on 2 March 1944,[3] and was seconded to Z Special Unit in Melbourne on 22 April 1944.[3] That month he became engaged to Freda Doris Irene Harper, a teacher,[1][12] and they were married at St Mark's Church in Camberwell, Victoria, where his father was the minister, on 29 September.[1] They would have five children together.[13]

He rejoined his unit, now styled the 2/2nd Commando Squadron, on 1 December 1944.[3] He was now the second in command.[2] On 9 April 1945, the 2/2nd Commando Squadron embarked from Brisbane for New Britain.[3][14] On 12 June 1945, he was appointed the commander of the 2/7th Commando Squadron with the rank of major. Before taking up his command he attended a tactical school course from 17 June to 29 July. The instructors were impressed with his confident bearing, but felt that his experience outside the commandos was limited, and that he required more experience in handling supporting arms. His assignment was changed to command of the 2/4th Commando Squadron on Tarakan in Borneo, and he assumed command on 2 August. The war ended soon after, and he embarked for Australia on the Victory ship SS Stamford Victory on 6 December. His AIF appointment was terminated on 17 January 1946, and he was transferred to the Reserve of Officers. He was placed on the retired list on 29 February 1964.[3]

Post-war

Dexter received an invitation to join the

Berlin airlift.[2][1]

In 1955 Dexter became the head of the department's foreign aid branch. As such, he worked closely with the new minister,

Australian High Commissioner to India.[2][1]

In 1960, Dexter became the secretary of the Australian Universities Commission. This was a period of major expansion of the Australian universities system.[13] He helped chairman of the commission, Sir Leslie Martin write a report into Australian universities, the recommendations of which were adopted. In 1967 Dexter became the Registrar (Property and Plans) at the Australian National University (ANU).[1] In this role he oversaw a major construction program that included the construction of the Leonard Huxley, A. D. Hope and John Dedman buildings, Melville Hall, the Coombs Theatre, Graduate House, Toad Hall, and the cricket and football ovals.[15]

Dexter retired on 1 May 1978. He published a second book, The ANU Campus, a history of the ANU site, in 1991. He died at his home in Turner, Australian Capital Territory, on 15 March 1992, and his remains were cremated.[1][15][13] His papers are in the Australian War Memorial and the Australian National University Archives.[16]

Bibliography

  • Dexter, David (1961). The New Guinea Offensives.
    OCLC 220806033
    . Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  • Dexter, David (1991). The ANU Campus. Canberra: Australian National University.
    OCLC 27542214
    .

Notes

  1. ^
    ISSN 1833-7538
    . Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Dexter, David. "David Dexter interviewed by Mel Pratt for the Mel Pratt collection [sound recording]" (Interview). Interviewed by Mel Pratt. National Library of Australia. nla.obj-221579220. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Dexter David St Alban : Service Number - VX38890 : Date of birth - 08 Jan 1917 : Place of birth - St Albans England : Place of enlistment - Royal Park Vic : Next of Kin - Dexter W". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 24 August 2022 – via RecordSearch.
  4. ^ Wigmore 1957, pp. 467–469.
  5. ^ Wigmore 1957, p. 475.
  6. ^ McCarthy 1959, pp. 598–611.
  7. ^ McCarthy 1959, pp. 616–618.
  8. ^ "No. 36031". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 25 May 1943. p. 2374.
  9. ^ Dexter 1961, pp. 242–243.
  10. ^ Dexter 1961, pp. 434–435.
  11. ^ "No. 36972". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 6 March 1945. p. 1305.
  12. ^ "Family Notices". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 30, 456. Victoria, Australia. 8 April 1944. p. 10. Retrieved 26 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ a b c "Obituary: David Dexter Public servant, war hero". The Canberra Times. Vol. 66, no. 20, 800. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 25 March 1992. p. 20. Retrieved 26 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ Long 1963, p. 261.
  15. ^ a b Mackie, J. A. C.; Ross, Ian. "Obituary - David St Alban Dexter". Obituaries Australia. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  16. ^ "David Dexter Papers". Australian National University. Retrieved 25 August 2022.

References

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