LT-COL FREDERICK BROW\ING WOOD, MBE (Mil), Ret'd

(CV notes - 06 Nov 08)

PERSONAL

Born    6 Jan 1919 and raised at Colac, Victoria. Elder of two brothers.

Father    Veterinary Surgeon CAPT Elwes Frederick Browning WOOD, LVSc, Aust Army Veterinary Corps, I't AIF

Edn    Colac Primary School; Geelong College 1934-36 (boarder).

Civ Emp    Jackeroo, overseer, then manager on sheep and cattle stations: Boscobel / Balmacarra (sheep), Charleville, Queensland; Victoria River Downs (cattle), Northern Territory; and         Moselle Downs (cattle), Richmond, North Queensland.

Married    1947. Wife Sheila Mary (nee McCormack) (dec'd 16 November 1982).

ARMY

Militia    Approx 18 months pre-WW II service with Colac Tp, 4 Lt Horse Regt.

WWII   

OR service with Sig Trg Bn (CO Lt-Col O F Metcher); and S Comd Sigs.

InterimArmy 7147 - 8152

CAPT Jul 50

I Aust Sig Trg Bn 7146 Bonegilla

S Sigs - Instr 10/50 Balcombe

15 NS Trg Bn 7/51 Puckapunyal

ARA

RegtNo 3140017 (later 340017)

1 AGRA Sig Sqn 8/52 (Adjt) Chapel St, St Kilda

CSO T Comd 9/53 Hobart

S Sigs - Instr 2156 Balcombe

MAJ Jul 56

3 Div Sig RegI 2160 (2ic) Melbourne

1 RVR 1t64 (DAA&QMG)

HQ 4 Task Force 6/65 (DAA&QMG)

HQ 3 Div 3/67 (AQMG)

Retired List 2170 (m|l title LT-COL)

Active Service

As OC. 24 Inf Bde Sig Sec, later 213 NTk Regt Sig Sec and lastly 2ll2 Fd Regt Sig

Sec, Lieut Wood while serving with units and formations of 9th Australian Division,

was personally involved in fifteen separate actions against Japanese forces in New

Guinea and Borneo. These battles were at:

New Guinea with24 Aust Inf Bde:

Lae "Red" beach landing;

Two opposed river crossings near Lae (Burep and Busu fuvers).

Finschhafen "Scarlet" beach landing;

Kitiki Village. 2128Inf Bn battle;

Finschhafenb eachhead. Japanesela nding and frontal counter attack. In this battle,

6 members of 24 Bde Sig Sec were KIA and after the action, 89 enemy dead

were counted in the Brigade HQ area;

North Hrll. 2143Inf Bn battle.

Sattelberg. 2132Inf Bn battle;

Sattelberg Pabu operation;

Christmas Hills. 24Bde operation;

Warreo Ridge (north of Sattelberg). 24 Bde action.

North Borneo

Labuan Island. 24Inf Bde Gp landing;

Labuan Pocket. Action by 2128 Bn and 213 NTk Regt (in infantry role, armed with

4.2-in mortars);

Weston-Beauforrt ailway (following landing in British North Borneo). Action by

213 AlTk Regl (infantry role again);

Papar and Jesselton. 2lI2Fd Regt action.

SES VICTORIA

Director 1970 - 1981. Recruited by the late Colonel G R Warfe, DSO, MC, ED (Retd),

appointed by Premier Sir Henry Bolte, KCMG; initially to Civil Defence organisation

formed by F B Wood and redesignatedS tateE mergencyS ervice. By 1981 the Service

comprised over 100 SES units throughout Victoria manned by more than 10,000

volunteers. For his SES service, Lt-Col Wood was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II

Silver Jubilee medal.

OTHER INTERESTS

Horse Racing. Well known owner and breeder, notably since 1974.

Sigs 9 Aust Div Assn (Vic): President 1960-2004; Hon Life Member 2002; and

Patron 2004.

Colonel Commandant, RA Sigs 3 MD (Victoria) 1982-1986.

RA Sigs Assn (Victoria). Hon Life Member 1994.

Naval & Mititary Club, Melbourne. Senior member.

Toorak Services ("Heroes") Club. Long standing, loyal member.

d . * *