Frederick Oliver Chilton

Sir Frederick Oliver Chilton CBE, DSO & Bar (July 23, 1905 - October 1, 2007) was an Australian soldier.

Brigadier Sir Frederick Oliver Chilton, DSO and Bar, was remembered as the last surviving commanding officer of the famous 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." [The Australian October 09, 2007] 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. [http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/chapter.asp?volume=17] [ Australia’s Official Histories – Second World War] 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. [The Australian October 09, 2007]

In the Libyan campaign, Chilton was described as an exceptionally careful planner who liked to leave nothing to chance. [http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/chapter.asp?volume=17] In May 1941 Chilton was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, which cited his "conspicuous gallantry, coolness and initiative". [The Australian October 09, 2007] During the Greek campaign, New Zealand General Freyberg praised Chilton as a fine man and Freyberg also praised Chilton for his calm attitude during the campaign. [http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/chapter.asp?volume=18] From 1943 to 1945, Sir Frederick, with the rank of brigadier, commanded the 19th 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. [http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/22/chapters/26.pdf] At the end of hostilities he was military governor of the Celebes (now Sulawesi) and accepted the Japanese surrender from General Fusataro Teshima. [ The Sydney Morning Herald October 11, 2007] 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 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 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". [The Sydney Morning Herald October 11, 2007] Never married, Sir Frederick rarely spoke of his military life. [The Australian October 09, 2007] [http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/volume.asp?conflict=2 Australia’s Official Histories – Second World War]