Heathcote Howard Hammer
Encyclopedia
Major General
Heathcote Howard Hammer CBE
, DSO
& Bar
(15 February 1905 – 10 March 1961) was a senior officer in the Australian Army
, seeing service during the Second World War. Born on 15 February 1905 in Southern Cross
, Western Australia
, he later lived in Bendigo, Victoria
and married Mary Hammer. In 1926 he was commissioned as a lieutenant
in the 8th Battalion, an infantry unit of the CMF (Citizens Military Force). By 1939 he had achieved the rank of major
. Following the outbreak of the war, he enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force
on 8 June 1940, volunteering for overseas service.
After a series of regimental postings, including brigade major
of 16th Brigade, Hammer was sent to the Middle East in 1941. After serving in Greece
, the following year he was promoted to lieutenant colonel
and placed in command of the 2/48th Battalion
, the most decorated Australian infantry battalion of the war. Although he was wounded in October 1942 by a gunshot in his right cheek during the fighting around El Alamein
, he returned to the battalion and continued to command it until it was withdrawn from the Middle East and brought back to Australia in early 1943.
In January 1943 he was invested with the Distinguished Service Order
. In June he was promoted to brigadier
and given command of the 15th Brigade
. He remained in command of the brigade until the end of the war, commanding it through the fighting in New Guinea
and Bougainville. For his service in New Guinea he received a Bar
to his DSO in 1944 and in 1945 was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
After the war he became Commissioner for Repatriation in Victoria, Australia and continued his military career in the CMF. In 1947 he received a belated Mentioned in Despatches. In 1953 he was placed in command of the 2nd Armoured Brigade. In 1956 he was promoted to major general
and took command of the 3rd Division.
He retired in 1959 and died on 10 March 1961.
Major General (Australia)
Major General is a senior rank of the Australian Army, and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of Major General. It is the third-highest active rank of the Australian Army, and is considered to be equivalent to a two-star rank...
Heathcote Howard Hammer CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
(15 February 1905 – 10 March 1961) was a senior officer in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
, seeing service during the Second World War. Born on 15 February 1905 in Southern Cross
Southern Cross, Western Australia
Southern Cross is a town in Western Australia, 371 kilometres east of Perth on the Great Eastern Highway. It was founded by gold prospectors in 1888, and gazetted in 1890. It is the major town and administrative centre of the Shire of Yilgarn...
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, he later lived in Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
and married Mary Hammer. In 1926 he was commissioned as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the 8th Battalion, an infantry unit of the CMF (Citizens Military Force). By 1939 he had achieved the rank of major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
. Following the outbreak of the war, he enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force
Second Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
on 8 June 1940, volunteering for overseas service.
After a series of regimental postings, including brigade major
Brigade Major
In the British Army, a Brigade Major was the Chief of Staff of a brigade. He held the rank of Major and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section directly and oversaw the two other branches, "A - Administration" and "Q - Quartermaster"...
of 16th Brigade, Hammer was sent to the Middle East in 1941. After serving in Greece
Battle of Greece
The Battle of Greece is the common name for the invasion and conquest of Greece by Nazi Germany in April 1941. Greece was supported by British Commonwealth forces, while the Germans' Axis allies Italy and Bulgaria played secondary roles...
, the following year he was promoted to lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
and placed in command of the 2/48th Battalion
2/48th Battalion (Australia)
The 2/48th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army which served during the Second World War. Raised in Adelaide in South Australia in August 1940, the battalion formed part of the 26th Brigade and was initially assigned to the 7th Division, although it was later transferred to...
, the most decorated Australian infantry battalion of the war. Although he was wounded in October 1942 by a gunshot in his right cheek during the fighting around El Alamein
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
, he returned to the battalion and continued to command it until it was withdrawn from the Middle East and brought back to Australia in early 1943.
In January 1943 he was invested with the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
. In June he was promoted to brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
and given command of the 15th Brigade
15th Brigade (Australia)
The 15th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army. Originally raised in 1916 for service during World War I, the brigade took part in the fighting on the Western Front in France and Belgium before being disbanded in 1919. After this it was re-raised as a part-time unit of the Citizens...
. He remained in command of the brigade until the end of the war, commanding it through the fighting in New Guinea
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II.Before the war, the island of New Guinea was split between:...
and Bougainville. For his service in New Guinea he received a Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
to his DSO in 1944 and in 1945 was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
After the war he became Commissioner for Repatriation in Victoria, Australia and continued his military career in the CMF. In 1947 he received a belated Mentioned in Despatches. In 1953 he was placed in command of the 2nd Armoured Brigade. In 1956 he was promoted to major general
Major General (Australia)
Major General is a senior rank of the Australian Army, and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of Major General. It is the third-highest active rank of the Australian Army, and is considered to be equivalent to a two-star rank...
and took command of the 3rd Division.
He retired in 1959 and died on 10 March 1961.
External links
- A. J. Hill, 'Hammer, Heathcote Howard (1905–1961)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 14, Melbourne University Press, 1996, pp. 366–367.
- Bio at www.generals.dk