2 March 1990(1990-03-02) (aged 69) Sydney, New South Wales
Allegiance
Australia
Service/branch
Australian Army
Years of service
1940–45 1950–54
Rank
Captain
Unit
2/7th Battalion (1940–45) 3 RAR (1950–51)
Battles/wars
Second World War
North African campaign
Battle of Greece
Battle of Crete
Salamaua–Lae campaign
Aitape–Wewak campaign
Korean War
Battle of Kapyong
Battle of Maryang San
Awards
Member of the Order of the British Empire
Other work
Department of Aboriginal Affairs
Reginald Walter Saunders, MBE (7 August 1920 – 2 March 1990) was the first Aboriginal Australian to be commissioned as an officer in the Australian Army. He came from a military family, his forebears having served in the Boer War and the First World War. Enlisting as a soldier in 1940, he saw action during the Second World War in North Africa, Greece and Crete, before being commissioned as a lieutenant and serving as a platoon commander in New Guinea during 1944–1945. His younger brother Harry also joined the Army, and was killed in 1942 during the Kokoda Track campaign.
After the war, Saunders was demobilised and returned to civilian life. He later served as a company commander with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) during the Korean War, where he fought at the Battle of Kapyong. Saunders left the Army in 1954 and worked in the logging and metal industries, before joining the Office of Aboriginal Affairs (later the Department of Aboriginal Affairs) as a liaison officer in 1969. In 1971, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his community service. He died in 1990, aged 69.
(2015). RegSaunders: An Indigenous War Hero. Sydney: NewSouth. ISBN 9781742234243. McIntyre, Darryl (2012). "Saunders, Reginald Walter (Reg) (1920–1990)"...
(1875–1967), British geneticist RegSaunders (1920–1990), Australian army officer Reginald Tennekoon, Sri Lankan Sinhala MP for Minipe Reg Varney (1916–2008), English...
Saunders is a surname of English and Scottish origin, derived from Sander, a mediaeval form of Alexander. Ab Saunders (1851–1883), American cowboy and...
heavily engaged during the night, while C Company—commanded by Captain RegSaunders—was attacked only once. Located 1,500 m (1,600 yd) to the rear, Battalion...
(1936–2000) – pioneering Indigenous activist, sportsman and academic RegSaunders (1920–1990) – first Aboriginal Australian to be commissioned as an officer...
the bottom row. The man right next to him is Private Harry Saunders, brother of RegSaunders, the first Aboriginal Australian to be commissioned in the...
after much lobbying. While at this unit, Derrick shared a tent with RegSaunders, who later became the Army's first Indigenous Australian officer. Commissioned...
3000 individuals of mixed descent served in the military, including RegSaunders, the first indigenous officer. The Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion...
Joanne Samuel as Cynthia Cavanaugh Peter Sardi as Kev Christopher Saunders as RegSaunders Roger Scott as Adjutant Lieutenant Sean Scully as Sam Kendall Dion...
February, in Federal Parliament, 'for an invitation to be extended to Capt. RegSaunders or some other outstanding representative of the aborigines' to be included...
Retrieved 25 January 2014. "The Battle of 42nd Street, Crete, and Captain RegSaunders". Saturday Extra, Presented by Geraldine Doogue. Australian Broadcasting...
the ATSIC/Army Community Assistance Program and also Exercise SAUNDERS, after RegSaunders, the first Indigenous Australian to be commissioned as an officer...
Guadalcanal Harry's War (1999), short film depiction of the brother of RegSaunders Markova: Comfort Gay (2000) Pearl Harbor (2001), fictionalized account...
awarded a Gold Record for Music, first Indigenous recipient of an MBE RegSaunders, first Aboriginal commissioned officer in the Australian Army Lidia Thorpe...
Australian to be commissioned as an officer in the Australian armed forces: RegSaunders. First Indigenous military aviator: Len Waters. 1949 First federal electorate...
State Circle Commonwealth Avenue London Circuit Constitution Avenue RegSaunders Way Russell Drive Kings Avenue Capital Hill Civic Russell Parkes Capital...
Onus addressed a crowd at The Domain in Sydney with Bill Ferguson and RegSaunders. He considered standing for federal parliament (as Ferguson did), but...
in what is believed to be the first attack of its kind. 25 November – RegSaunders becomes the first Aboriginal commissioned officer in the Australian Army...
Interchange: 14. Matt Srama, 15. Sam Saville, 16. Chris Piper, 17. RegSaunders, 18. Caleb Binge. Coach: Aaron Zimmerle Note: Broadcast live on Channel...
to Identity included Kevin Gilbert, Doug Nicholls, Bruce McGuinness, RegSaunders, and Denis Walker (Kath Walker's eldest son). "Records of the Aboriginal...
2012) 5 August – Bill Grayden, Western Australian politician 7 August – RegSaunders, military officer (d. 1990) 11 August – Lady Bjelke-Petersen, Queensland...
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