| Sir Bernard Callinan | |
|---|---|
 Major Bernard Callinan, commander of the 2/2nd Independent Company, an Australian Army commando unit during the Second World War, December 1942. Timor. | |
| Born | February 2, 1913 |
| Died | 1995 |
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Place of death | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Allegiance |
 Australia |
| Service/branch | Australian Army |
| Years of service | 1941 – 1946 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Commands held |
2/2 Independent Company 26 Infantry Battalion 58/32 Infantry Battalion |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches |
| Other work |
|
Sir Bernard James Callinan AC, CBE, DSO, MC (2 February 1913 – 1995) was an Australian soldier, civil engineer, businessman, and sport administrator.
Military service[]
Sir Bernard served as a major commanding the 2/2 Independent Company commandos who fought as part of Sparrow Force on Timor in 1942. Upon returning to Australia, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and shortly after resumed command of the 26th Battalion, which served in New Guinea and Bougainville. He later commanded the 58/32 Infantry Battalion and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Military Cross for outstanding leadership and gallantry.[1]
Professional career[]
Sir Bernard held many positions in the commercial field, including director of CSR Ltd, director of British Petroleum Company of Australia, chairman of the new Federal Parliament House Construction Authority, commissioner of the Australia Broadcasting Corporation and the State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SEC), deputy chancellor of LaTrobe University and president of the Institute of Engineers Australia. From 1963 he served as Commissioner of the SEC Victoria.[2]
Sport administration[]
Sir Bernard joined the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) committee in 1966 and served as president from 1980 to 1985. He fought to retain the Victorian Football League (VFL) grand final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), and was a long-serving Victorian Amateur Football Association(VAFA) Patron-in-Chief.[3]
Honours and Awards[]
 |
Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) | Civil Division |
 |
Knight Bachelor | Entitlement to 'Sir' only, no post-nominals |
 |
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) | Civil Division |
 |
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) | |
 |
Military Cross (MC) | |
 |
1939–45 Star | |
 |
Pacific Star | |
 |
War Medal 1939–1945 | With palm for Mentioned in Despatches |
 |
Australia Service Medal 1939–45 |
Later life[]
He died in 1995 after a long illness.
Notes[]
External links[]
- Bernard Callinan's publications.
- Bernard Callinan appears briefly in the WWII Men of Timor newsreel by Damian Parer.
The original article can be found at Bernard Callinan and the edit history here.