Alexander Spence (soldier)

Alexander Spence
HQ staff from the 2/2nd Independent Company, an Australian Army commando unit during the Second World War, December 1942. Timor. LTCOL Alexander Spence is the first on the left.
Born5 February 1906
Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia
Died10 July 1983
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Buried
Mount Gravatt General Cemetery
Allegiance Australia
Service / branchAustralian Army
Years of service1940–1945
RankMajor (Temporary Lieutenant Colonel)
Commands2/2nd Independent Company

2/12th Commando Squadron

2/9th Cavalry Commando Regiment
Battles / wars
AwardsDistinguished Service Order

Alexander Spence DSO (5 February 1906 in Bundaberg, Queensland[1] – 10 July 1983 in Brisbane, Queensland)[2] was an Australian Army officer during World War II. Between 24 May and 11 November 1942, Spence commanded Allied forces during their guerrilla campaign in Timor.

Spence, who had been a journalist[1] and had served in the Militia before the war, volunteered for overseas duty with the Second Australian Imperial Force on 25 June 1940, at Miowera, Queensland.[3]

A major, he was originally posted to the 2/26th Battalion, but was posted away from the unit to the commandos before the battalion embarked on its ill-fated deployment to Singapore.[4] He was later appointed commander of the 2/2nd Independent Company, a commando unit, and went with it as part of Sparrow Force to Dutch Timor in 1941. The 2/2nd and Dutch forces were despatched to occupy Portuguese Timor in December 1941, when it was anticipated that Japanese forces would invade. Spence and his men enjoyed good relations with most of the local population, and prepared for a prolonged guerrilla campaign.[5]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Wigmore469 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Alexander SPENCE DSO". vwma.org.au. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  3. ^ "World War II Nominal Roll entry — Alexander Spence". Commonwealth of Australia. 2002. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  4. ^ "2/26th Battalion Nominal Roll, World War 2, Surnames 'S'". 2-26bn.org. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  5. ^ "Unit Information — 2/2nd Independent Company, World War II". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 1 June 2009.