Reg Saunders

Australia's First Indigenous Commissioned Officer

Coming from a long line of Indigenous servicemen, going all the way back to the Boer War, Reg Saunders joined the Second AIF in 1940. He would see action in Greece, avoid capture for eleven months on the island of Crete, and fight his way through the Salamaua Campaign. Along the way, he would be come the first aboriginal soldier to received a battlefield commission.

When the Korean War broke out, Reg once again volunteered to fight. He would lead his company during the ferocious fighting at Kapyong as well as other hard fought battles.

Reg’s father, Chris Saunders of the 10th Machine Gun Company in World War 1

At the station, ready to head off and join the 2/7th Battalion.

Graduation parade from officer training.

Reg Saunders and Tom ‘Diver’ Derrick congratulate each other on completing officer training.

Captain Saunders with 3RAR in Korea.