Lieutenant Colonel Mervyn Roderick Jeanes

Service number	SX9364
Ranks Held	Captain, Lieutenant Colonel
Birth Date	1911-12-21
Birth Place	Australia: South Australia, Adelaide
Death Date	1978-06-23
Final Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Service	Australian Army
Unit	2/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion
Place	Adelaide
Conflict/Operation	Second World War, 1939-1945
Gazettes	Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1947-03-06 Published in London Gazette in 1942-06-30 Published in London Gazette in 1942-09-24 Published in London Gazette in 1947-03-06

Collection items

Rolls

Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945
Honours and Awards:

Unit

2/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945

Rank

Captain

London Gazette

30 June 1942 on page 2857 at position 78
Honours and Awards:

Unit

2/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945

Rank

Captain

London Gazette

24 September 1942 on page 4155 at position 4
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945
Honours and Awards:

Unit

2/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945

Rank

Lieutenant Colonel

London Gazette

06 March 1947 on page 1089 at position 27

Commonwealth Gazette

06 March 1947 on page 748 at position 19

Timeline

Date of birth	21 December 1911
Date commissioned	27 February 1934
Interwar Service 1	27 February 1934	lieutenant 43/48th battalion
Interwar Service 2	01 July 1939	43rd battalion
Career summary 1	08 February 1940	temporary captain 43rd battalion
Career summary 2	22 July 1940	TFD 2/43rd battalion as captain
Career summary 3	23 July 1940	enlisted 2AIF
Career summary 4	02 February 1941	arrived Middle East
Career summary 5	14 September 1942	wounded in action (Shell/shrapnel wound lt thigh) 17 Jul 42 (returned to unit
Career summary 8	1942-10-05 - 1943-01-10	temporary major commanding officer 24th Australian infantry training battalion
Career summary 7	14 October 1942	Mention in Despatches
Career summary 9	10 January 1943	relinquish temporary major & commanding officer 24th Australian infantry training battalion
Career summary 10	27 February 1943	Returned to Australia (Syd)
Career summary 11	08 June 1943	temporary major
Career summary 12	10 August 1943	arrived Milne Bay
Career summary 13	31 January 1944	Returned to Australia (T'Ville) ex Finschhafen
Career summary 14	17 February 1944	major (bd 8 Jun 43) reported
Career summary 15	1944-12-18 - 1945-01-21	course Land Headquarters Tactical School (senior Offr) # 15
Career summary 16	31 March 1945	temporary lieutenant colonel, commanding officer 2/43rd battalion
Appointment	1945-03-31 - 1945-12-16	Battalion: 2/43rd; Rank on appointment: temporary lieutenant colonel; Appointed from: 2/43rd battalion ; Reason for end of appointment: new command -acting command: 24th Brigade
Career summary 17	16 April 1945	arrived Morotai
Career summary 19	27 September 1945	lieutenant colonel (bd 31 Mar 45) reported
Career summary 20	16 December 1945	relinquished command 2/43rd battalion
Career summary 21	16 December 1945	administering command 24th Brigade
Career summary 22	17 January 1946	Returned to Australia (Bris) ex Labuan
Career summary 23	28 February 1946	relinquish administering command 24th Brigadee
Career summary 24	20 March 1946	Reserve of Officers
Career summary 25	16 October 1946	ED
Career summary 26	11 April 1947	Companion of the Distinguished Service Order
Date of death	23 June 1978
Date of death	23 June 1978
Career summary 18	c 1945-06-01	arrived British North Borneo
Career summary 6		Military Cross
Citations 2		'Capt. M.R. JEANES was the commander of a highly successful raid on enemy positions at 8883276, SOUTH of EL ALEMEIN [sic] on the night 7/8 July 42 which resulted in the complete destruction oof four enemy A Tk guns, one 75 or 105mm gun, six tractors one A Tk gun destroyed by the enemy three damaged British Tanks with haulage gear attached, the recapture of one British Bren carrier, and the caputre of nine prisoners of war, one Machine Gun, one Machine Pistol, besides inflicting some 40 casualties. Daring personal recces and careful organisation by Capt JEANES prior to the raid, contributed to its success, and th inspiration of his gallantry in the attack, which he led, and spurred on, was most marked. His coolness and leadership set a very hihg example to those under his command.'
Citations 3		Recom'd by: LTCOL W.J. Wain CO 2/43rd Bn
Citations 4		BRIG AHL Godfrey COMD 24th Bde
WW2 Service 1		Benghazi
WW2 Service 2		El Alamein
WW2 Service 3		New Guinea