Commando Edition 17 2023

could pull the body. The night was
extremely dark and very little
information was available con -
cerning the minefield. During this
operation he displayed a high
degree of bravery and initiative.
On the night of 16/17 Novem -
ber 1952, Lieutenant Skipper
commanded a patrol which was
sent out to secure ‘Calgary’ a short
time after a standing patrol had
been driven back. Lieutenant
Skipper conducted a recon nais -
sance in this area and moved a
fighting patrol forward and was
attacked by a large enemy party.
Having inflicted many casualties
and despite being wounded him -
self, he successfully withdrew his
patrol to a new ambush position.
Lieutenant Skipper's example and
leadership during this action had a
great effect on the morale of his
company, as he was, at that stage,
the only remaining platoon com -
mander.
Lieutenant Skipper was eva -
cuated to a UN hospital by an
Indian field ambulance to a Norwe -
gian MASH hospital. On the way to
the hospital the ambulance with
brown out headlights run off the
road, rolling down an embank -
ment. Luckily for him, he was
sitting in the front passenger seat, if he had been on
the stretcher, he would have been crushed. A British
truck was flagged down, and after some ‘cordial
persuasion’ did a U turn and drove them back to
ambulance station to get a new vehicle to the
Norwegian MASH.
For his courage, devotion to duty and actions on
November 15, 16 and 17 as well as the earlier action in
August 1952 he was awarded the Military Cross (MC).
Jack had a further 12 months posting back to Hara
Mura Japan as Instructor Battle School. He returned to
Australia in 1954 for Posting to 43/48 Infantry Battalion,
South Australia as Adjutant and was promoted to
Captain. During that posting he was sent to Maralinga
in 1956 as Camp Adjutant during the British Nuclear
Bomb trials. This took longer than expected due to
unfavourable winds. He witnessed 3 atomic explosions
and he and the Australian troops walked through the
blast areas with gas masks and disposable smocks.
He was posted to Malaya with 3rd Battalion, Royal
Australian Regiment (3 RAR) (1957/1958) based at
Sungai Siput. He was promoted to Major at age of 28
and was Company second in command. The Malayan
Emergency went from 1948 to 1960.
Jack posted to the United Kingdom (UK) in 1958 to
August 1952, 1 RAR, Korea, Jack Skipper at left.
Jack Skipper Korea 27 May 1953
Source: AWM
train with the Royal Marines. Jack
recalled one training mission was
to blow up an oil refinery. He was
teamed up with a Royal Marine
commando in his two man canoe.
The canoes were blown off course
and landed a long way from the
intended point. The Brits running
the exercise were so concerned
the Commandos were lost that
they went up and down beaches
with loud hailers looking for them.
Jack and his colleague, were not
sure and kept quiet thinking it was
a trap and proceeded to make
their way to the refinery and oil
tanks, leaving a message in chalk
“Up the Aussies” on the oil tanks.
He returned to Australia and
was appointed the second Com -
manding Officer of the new 1
Com mando Company at Georges
Heights, Mosman in May 1959. He
was involved with exercises
involving parachuting, cliff climb -
ing, unarmed combat, diving and
other water activities. Exercises at
that time were frequently with
Royal Australian Navy submarines.
Jack married Lynette in Decem -
ber 1959 at St Phillips Church in
York Street and celebrated their
63 rd wedding anniversary before his
passing.
Jack retired from the Army in 1961.
Post the Army he had several positions as a civilian
including beef farming in the Southern Highlands.
Jack is survived by his wife Lynette, 2 children Mark
and Juliet, 11 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
New Franchise $15,000 plus
Equipment and Trailer to suit you
03 8779 5413
topcutmow@hotmail.com
www.topcutlawnmowing.com.au
COMMANDO ~ The Magazine of the Australian Commando Association ~ Edition 17 I 2023 53