Gordon Grimsley King Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Grimsley King DSO ( 22 September 1918 – 2009 ) was an officer of the Australian Army during the Second World War . Early life . Gordon was born in Sydney on 22 September 1918 , the son of Ralph King , and Myra , née Grimsley . He attended Knox Grammar School , where he was active in the cadet unit . Gordon studied architecture at the University of Sydney . In 1938 he joined the Citizens Military Force with the 17th Battalion and enlisted in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force in 1940 . Second World War . Gordon became an instructor at the Guerilla Warfare School at Tidal River , Victoria in 1941 and trained the newly raised 2 / 6 th Independent Company in May 1942 and was posted to New Guinea as second in command of the company in August 1942 . The 2 / 6th was sent to the Kokoda Track and placed under the command of the 7th Division ’ s headquarters . On 28 August 1942 , the company moved up to Mount Eirama where they were employed as the divisional reserve . As the situation along the track continued to worsen , the 2 / 6th moved to cover the Goldie River Valley in order to block any Japanese outflanking manoeuvres . Long distance patrols were undertaken between 6 September and 12 October 1942 to cover wider lines of possible enemy approach through the Yodda Valley , the jungle tracks around Esau Creek and Brown River and along Engineer Road in support of Honner Force . The purpose of these patrols was to obtain topographical information regarding the tracks in the area which might be used by Australian forces to outflank the enemy , as well as to provide early warning of any enemy infiltration attempts . In this vane , the patrols varied in size and duration , ranging from four or five men to 150 and from five to six days up to months . In some cases they acted as independent , long - range patrols , while others were in close contact with regular formations . On 14 October 1942 , elements of the 2 / 6th were flown from 14 - Mile Drome across the mountains to Wanigela Airfield , Wangiela . From Wanigela the company moved to Pongani . With the offensive started in the Battle of Buna - Gona , the 2 / 6th patrolled in front of the United States Army ' s 1st Battalion , 126th Infantry Regiment , along the coast from Pongani to Buna . Arriving at the front line at Buna on 20 November 1942 , the 2 / 6th was engaged in the heavy fighting around the airfield named New Strip until the early December 1942 during which time they were employed mainly in a traditional infantry role . In mid - December , the 2 / 6th was withdrawn to Soputa and then Port Moresby , where they spent Christmas prior to returning to Australia for re - organisation and refurbishment . He returned with the 2 / 6th to Australia in March 1943 and after some leave , re - assembled at the Army ’ s Jungle Warfare Centre at Canungra , Queensland . As part of the Army - wide re - organisation that was being undertaken , the 2 / 6th Independent Company became known as the 2 / 6th Commando Squadron . The 2 / 6th sailed from Townsville for Port Moresby in August 1943 , and then , in the middle of September , with Gordon in command , it was flown to an area just west of the Leron River , in the Markham Valley for the upcoming Markham – Ramu campaign . Attached to the 7th Division , the squadron provided flank protection during the campaign , mainly carrying out reconnaissance and long range patrols , although they were also used to capture and hold ground in advance of the main formation at times . During the Battle of Kaiapit , on 19 – 20 September 1943 , Gordon was wounded in the leg , however he continued to lead his men against overwhelming odds and was later awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his actions . After recovering from his wounds , he led his men and continued to provide flank protection for the 7th Division during its advance to Shaggy Ridge . He was promoted to Major in December 1943 and led the company during the battle of Balikpapan in July 1945 . Later life . After the war , Gordon completed his architectural degree and practised as an architect until he joined his father ' s stockbroking firm of Ralph W . King and Yuill as a partner in 1955 . He married Jeannette Poate in 1949 . Gordon continued his affiliation with the Army , joining the 17 / 18th Battalion , the North Shore Regiment in 1948 . He was appointed the commanding officer of the Sydney University Regiment in 1954 . The regiment was in camp at Singleton , New South Wales when the 1955 Hunter Valley floods occurred , and participated in relief and clean up efforts . Following an explosion and fire in the Pokolbin State Forest in 1956 , King grabbed his poncho and wrapped a sergeant whose clothes were on fire in it , helping to save his life . Gordon retired from his work commitments in 1978 , although he remained a member of the Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club until his death . He also served for 20 years as a director of The Smith Family , and was on the committee of the Australian Club . During his 90th birthday celebrations he revisited Kokoda , Mission Hill and Kaiapit and unveiled a plaque at Kokoda in commemoration of the 2 / 6th Commando Squadron . Gordon King died in 2009 and was survived by Jeannette and his children Robert , Vivian , Edwina and Marisa .