caption serviceyears laterwork branch commands death_date death_place birth_place allegiance awards battles birth_date nickname rank image article_title name
captain ralph honner in libya , 1941 . 1924 -- 1927 1936 -- 1945 ambassador to ireland -lrb- 1968 -- 72 -rrb- australian army 2/14th -- 43 -rrb- battalion -lrb- 1943 -rrb- 39th battalion -lrb- 1942 14 may 1994 sydney , new south wales fremantle , western australia australia distinguished service order military cross second world war 17 august 1904 `` jump '' lieutenant colonel ralph honner 005638.jpg ralph honner
 ralph honner
ralph honner

lieutenant colonel hyacinth ralph honner dso , mc -lrb- 17 august 1904 -- 14 may 1994 -rrb- , known as ralph honner , was a distinguished australian soldier during the second world war .
he is considered particularly notable for his leadership during the kokoda track campaign , during which he commanded the 39th battalion , which fought a series of delaying actions as the japanese advanced towards port moresby .
in 1943 honner was wounded during the fighting in the ramu and markham valleys and , as a result , was discharged from the army in early 1945 .
in his later life , he worked as an administrator on the war pensions assessment appeal tribunal .
he was also active in the liberal party of new south wales and served as the australian ambassador to ireland between 1968 and 1972 .
he died in 1994 , aged 89 .
