Bernard Callinan

Sir Bernard Callinan
Callinan as a lieutenant colonel in command of the 26th Battalion, Bougainville, 1945
Born	2 February 1913 Melbourne, Victoria
Died	20 July 1995 Melbourne, Victoria
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Australian Army
Years of service	1940–46 1948–51
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Commands held	2/2 Independent Company 26 Infantry Battalion 58/32 Infantry Battalion
Battles/wars	Second World War Battle of Timor New Guinea campaign Bougainville campaign
Awards	Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches
Other work	President, Melbourne Cricket Club President, Institute of Engineers Chairman, GHD

Second World War

Sir Bernard James Callinan AC, CBE, DSO, MC (2 February 1913 – 20 July 1995) was an Australian soldier, civil engineer, businessman, and sport administrator.

Born in Melbourne on 2 February 1913, after attending St Kevin's College Callinan completed a Bachelor of Civil Engineering at the University of Melbourne. Upon graduating in 1935, he joined the embryonic consulting practice of Gordon Gutteridge, which became Gutteridge, Haskins and Davey a few years later and is now known as GHD.

Callinan was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Citizens Military Force in June 1940, being appointed into the Royal Australian Engineers. In March 1941, he volunteered for overseas service and joined the Second Australian Imperial Force, taking up a posting as an instructor at the Demolitions Wing, at the 7th Infantry Training Centre. He was promoted to captain in July 1941, and subsequently posted as the second-in-command to the 2/2nd Independent Company, deploying with them to Timor as part of Sparrow Force in December 1941. He subsequently led the commandos during their campaign on the island and in July 1942 was temporarily promoted to major.

Upon returning to Australia, his promotion to major was confirmed and he served on the headquarters of the First Army as a staff officer before taking up a posting as second-in-command of the 31st/51st Battalion at Merauke in November 1943. In early 1945, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and assumed command of the 26th Battalion, leading them through the Bougainville Campaign. In February 1946, he was discharged from the 2nd AIF, but later returned to the Citizen Military Forces and commanded the 58/32 Infantry Battalion, commanding it from 1948 to 1951. For his wartime service he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Military Cross for outstanding leadership and gallantry. He was also Mentioned in Despatches.