Raymond Sandover
| Raymond Sandover | |
|---|---|
Brigadier Raymond Sandover at Lae Base, 3 October 1944
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|
| Born |
28 March 1910 Richmond, England |
| Died | 12 August 1995 (aged 85) Surrey, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom Australia |
| Service/branch |
Territorial Army Australian Army |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Commands held | Lae Base Sub-Area (1945) 6th Brigade (1943–45) 2/11th Battalion (1941–43) |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches (3) Efficiency Decoration |
| Relations | William Sandover (Great Grandfather), Alfred Sandover (Great uncle) |
Raymond Ladais Sandover DSO, ED (28 March 1910 – 12 August 1995) was a brigadier in the Australian Army. During the Second World War, he commanded the 2/11th Battalion from 1941 to 1943 and the 6th Australian Infantry Brigade between 1943 and 1945.
Born on 28 March 1910 at Richmond, London, he was educated at Rugby School and the University of Bonn. In 1929, he joined a Territorial battalion of the East Surrey Regiment. He qualified as a chartered accountant and went on to work for the family business in Perth, Western Australia. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Sandover volunteered to serve with the Second Australian Imperial Force. Joining the 2/11th Infantry Battalion, he subsequently led them through the Battle of Crete.
Promoted to brigadier in May 1943, at the time he was the youngest officer in the Australian Army to hold that rank.
Commanding the 2/11th Battalion, Sandover took up defensive positions in the hills around the airstrip of Rethymno, Crete, along with the 2/1st Battalion, supported by elements of 2/3rd Field Regiment, 2/1st Machine Gun Battalion and members of the Cretan Police. Lieutenant Colonel Ian Campbell, commander of the 2/1st Battalion was appointed overall commander of the Rethymno Force.
On 20 May 1941 German paratroopers landed on Crete. The fighting was severe at times as the Australian and Greek units fought to contain the German landings.
Campbell's forces were doing well in comparison with allied efforts on other parts of the island. The 2/11th Battalion along with the Cretan Police were able to force back the German paratroopers to Perivolia in which the 2/11th Battalion, in a series of counter attacks, attempted to drive the German forces from the village.
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