Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"Heathcote Howard Hammer (1905-1961), army officer, commercial traveller and storekeeper, was born on 15 February 1905 at Southern Cross, Western Australia, second son of Victorian-born parents William Hammer, miner, and his wife Ada May, née Williams. Educated at the Ballarat School of Mines, Victoria, he took a local job before becoming a commercial traveller. At St Patrick's Catholic Cathedral, Melbourne, on 26 October 1935 he married Mary Frances Morrissey, a clerk; they were to have two children before being divorced in 1955. Having joined the Militia in 1923, he was commissioned in the 8th Battalion in February 1926, transferred to the 17th Light Horse (Machine-Gun) Regiment in 1937 and promoted major in 1939.

'Tack' Hammer was seconded to the Australian Imperial Force in May 1940. He sailed for the Middle East in September and carried out instructional duties in Palestine. His posting as brigade major of the 16th Brigade in March 1941 soon brought him the operational experience he craved. After participating in the disastrous campaign in Greece, his brigade built defences in Syria. In January 1942 he was appointed to command the 2nd/48th Battalion, 9th Division; he led the unit with distinction in the fighting at El Alamein, Egypt, from July. His capture of Trig 29 on 26 October was brilliantly planned and executed. In the last attack launched by the division, on 30-31 October, although Hammer was wounded, he took two German prisoners and, when only forty of his men remained, withdrew this remnant and had them dug-in by dawn. One of his soldiers said of him at El Alamein: 'Tack will do us. He's a soldier and a half'. Hammer was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.

Returning to Australia in February 1943, he took command of the 15th Brigade in New Guinea in July. Following strenuous operations which led to the capture of Salamaua in September, Brigadier Hammer was given a brief time to rest and train his men at Donadabu before they joined the 7th Division in the Ramu Valley in January 1944. There they took part in the clearing of the Huon Peninsula and entered Madang on 24 April. Hammer was awarded a Bar to the D.S.O. (for Salamaua) and appointed C.B.E. (for the Ramu)..." - READ MORE LINK (adb.anu.edu.au)