Basil Wilfred Thomas Catterns MC (1917 - 2007)

Born 11 Aug 1917 in Balmain North, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Died 30 Mar 2007 at age 89 in Australia

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Biography

Basil Catterns MC is Notable.

Major Basil Catterns MC was an Australian soldier who was decorated for gallantry, businessman, magazine editor, and amateur yachtsman who competed in the epic Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race on several occasions.

Basil Wilfred Thomas Catterns was born on 11th August 1917 at Balmain North, New South Wales, Australia. He was the son of Wilfred Catterns, an English merchant seaman, and Emily Greenwell. ^[1] An uncle, Basil G Catterns, for whom he was named, later became the Chief Cashier of the Bank of England. Basil was educated at Fort Street Boys' High School, following which he joined the staff of the (now defunct) Sydney afternoon daily newspaper, The Sun. ^[2]

Basil Catterns MC is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Second Australian Imperial Force 1940-1945
2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion

On 7th January 1940 Basil was commissioned into the Second Australian Imperial Force for service during the Second World War. ^[3] He was allocated to the 2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion as a Lieutenant. The 2/1st Battalion's first campaign of the war was the advance from Egypt into eastern Libya in 1941 in which it was involved in the attacks on Bardia (3-5th January) and Tobruk (21-22nd January), and was left to garrison Tobruk as the advance continued. It left Tobruk on 7th March, ultimately bound for Greece with the rest of the 6th Division. The 2/1st Battalion arrived in Greece on 22nd March and was deployed at Veria to resist the anticipated German invasion. In the face of superior German force, as with the entire division, it began a long withdrawal south and was evacuated by sea on 25th April to Crete where it deployed to defend the critical airfield at Retimo. The German airborne invasion of Crete began on 20th May but a tenacious defence denied them Retimo airfield until 30th May. German victories elsewhere on Crete, however, allowed them to concentrate overwhelming force against Retimo and, short of rations and ammunition, the 2/1st surrendered and became prisoners of war. Less than 100 members, including Basil Catterns, made it to Palestine (Israel) where the battalion was re-built and subsequently manned defences in northern Syria until January 1942. ^[4]

The 2/1st Battalion left the Middle East, however, were diverted on the voyage home, to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) from 26th March and 13th July to defend from possible Japanese attack. The 2/1st finally disembarked in Australia on 7th August 1942. Within weeks, the battalion was marching on the Kokoda Track in Papua, whereupon it fought in the advance along the Track to the Japanese beachheads to January 1943. Promoted to Captain, Basil was appointed a company commander. The Kokoda campaign, involving major battles at Eora Creek-Templeton's Crossing (20-29th October), Gorari (9-12th November 1942) and Sanananda (20-21st November) was particularly costly, with over two-thirds of the re-built battalion killed, wounded, or evacuated sick. ^[4] For 'unusual high standards of leadership at Templeton's Crossing on 20th October 1942', Basil was awarded the Military Cross (MC), gazetted in Australia on 11th March 1943. His commanding officer, the highly regarded Lieutenant Colonel Paul Cullen, commented that Basil's action was 'the bravest thing I'd ever seen a man do'. The presentation of the cross was made by the Governor of New South Wales at Government House Sydney on 16th February 1946. ^[5]

Back in Australia, Basil married Nina Rose McKnight in 1943 at Burwood, New South Wales. ^[6] But then, for Basil, it was back to training in North Queensland, before the battalion participated in the Aitape-Wewak Campaign on New Guinea's north coast between December 1944 and August 1945. During this time he was promoted to Major and appointed second-in-command of the 2/1st. For part of the Aitape-Wewak Campaign, he was administrative commander whilst Cullen was absent on a course and hospitalisation.

Basil was de-mobilised on 21st December 1945 and he and Nina settled into married life at 87 Redmyre Road, Strathfield, New South Wales. He was, belatedly, Mentioned in Despatches, gazetted 6th March 1947, for 'distinguished service in the South-West Pacific Area'. ^[7]

Basil pursued a career in advertising. In addition, he produced a film of the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. Being a keen amateur yachtsman, Basil competed in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race on six occasions; founded Offshore Yachting, the magazine of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia; and became one of the longest-serving members of the Sydney Maritime Museum.

Basil passed away, at the good age of 89 years, on 30th March 2007. He is survived by Nina and their three children:

1. David, a barrister;
2. Diana, an artist; and
3. Angela, a well-known broadcaster on radio and the The World Movies Channel.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #30030/1917
2. ↑ Wikipedia profile: Basil Catterns; accessed 15 Jun 2020
3. ↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: NX342 Major Basil Wilfred Thomas Catterns; accessed 15 Jun 2020
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Australian War Memorial unit record: 2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion; accessed 15 Jun 2020
5. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: Military Cross; accessed 15 Jun 2020
6. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #15414/1943
7. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: Mentioned in Despatches; accessed 15 Jun 2020

Further eading

• Givney, E C. The First at War: The Story of the 2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion 1939-45. The Association of First Infantry Battalions, Earlwood NSW, 1987.