page_title: George Warfe
section_title: Second World War
hierarchical_section_title: George Warfe / Second World War
caption_attribution_description: English: AWM image ART22499. Portrait of Major George R Warfe from the 2/3rd Australian Independent Company in Missim, Bulolo Valley, Komiatum Ridge, New Guinea.
context_page_description: Colonel George Radford Warfe, DSO, MC, ED was an Australian Army officer who commanded several Australian commando and infantry units during the Second World War. He later served in staff and training roles in the post war period, which included service during the Malayan Emergency and then as a civilian advisor during the Vietnam War following his military retirement. He was active in the civil defence organisation in Victoria and in the business community before his death at the age of 63 in November 1975 from cancer.
context_section_description: Following the outbreak of the war, Warfe joined the all volunteer 2nd Australian Imperial Force and was posted to the 2/6th Infantry Battalion, joining them on 13 October 1939. As part of the 6th Division, he deployed with them to the Middle East, and saw action with them during the first Australian ground action of the war during the Battle of Bardia in January 1941. He took part in further fighting at Tobruk and Benghazi. In March he was promoted to captain, before taking part in the short-lived Battle of Greece, which resulted in the withdrawal of Warfe's unit to Egypt, where they were rebuilt in Palestine and Syria. His leadership during the fighting in Bardia, during which he commanded a Bren carrier platoon, earned Warfe, in the words of author Garth Pratten, a "reputation for personal bravery...which remained with him throughout his service".
  After occupation duties in Syria, in early 1942 Warfe's battalion was ordered to return to Australia due to Japanese advances in the Pacific. On their way back, the battalion, along with other elements from the Australian 16th and 17th Brigades were diverted to Ceylon to undertake several months of defensive duties. On his return to Australia, Warfe was sent to the Guerilla Warfare School at Wilsons Promontory for training in unconventional warfare. After being promoted to major he assumed command of the 2/3rd Independent Company and deployed with them to Wau, Papua New Guinea in January 1943, leading them through the Salamaua–Lae campaign. Under his leadership, the commandos undertook patrols, ambushes and harassing attacks around Mubo, Missim and Bobdubi Ridge and Warfe assumed command of a composite force consisting of his commandos, along with two companies from the 58th/59th Infantry Battalion and one from the 2/7th Infantry Battalion, as the Australians advanced towards Salamaua. This force was called Warfe Force until it was broken up in August.
  In September 1943, at the age of 31, Warfe was promoted to the temporary rank of lieutenant colonel and took command of the inexperienced 58th/59th Infantry Battalion. His period in command resulted in a marked improvement in the battalion's performance, as he led them through Finisterre Range campaign. He was briefly seconded to the 2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment, but after suffering from malaria returned to the 58th/59th, commanding them in Australia and then later on Bougainville until January 1945. Pratten describes Warfe's leadership style as "aggressive, impulsive but exacting"; he often led from the front, and even took personal command of attacks down to section level.
  Warfe's final command of the war was the 2/24th Infantry Battalion, which he joined in January 1945, after returning to Australia via Cairns. Part of the 9th Division, this unit was assigned to capturing Tarakan as part of the Borneo campaign. Warfe subsequently led them through the remainder of the war, including actions to secure the Japanese airfield on Tarakan. He relinquished command in February 1946. During the war, Warfe was Mentioned in Despatches twice, and decorated with both the Military Cross and Distinguished Service Order. He also later received the Efficiency Decoration.
caption: A portrait of Warfe in 1943 by official war artist Ivor Hele
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