Reg Saunders

Reginald Walter “Reg” Saunders MBE (1920–1990) was a proud Gunditjmara man from western Victoria and one of Australia’s most distinguished soldiers. Well known by Yuin people, Reg was born at Framlingham Mission, near Warrnambool and came from a long line of warriors — his father, Chris Saunders, fought in the First World War, and his uncle, William Reginald Rawlings, was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in France.

Reg enlisted in 1940 and served with the 2/7th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force. He fought in the Middle East, Greece and Crete, where he famously evaded capture for almost a year with the help of local villagers. Returning to action in New Guinea, he showed exceptional leadership and courage. In 1944, he became the first Aboriginal Australian commissioned as an officer in the Australian Army — a groundbreaking achievement in an era of discrimination.

After the war, Reg returned to serve again in the Korean War, commanding a platoon with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. His leadership was widely respected, earning him the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1971 for services to Aboriginal people.

Following his military career, Saunders worked with the Office of Aboriginal Affairs and later as a public servant, continuing his lifelong advocacy for equality and recognition of First Nations contributions. Reg Saunders once said, “I was an Australian and I could fight just as well as any man.” His life remains a powerful symbol of courage, integrity, and reconciliation.