Tony Hall OBE

1932 – 2025

Commander, DUKW Detachment

Macquarie Island 1953. Heard Island, Mawson, Vestfold Hills,
Kerguelen Island 1954-55. Macquarie Island 1955. 

Lieutenant Tony Hall’s first voyage was to Macquarie Island in December 1953. In 1954/55 he was Commander of the ANARE Detachment of two DUKWs which embarked on Kista Dan in December 1954 to visit Heard Island, relieve Mawson, visit the Vestfold Hills and return home via Kerguelen Island. When the Mawson relief was almost complete the  DUKWs were taken ashore, fitted with chains, and driven South, in convoy with other ANARE vehicles, to Mount Henderson. Accompanied by Phil Law, John Béchervaise and Peter Shaw, Tony climbed the mountain and experienced the hundred-mile view of mountains to the West, taking a picture that was published on the front page of the Melbourne Herald on return. He continued to serve in the Australian Army for 40 years, being awarded the OBE for service with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force as their Chief of Logistics. He also served as Director of Transport and Head of the Royal Australian Corps of Transport. He retired as a Colonel. After this, he played and administered croquet, serving as President of the World Croquet Association for five years and playing in more than a dozen World Championships.

Aurora Journal, Vol 43, No. 4, June 2024