Today, I submitted my request to the Australian Defence Department to recognize and award (posthumously) a promotion for my grandfather, Sgt. David John McCullough that he had been given prior to his death in the Fall of Singapore. Read the letter below.
June 14, 2022
The Hon. Richard Marles, MP
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Defence
Australia – by email richard.marles.mp@aph.gov.au
The Hon. Matt Keogh, MP
Minister for Defence Personnel
Australia – by email Matt.Keogh.MP@aph.gov.au
SGT. DAVID JOHN MCCULLOUGH (Army No. VX30784)
Assigned to 2/10 Field Company Royal Australian Engineers
Born: 25 February 1916
Wounded: 9 or 10 February 1942
Recorded Death: 11 February 1942
Dear Ministers Marles and Keogh:
I am writing to seek the recognition and award of a promotion that was to be bestowed on my grandfather during World War II, however due to his death in the Fall of Singapore, the paperwork was not completed.
Our family recently learned that prior to my grandfather’s death, his commanding officer Major K. P. H. Lawrence had recommended that he be promoted to the rank of Sergeant-Major. If it were not for the fact that he was killed in action (a fact not recognized by the Australian Defence Forces until after the end of the war), his promotion to Sergeant Major would have been confirmed.
I base this request on a letter that was sent to my grandfather shortly after the end of World War II from his commanding officer. Shortly after my grandfather was killed in action, many of his remaining regiment were captured by the Japanese and held as prisoners of war. Among these men was Major Lawrence. The letter was sent to my grandmother over 76 years ago; however, it was returned to sender due to my grandmother no longer living where the letter was sent. Major Lawrence kept the letter in his files, and last year (2021) his grandson connected with me to pass this along to our family. A copy of the letter, and story in our local newspaper is attached for your reference.
In that letter, Major Lawrence states that “When our Sergeant Major was given a Commission in Dec 1941, [my grandfather] was the logical choice for his successor and the recommendation for his appointment was on the way when he died. He was as you probably know acting in that position when he was wounded.”
My mother, Dawn Nunn (nee McCullough) was my grandfather’s oldest child, and sadly she passed away in 2018 with many questions relating to her father’s death still unresolved. The letter that Major Lawrence’s grandson was kind to keep and pass along, has answered a few of those questions, and provided some additional closure to our family.
In addition to learning more about the day that my grandfather was injured, and the care and treatment that was provided to him to keep him alive, to see the words written by his commanding officer that he was an “outstanding” man with qualities that “endeared him to all the officers and men of the Unit” collectively gave us all a greater sense of pride and respect of a man that none of us knew.
To also read that my grandfather’s qualities were recognized by his commanding officer that led to his recommendation to promote my father to Sergeant Major was truly an honorable moment for our family. We would like to now see those qualities and that recommendation honored by the Australian Defence Forces with the recognition of his proper rank of Sergeant Major.
It is this fact that I wish to bring to your attention and is the basis of my request to consider awarding my grandfather the promotion that he earned and was recognized to hold at the time of his death in 1942.
It would be an honor to have this recognized, and it would bring a great deal of closure to our family
Respectfully and sincerely submitted.
James Nunn
Grandson of David John McCullough
Notes
(1) A follow up email was sent August 14, 2022 seeking a response.