Full name: Geoffrey Charles SKARDON
Service number: 212824

Category of service:

Australian Regular Army — 04 February 1959 to 12 February 1984
Inactive Army Reserve — 13 February 1984 to 27 September 1984
Army Reserve — 28 September 1984 to 08 March 1999
Employment — Instructor
Rank on discharge — Colonel

Postings:
Un-Allotted List Eastern Command — 04 February 1959
1 Recruit Training Battalion — 13 February 1959
4 Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment — 28 May 1959
Officer Cadet School — 12 July 1959
Un-Allotted List Southern Command — 16 June 1960
1 Recruit Training Battalion — 07 July 1960
1 Special Air Service Company — 02 January 1962
Headquarters Australian Army Force, Far East Land Forces — 30 March 1964
2 Special Air Services Squadron — 25 August 1964
Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam — 06 October 1964
7 Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment — 08 October 1965
Papua New Guinea Training Depot — 16 December 1966
1 Battalion, Pacific Island Regiment — 11 March 1968
7 Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment — 17 February 1969
Australian Army Staff (London) — 21 March 1971
Army Headquarters (Canberra) — 21 September 1971
Headquarters 1 Division — 23 October 1972
Headquarters Training Command — 01 November 1973
Australian Staff College — 25 January 1974
Royal Military College — 20 January 1975
United States Marine Corps, Command & Staff College — 27 July 1977
5/7 Battalion, Royal Australia Regiment — 08 November 1978
Australian Staff College — 12 January 1981
Command & Staff College — 01 January 1982
3 Military District — 13 February 1984
2 Battalion, Royal Victorian Regiment — 28 September 1984
Headquarters 3 Division — 01 January 1988
3 Training Group — 15 December 1990

Operational Service/Deployment:
Thailand (Exercise AIR COBRA) — 17 April 1962 to 04 May 1962
Malaysia — 30 March 1964 to 26 August 1964
Vietnam — 16 October 1964 to 08 October 1965
New Guinea — 16 December 1966 to 17 February 1969
Vietnam — 18 February 1970 to 07 March 1971
United Kingdom — 21 March 1971 to 21 September 1971
United States of America — 18 July 1977 to 07 November 1978

Attachments:
Infantry Centre — 25 June 1962 to Date not recorded
Honours and Awards:
Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 with Clasps ‘MALAYSIA’ and ‘VIETNAM’
General Service Medal 1962 with Clasp ‘BORNEO’
Vietnam Medal
Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with Clasps ‘PNG’ and ‘SE ASIA’
Defence Force Service Medal with First and Second Clasps
National Medal
Australian Defence Medal
Pingat Jasa Malaysia
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Commendation for Gallantry
United States of America Meritorious Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation
Infantry Combat Badge
Returned from Active Service Badge

Geoff served with 1 SAS SQN in Borneo in 1964 where he was seconded to the British Army's "A" Squadron, 22 SAS Regiment. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2707459
In May this year he was awarded a Commendation for Gallantry - For acts of gallantry in action on 6 August 1964 whilst on that secondment. (Citation below) One week after this action he was back in Singapore and 2 months later he was In Vietnam with the AATTV, he did a further deployment to Vietnam with 7 Battalion in 1970. https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=1238036&c=VIETNAM#R

https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/808800

TO BE AWARDED THE COMMENDATION FOR GALLANTRY

COLONEL GEOFFREY CHARLES SKARDON (Retd)
43-47 High Ridge Drive, CLIFTON SPRINGS VIC 3222

For acts of gallantry in action whilst on secondment to the United Kingdom ‘A’ Squadron 22 SAS Regiment in August 1964.

Colonel (then Lieutenant) Skardon was a member of a team patrolling the Malaysian border of Borneo in Sabah on 6 August 1964, when contact occurred with enemy forces that resulted in an exchange of gunfire. Lieutenant Skardon advanced under enemy fire to pull a wounded patrol member to safety. After dragging the wounded soldier to a relatively safe position, it became apparent the soldier had succumbed to his injuries and was deceased. Lieutenant Skardon returned fire then broke contact. Alone, Lieutenant Skardon withdrew to a predetermined rendezvous point to meet the remainder of his patrol, where they were extricated on 7 August 1964.

https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/20251028%20-%20Gazette%20C2025G00688.pdf