Biography

John Deighton AM MC is Notable.

Brigadier John Pericles Arthur Deighton AM MC was born on 9th February 1935 in Athens, Greece. He was the second son of Christopher Deighton, a British Army officer, and Victorian-born Eileen McCraith. He was the younger brother of Major General Derek Deighton. He attended Mentone Grammar School from 1945 to 1952. John Deighton graduated from the Officer Cadet School on 19th December 1953.

John Deighton AM MC is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australian Army 1953-1983
Headquarters, 1st Australian Task Force; 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment

John Deighton AM MC was awarded the Military Cross.

John completed a fourteen-month tour of duty in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, with Headquarters, 1st Australian Task Force (21st March 1967 to 24th April 1967) and 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (4 RAR) (21st May 1968 to 30th May 1969), where he was officer commanding 'D' Company. ^[1] Whilst a Major with 4 RAR, he was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for bravery under fire; published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 4th September 1969 on page 5199 at position 3. ^[2]

He was awarded the National Medal in 1977 ^[3] and First Clasp in 1978. ^[4] John retired from the Army on 4th July 1983, following thirty years of service.

John was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2001 for 'service to veterans, particularly through commemorative, welfare, administrative and educational programmes of the Victorian Branch of the Returned and Services League of Australia'. ^[5]

In a tribute to John, it was written: ^[6]

"John was also instrumental for his support to the Australian Hellenic War Memorial in Melbourne’s Domain Gardens. A strong supporter of ex-servicemen and women, a tireless worker within the Victorian RSL Branch, loved and admired by Australians of Greek heritage and not a man to be crossed if it meant going against Australian values."

Aged eighty years, he passed away on 15th October 2015 in Mount Eliza, Victoria.

Deighton House, Mentone Grammar School, is named in honour of John and his brother Derek, an Australian Army Major General.

Sources

1. ↑ Department of Veterans Affairs: 35162 John Pericles Arthur Deighton
2. ↑ Australian War Memorial Honours and Awards: 35162 John Pericles Arthur Deighton MC
3. ↑ Australian Honours: National Medal
4. ↑ Australian Honours: National Medal 1st Clasp
5. ↑ Australian Honours: John Pericles Arthur Deighton AM MC
6. ↑ A tribute to John Pericles Arthur Deighton

See also

• 4 RAR Association: John Pericles Arthur Deighton.
• 4 RAR Association: John Pericles Arthur Deighton AM MC.