Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Grimsley King, DSO (22 September 1918 – 2009) was an officer of the Australian Army during the Second World War. Early life Gordon was born in Sydney on 22 September 1918, the son of Ralph King, and Myra, née Grimsley. He attended Knox Grammar School, where he was active in the cadet unit. Gordon studied architecture at the University of Sydney. In 1938, he joined the Citizens Military Force serving as a part-time soldier in the 17th Battalion and in early 1941 volunteered for overseas service, enlisting in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force. Second World War Gordon became an instructor at the Guerilla Warfare School at Tidal River, Victoria, in 1941 and trained the newly raised 2/6th Independent Company in May 1942 and was posted to New Guinea as second in command of the company in August 1942. The 2/6th was sent to the Kokoda Track and placed under the command of the 7th Division's headquarters. On 28 August 1942, the company moved up to Mount Eirama where they were employed as the divisional reserve. As the situation along the track continued to worsen, the 2/6th moved to cover the Goldie River Valley in order to block any Japanese outflanking manoeuvres. Long distance patrols were undertaken between 6 September and 12 October 1942 to cover wider lines of possible enemy approach through the Yodda Valley, the jungle tracks around Esau Creek and Brown River and along Engineer Road in support of Honner Force. The purpose of these patrols was to obtain topographical information regarding the tracks in the area which might be used by Australian forces to outflank the enemy, as well as to provide early warning of any enemy infiltration attempts. In this vane, the patrols varied in size and duration, ranging from four or five men to 150 and from five to six days up to months. In some cases they acted as independent, long-range patrols, while others were in close contact with regular formations. On 14 October 1942, elements of the 2/6th were flown from 14-Mile Drome across the mountains to Wanigela Airfield, Wangiela. From Wanigela the company moved to Pongani. With the offensive started in the Battle of Buna-Gona, the 2/6th patrolled in front of the United States Army's 1st Battalion, 126th Infantry Regiment, along the coast from Pongani to Buna. Arriving at the front line at Buna on 20 November 1942, the