of transporting food and supplies by donkey, with the assistance of local Greek porters and resistance fighters, over rough tracks and in mountain areas and "always at risk from attack from... enemy patrols". Returning to Athens, he was ordered to organise and supervise the evacuation of Commonwealth troops from the beach at Porto Rafti (known by the military code name of "Beach D"). In so doing, he succeeded in rescuing of "over 15,000" troops under cover of darkness over five nights "without a hitch" and "without loss of life". In Crete he assisted in co-ordinating the partisan groups in harassing the German occupiers, after which he was evacuated to Alexandria, Egypt, by submarine. He was then sent to Baalbek in the Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon where he was appointed Deputy Adjutant General of the 6th Division and acting Deputy Quartermaster General in the 6th Division of the Australian Army. He was recommended for the award of a Military Cross, with the recommendation commending him for performing two duties in Greece – the moving of supplies on donkeys "even in the presence of enemy patrols" and his organising and controlling the embarkation of "15,000" troops – "with distinction, courage and determination". World War II – Australia When, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Curtin Labor government in Australia decided to bring Australian troops back from the Middle East to the Pacific area, the 6th and 7th Divisions were ordered to return to Australia. Sheppard, now aged 27, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and sent to the 6th Division Headquarters near Adelaide River, Northern Territory as Acting Assistant Quartermaster General, with orders to help strengthen Darwin's defenses in the wake of recent Japanese attacks there. Finding military preparations there in a "shambles", he set about improving signals, supply lines, accommodation and the quality of the frontline troops (with unreliable militia troops being replaced by combat-experienced AIF soldiers). After nine months in the Northern Territory, Sheppard was sent to Melbourne to sit on an inquiry "charged with drawing up plans for a Legal Service". He was promoted to the rank of Colonel. His duties brought him into regular but acrimonious contact with Sir Thomas Blamey, the Commander in Chief of the Australian Military Forces and he hoped for a transfer to the combat frontlines in New Guinea. Postwar Greece: Red Cross, UNRRA, British Economic Mission Sheppard had not forgotten his