John Reddish (soldier)

Brigadier John "Jack" Reddish DSO, ED (19 May 1902 – 2 August 1971) was an Australian soldier who served on active service with the 6th Division (Australia) during the Second World War. He was born in Croydon, New South Wales, the eldest of three children to John Reddish, a School Inspector and Military Cadet Instructor, and Mary Lavinia Reddish (nee Sanders).

Jack Reddish served in the Militia, commissioning on 26 October 1926 and by the outbreak of the Second World War was an artillery Major and Officer Commanding 114 Battery, 14th Field Brigade.

Reddish was commissioned into the 2nd AIF with the service number NX105 on 26 March 1940 and returned to the Citizen Military Forces on 15 October 1945. He served in both the North African and New Guinea campaigns where he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and was twice Mentioned in dispatches. He rose to command the 2/4th Field Regiment (Australia), the 2/7th Field Regiment (Australia) and later became Commander Royal Artillery of the 6th Division.

For his service in the Citizen Military Forces Reddish was awarded the Efficiency Decoration. He retired from Military service on 28 February 1951.

John Reddish married Edna Kench on 15 November 1930 in Petersham, New South Wales and had two sons. He died at North Balwyn, Victoria on 2 August 1971.