Jack Studdert

Brigadier John Handcock Studdert, (20 December 1923 – 18 February 2003) was an Australian Army officer, and in retirement a farmer and organiser of his local Rural Fire Service (RFS) branch. He is best remembered for his service as the Commandant of the Officer Training Unit Scheyville.

Early years Jack Studdert was born in Bungonia, New South Wales in December 1923, the oldest son of Charles Handcock Studdert and Bertha Geraldine Cripps-Clark. His father was born at Danganelly House in County Clare, Ireland, emigrated to Australia in 1912, and was the manager of the Spring Ponds property at Bungonia.

Military career Studdert graduated from Royal Military College, Duntroon in December 1943, and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Royal Australian Artillery (RAA). During the Second World War he served with the 2/6th Field Regiment in the Netherlands East Indies (Halmahera and Borneo), with the occupation forces in Japan, and with the Headquarters of the 34th Infantry Brigade. After the war he was posted as an instructor at the Artillery School, North Head, and subsequently as Adjutant of the 6th Field Regiment in Tasmania. After attending the Canadian Staff College at Kingston, Ontario, he was appointed as the Instructor Artillery at the Royal Military College and subsequently attended the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham in England.

Studdert moved to Canberra in 1972, serving in the Materiel Division and retiring in December 1978 as the Deputy Chief of Materiel. For his work in Materiel Division he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia.

Retirement In the 24 years following his retirement, Studdert returned to the region where he grew up and worked a property, Bunratty, just south of Goulburn. He spent most of those years as the Secretary of the local Gundarry Bush Fire Brigade, where he wrote a 5-year equipment replacement and upgrade plan, established an effective command, control and communications system for the Brigade and planned and implemented regular and meaningful training for the fire fighters.

Family Jack Studdert was survived by: his daughter Fiona, their partners Valerie, Helena and Nick and two grandchildren Nicholas and Hannah.

Other relations: Father: Charles Handcock Studdert Mother: Bertha Geraldine Cripps-Clark Sister: Vivien Brother: Charles Herbert "Mick" Studdert