BAHR Colin Victor
career soldier 1922-2004

Tex Bahr was born in Charters Towers and at 19 joined the Australian Militia in Townsville and later moved to 4th Division in Brisbane. In 1943 he transferred to the AIF and was posted to Torres Force Thursday Island, followed by posting to a Light Aid Detachment at Darwin Workshops in 1945; he was de-mobbed from the AIF in 1947.

The next day he enlisted in the Permanent Military Forces and was transferred to 1 Rec Trg Bn Greta. In 1948 he was posted to RAASC at Ingleburn and from there to the Long Range Weapons Experimental Unit at Woomera, where he was promoted to corporal then sergeant.

In 1952 he attended a Driving and Maintenance Instructor and Testing Officer Course at the RAASC School Puckapunyal, then reposted to 11 NS Trg Bn Wacol, before taking up a post as Assistant Instructior Motor Vehicles at Duntroon ACT in 1953.   During his time at RMC he undertook parachute and air dispatch training at Williamstown, and in 1956 commanded a DUKW in the mission on Lake George to rescue seven RMC staff cadets missing in a boating accident: only two were saved, largely by his personal actions and ignoring illogical instructions.

Next posting was to HQ N Comd Brisbane, then in 1960 to 5 Coy RAASC as the Cadre Warrant Officer, a position he held until 1965, when he was posted as CSM 26 Coy RAASC at Wacol. In 1966 he was promoted and posted as RSM Army HQ, followed by a tour in Vietnam in AFV Amenities Unit Vung Tau.

On return, after a short term at HQ CRAASC 3 Div, he moved across to AHQ Melbourne. His final posting was as RSM 1 Tpt and Mov Gp Brisbane, and in 1975 after 33 years service he retired from the army.

Tex was tragically killed in a road accident in 2004. He married twice: to Joyce who passed away in 1994 – they had three children, William, Colleen and Lyndie. His second wife was Fay.