Draft:Jack Harold Skipper

Jack Skipper MC (23 April 1930 - 24 August 2023)

Jack Harold Skipper who passed away in August 2023 aged 93, was Australia's oldest veteran of three or more British Atomic tests at Maralinga in September and October 1956.|url=https://www.arpansa.gov.au/understanding-radiation/sources-radiation/more-radiation-sources/british-nuclear-weapons-testing |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Australian Government |language=en}}  He was present at 3 Atomic blasts and was required to walk through the blast site inspecting damage to structures, placed there to access damage. There were 16,716 Australian Defence Force members at the British Atomic tests.|url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/LIB54676 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Australian War Memorial |language=en}}

Jack Skipper was born in Perth Western Australia and was accepted into the Royal Military College, Duntroon in the Class of 1948.

He graduated Duntroon second in the Class in 1952 as a Lieutenant.

Skipper saw Active Service in the Korean War from 1952-1953,  where he was awarded the Military Cross,  with 1 Royal Australian Regiment (RAR). He was promoted to Captain on return to Australia.

Skipper saw Active Service in the Malayan Emergency from 1957-1958 with 3 RAR.

Skipper was present at 3 British Atomic Blasts at Maralinga |url=https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/maralinga |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=National Museum of Australia |language=en}} South Australia in 1956.

In 1958, he was sent from Malaya to train with Royal Marines.

In late 1958, Skipper returned to Australia. He was promoted to Major and made Commanding Officer, 1st Commando Regiment at Georges Heights Mosman in 1959.

The 1st Commando Regiment was granted the Freedom of the City of Sydney and Mosman under his Command.

Skipper retired from the Army in 1961 and had a very successful business career, including at Philips, Jantzen, Country Club, Osti Fashions, Tuf Footwear, Bronson & Jacobs, while also a cattle farmer at Robertson NSW for 50 years. He was very active with the NSW Farmers Federation in his latter years and also was a sheep and cropping farmer in Billimari, New South Wales.

The Australian Government has his War Memorial in Perth Western Australia.