Alexander Spence (soldier)

Alexander Spence
HQ staff from the 2/2nd Independent Company, an Australian Army commando unit during the Second World War, December 1942. Timor. LTCOL Alexander Spence is the first on the left.
Born	5 February 1906 Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia
Died	10 July 1983 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Buried	Mount Gravatt General Cemetery
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Australian Army
Years of service	1940–1945
Rank	Major (Temporary Lieutenant Colonel)
Commands held	2/2nd Independent Company 2/12th Commando Squadron 2/9th Cavalry Commando Regiment
Battles/wars	Second World War Battle of Timor
Awards	Distinguished Service Order

Alexander Spence DSO (5 February 1906 in Bundaberg, Queensland^[1] – 10 July 1983 in Brisbane, Queensland)^[2] was an Australian Army officer during World War II. Between 24 May and 11 November 1942, Spence commanded Allied forces during their guerrilla campaign in Timor.

Spence, who had been a journalist^[1] and had served in the Militia before the war, volunteered for overseas duty with the Second Australian Imperial Force on 25 June 1940, at Miowera, Queensland.^[3]

A major, he was originally posted to the 2/26th Battalion, but was posted away from the unit to the commandos before the battalion embarked on its ill-fated deployment to Singapore.^[4] He was later appointed commander of the 2/2nd Independent Company, a commando unit, and went with it as part of Sparrow Force to Dutch Timor in 1941. The 2/2nd and Dutch forces were despatched to occupy Portuguese Timor in December 1941, when it was anticipated that Japanese forces would invade. Spence and his men enjoyed good relations with most of the local population, and prepared for a prolonged guerrilla campaign.^[5]