Lieutenant Colonel Derek Napier
2IC A Company 5 RAR September 1969 – February 1970
5 May 1942 – 4 August 2025
It is with great sadness we advise of the passing of Lieutenant Colonel Derek Macdonald Napier (The Gordon Highlanders, 5 RAR and 7 RAR).
Captain Derek Napier was serving with the Gordon Highlanders in Borneo when The Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) was deployed to South Vietnam in 1965. At the time he felt Britain should honour its SEATO commitment by also sending troops to assist in the fight against communism. He thought that if Britain wouldn’t act, he would, so in 1968, he resigned his commission in the British Army and joined the Australian Army as an infantry captain. He was initially posted to 7 RAR at Holsworthy. In June 1969 he was transferred to HQ 1 ATF in South Vietnam.
When in August 1969, the 2ic of A Coy 5 RAR (Captain Bill Grassick) was seriously wounded and evacuated to Australia, Derek Napier was posted in September to replace him.
Capt Derek Napier with Forward Observation Officer
Dennis Casey, Binh Ba Vietnam, December 1969.
Derek quickly and easily fitted into his role. In his relatively short time in 7 RAR he had a good feel for the Australian Army, its officers, senior non-commissioned officers and soldiers. Also, because of his earlier British Army service in Borneo, he understood the essentials of jungle warfare operations. Derek arrived as an energetic, professional, breath of fresh air. His no-nonsense, direct approach to life, coupled with his wonderful sense of humour quickly endeared him to his new colleagues – officers, NCOs and diggers. Within a very short time it seemed Captain Napier had been with A Company since 5RAR arrived in Vietnam. He was involved in all the battalion’s operations until the end of its tour experiencing firefights, an exploding M16 mine and a VC IED that destroyed an APC ahead of him.
When the Tigers returned to Australia in 1970 Derek rejoined 7 RAR. He completed 632 days’ service in South Vietnam, returning to Australia with 7 RAR in 1971. He was then posted to the Jungle Training Centre, Canungra.
By 1972 the British Army was seriously committed to duties in Northern Ireland (the Troubles). Derek felt guilty about not being involved and resigned from the Australian Army and returned to the Gordon Highlanders (with no loss of seniority but wearing Australian Vietnam service medals and Infantry Combat Badge - both the medals and ICB being a rarity in the British Army).
Derek very much enjoyed his time with The Royal Australian Regiment and remained in contact with his friends there – officers and soldiers. Interestingly, he found the formality between our officers quite strange (in British battalions all officers, except the CO who is known as Colonel, call each other by their first names: 2LT to MAJ). On the other hand, he was rather attracted to what he saw as a rare respectful informality between officers and soldiers. In the British Army officers only addressed soldiers by rank and name. He was greatly attracted to our practice of officers using first names or nick-names when speaking with soldiers – unless it was in admonishment. He took this practice with him when he returned to the Gordon Highlanders and beyond – he believed it made him a better officer.
Capt Derek Napier 5RAR awaiting an air delivery by Sioux helicopter
At his funeral a close Gordon Highlander associate said of him:
“Derek was an outstanding soldier and officer. He understood war fighting and delegation. He was straight with his officers, NCOs, and soldiers (both Jocks and Diggers), took them into his confidence and was respected by them for that. He believed that the impossible was possible. He could be stubborn and obstinate. He demanded excellence from his men. He was courageous, resolute and decisive. He was principled and disciplined and deemed it a privilege to command soldiers, gaining great satisfaction when he was able to help them. His Jocks would have followed him anywhere and did! He was very much a Jocks’ officer”.
In 2010 Derek and his wife Helen visited Australia and caught up with his old RAR friends.Sadly, Lieutenant Colonel Derek Napier succumbed to the ravages of cancer on 4th August 2025, aged 83.
He is sadly missed, but not forgotten.
Derek as a Gordon Highlander company commander after his Australian service.
Derek Napier’s Honours and Awards reflect a remarkable commitment to service:
- 1978 - Northern Ireland Operational Mention in Despatches (MiD)
- 1985 - Northern Ireland Operational Mention in Despatches (MiD)
- General Service Medal (GSM) 1962 with clasps: ‘Malay Peninsula’, ‘Borneo’, ‘Northern Ireland’
- Australian Vietnam Service Medal
- Australian Active Service Medal 1945 – 1975
- Australian Defence Medal
- Malaysian Service Medal (Pingat Jasa Malaysia)
- Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
- Australian Infantry Combat Badge
Headstone
© Colonel John James DSM (Retd)