Brigadier Colin Khan DSO AM (Retd) died peacefully on Monday, 31 August 2026.
Colin entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon on 13 March 1948. Following graduation in 1951, he was posted briefly to 2RAR before joining 1RAR in Korea, where he was Wounded in Action. On returning to Australia he was posted as an instructor at the School of Infantry, until he returned to RMC Duntroon as an instructor. Following this posting he attended the Canadian Army Staff College.

Postings to 2RAR, Headquarters Papua New Guinea Command and Headquarters Murray Barracks Area followed before he was appointed Commanding Officer of 5RAR, deploying with the Battalion to South Vietnam in February 1969 until March 1970.

On return to Australia he attended the Joint Services Staff College, before postings to Army Headquarters, Training Command, Land Warfare Centre and Department of Defence. He retired from the Army in January 1986, as a Brigadier and subsequently served with the Australian Federal Police for ten years.

He was part of the Australian Coronation Contingent to the UK in 1953, for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

He was Mentioned in Despatches (Korea), awarded the DSO (South Vietnam) and in June 2010, the AM, recognising, among other things, his community service in relation to the developing of memorials to the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.

Colin was a major supporter of the 5RAR Association, serving variously as President, Patron and Co-Patron, until his passing.

Vale Colin Nicholas Khan RIP