Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Major Felix Fazekas MC 1928-1998

Felix Fazekas was a legend of the Royal Australian Regiment.

Felix Fazekas was born on 2 August 1928 in Szolnok, a major city at the heart of the Great Hungarian Plain and on the banks of the river Tisza.

He was the son of ethnic Hungarians Károly and Teréz Fazekas (nee Váczy) who were born outside today’s Hungary in the pre-1918 Austro-Hungarian Empire’s Hungarian Délvidék territories, now part of Serbia, which were lost in WWI and had become part of Serbia's Vojvodina Province.

Due to ongoing ostracism of the minorities in the old territories, many thousands of ethnic Hungarians migrated to the “mother country”, north across the border. Felix’s younger sister Flóra was also born in Szolnok which confirms the permanent settlement of the Fazekas family in that city. Felix went to school in Szolnok and by age 14, having completed Year 8 (1942), he entered the Military Academy High School for NCO’s in Infantry (Szolnoki Katonai Altisztképzõ Kollégium), established a year earlier in 1941 and, with reference to his distinguished career later in life, inherently was the perfect candidate to a military future.

In March 1944 when Hungary, until then a thorny ally of Germany, sought peace with the Allies, it was invaded by Nazi Germany and a puppet government was installed. As a consequence the Hungarian military fell under the direct control of the Wehrmacht. From then on, all previously military trained boys aged 16 and over were conscripted for national service within Hungary. Felix had to join the Hungarian Army at age 16. By the end of WWII, a year later, he was a battle experienced youth soldier. Both countries tried to support the common war effort with their youth at home deployed on paramilitary duties as military auxiliaries whilst their respective main armies fought at the Eastern Front in Russia along the Don River.

Both German and Hungarian armies suffered heavy military setbacks during fierce battles, retreated and after the 7 weeks siege of Budapest by the Soviet Army, a decisive Hungarian defeat ended the war in Hungary. When German forces together with many Hungarian divisions retreated from the Westward advance of Soviet Russians, they surrendered to the American forces charging Eastward in Bavaria. They became the Prisoners of War (POW) of the USA, under safe and humane American administration, a destination that every defeated combatant wanted to end up, in preference to capture by Soviet Russians.

When post-WWII Soviet occupied Hungary gradually turned into a merciless communist state, the rest of the Fazekas family fled to Austria as refugees and then moved to Bavaria, to eventually unite with Felix after his release from the POW camp. His family was among the countless thousands of forlorn refugees in war torn Germany whose life was a hard struggle and enduringness of deprivation. Felix learned German, did his matriculation, was accepted in the University of Heidelberg and pursued studies as a medical student whilst his family was under the protection and care of the International Refugee Organization, languishing in a Bavarian refugee camp. In 1949, with two years of studies behind him, Felix and his family were accepted as immigrants by Australia under the post-WWII Displaced Persons (DP) Scheme.

They left Naples on board the S/S “Dundalk Bay” to arrive in Melbourne on 14 September 1949. According to photo attached to his Alien Registration document, among other data, it is stated that Felix was 183cm (6ft) tall, a former Heidelberg University student. Aged 23 Felix then discharged the 2 year prescribed work obligation under the DP Scheme, working in factory jobs as directed. Once out of his bond he became a Hospital Attendant at Northfield Mental Hospital (S.A.) and studied diligently to later qualify to become a Registered Mental Nurse, employed by the SA Hospitals Dept. at Northfield Mental Hospital.

On 8 April 1955, swearing allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Felix became a naturalized Australian. Following his citizenship, Felix stayed on with his employers until May 1959, but in November 1955, he had joined the volunteer Citizen Military Forces as a first step towards fulfilling his aspiration and goal for a military career in the Australian Army. His time in the CMF entailed strict military training at weekends, year-end studies and bivouacs, etc.

In due course he was promoted from Private to Corporal, then to Sergeant and in October 1959 to Supervisor of Training in the CMF. Building up the necessary background, he confidently applied for enlistment in the Australian Army and was readily accepted since he was by then not just an experienced and trained soldier with tested leadership potential, but also met the trade or professional qualification standards by virtue of being a qualified male nurse. On 4 September1959 Felix commenced his military career from the rank of Lieutenant (Army No:48049) as Male Nurse Officer.

Lieutenant Fazekas then saw his Army career in a different avenue open to him and decided to become an Infantry officer. Starting his training in the 1st Recruit Training Battalion he then served successively at the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and at the Infantry Centre Ingleburn, NSW. In November 1964 he underwent the Tropical Warfare Instructors Course at Canungra Jungle Training Centre in Qld. According to the Chief Instructor’s Course Report on graduates, Felix was a thoroughly competent and exemplary infantry officer who was ready in all respects of service in the Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam (AATTV).

By September 1965 he was a Captain posted to take command of the (AATTV) serving as senior Australian Adviser at Tra Bong Special Forces Camp in Quang Ngai Province. The AATV was both elite and unique. Its members were specially selected, it was small, and for its size it was one of the most highly decorated Units in the history of the Australian Army with four Victoria Crosses to its credit. The Unit existed only during the Vietnam War and its task was training, proficiency testing, advising and commanding a variety of Vietnamese forces fighting against the Viet Cong guerillas.

On 13 November 1965 an extraordinary chain of combat events took place which culminated in Captain Fazekas receiving a rarely granted award, the Military Cross medal in recognition of his outstanding individual bravery and leadership under fire. His Military Cross citation being a 2 pages long account in detail, it could be summed up as follows: “A Vietnamese Civil Irregular Defence Group Company was engaged in a search and destroy operation on three flanks. The centre one was accompanied by Capt. Fazekas whilst 2 other Army Advisors W/Officers K. Wheatley and R. Swanton accompanied the other platoons. When a Viet Cong Guerilla force and a well dug Main Force company attacked under heavy machine gun and rifle fire the right platoon suffered heavy casualties including W/O Swanton. Assistance was called and Capt. Fazekas who then rallied and led 15 Vietnamese soldiers to the scene of the action 800 metres away, rushing through knee deep rice paddies whilst under automatic fire but returning fire while on the move. He shot at least 2 enemy and continued the assault.

This offensive action caused the enemy to abandon his position leaving behind significant number of weapons, dead and wounded. 24 Continuously under flanking fire Capt. Fazekas reorganised his platoon and directed fire with such success that the enemy ceased firing and withdrew. He then organised the evacuation of casualties and directed a successful air strike on the enemy. The Vietnamese Company Commander decided to withdraw. Capt. Fazekas aware that 2 wounded Australian Advisers were still unaccounted for, organised a relief force which arrived in the area at last light. He led a search force the next morning and recovered the bodies of W/Officers Wheatley and Swanton. The complete engagement resulted in 38 enemy killed and 40 wounded ”.

Captain Fazekas displayed heroic personal courage and outstanding resoluteness and aggressiveness in all his actions during the engagement, whilst continually under enemy fire and with complete disregard for his own personal safety. His actions inspired the Vietnamese soldiers to stand and fight, caused the rout of an enemy party of superior strength, inflicted significant casualties and enabled the capture of a considerable number of enemy weapons. Throughout the engagement, Captain Fazekas demonstrated outstanding attributes. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of individual bravery and professional dedication to duty in the Australian Army.

On that occasion Warrant Officer Kevin Wheatley was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross, the first such award since World War II.

Felix Fazekas, then Captain, served with distinction fighting the Viet Cong. The U.S.A. awarded him their distinguished military decoration: the Silver Star. The tally of other medals and decorations were: Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Medal, Emblem of the Meritorious Unit Commendation, Vietnamese Unit Citation Gallantry Cross with Palm, Infantry Combat Badge, and the Service Badge: Returned from Active Service Badge. At one stage during his combat duty tour in Vietnam, battle field experienced Captain Fazekas was seconded the 5th US Special Forces Group (Airborne a.k.a. Green Berets) and operated from their Headquarters. On 16 July 1966, passing the airborne assault training course he earned his Parachutist qualification.

Felix Fazekas returned to Australia in September 1966 to take up his next commission of Instructor at the Canungra Jungle Training Centre. He was promoted to Major in April 1967 and served as Senior Instructor there from10 Jan. 1967 to 10 Jan. 1969 with Battle Wing, conducting AATV courses, Junior Officers training and several Patrolling, Tracking Courses and specialist warfare courses to RMC Duntroon graduates. In March 1969 Felix was deployed to Singapore/Malaysia where his second overseas service took place.

Returning home in July 1971 his next posting was that of 2nd in Command at 3RAR at Woodside, South Australia. Felix retired on 8 September 1976 after 17 years of distinguished service in the Australian Army. General Peter Cosgrove, a past Chief of the Defence Force (2002-2005) in his memoirs “My Story” published in 2006, wrote half a page of commentary on Felix Fazekas, once a brother-at-arms in Malaysia/Singapore. On page 52-53 the General quotes that:

“Another great character was Major Felix Fazekas. Felix was an extraordinary man. A Hungarian by birth, he had as a teenager been a member of the Hungarian Military Forces under German control during the last year of World War II. On emigrating to Australia, he joined the Australian Army and was highly regarded and widely admired for his professionalism and courage during his service with the Australian Army Training Team – Vietnam, for which he was awarded the Military Cross. The Training Team mentored and accompanied South Vietnamese Army units on combat operations.   He was a bit older than the average major, craggy, crew-cut and tough as nails, with a thick Hungarian accent to boot. He was battalion operations officer and part of his additional duties in getting the battalion ready to go to Malaysia was to act as our teacher in the Bahasa language. We are probably the only group of Aussies who speak Bahasa with guttural Hungarian intonation!”

In retirement Felix embarked on a totally different lifestyle, devoting much time to his farm at Langhorne Creek in country South Australia. In an idyllic environment, he enjoyed being active and working, loved his cattle, sheep and his many beloved pets at the farm.  Felix taught his 4 sons to love the wholesome country life and to respect nature.  In 1977, he was made a member of the civilian Hungarian Knightly Order of Vitéz in recognition of his bravery in active military service during 1944-45 in the defence of the motherland.

Major Felix Fazekas MC, the valiant soldier and veteran of wars, passed away in March 1998 victim of an incurable disease. He was a passionate patriot defending both his homeland and his adopted country in time of war. He was fiercely loyal to Australia and mankind’s right to freedom.

Attila J. Urmenyhazi & extracts from “ VIETNAM VETERANS - A Record of Service ” book by A. M. Palmer