A Biography by Brian Howard

Ted Diro was the first Papua New Guinean to command a PIR Battalion. He seemed destined for a military career. His father was a carrier on the Kokoda Trail during World War 2, and always encouraged Ted to join the Army. He attended the selective Sogeri High School near Port Moresby where he was a member of the school cadet unit and was greatly impressed by the periodic visits of the PIR Pipes and Drums. From Sogeri, Ted won a scholarship to the Slade School in Queensland where he completed his schooling and was selected for the Officer Cadet School at Portsea Victoria, graduating in 1963.

Following attachments to several Australian Army units and attendance at a number of courses during 1964, Ted was posted to 2 PIR in Wewak as a platoon commander. He performed well, was promoted Captain in 1968 and posted as the first Papua New Guinean Adjutant of the Battalion. He was promoted to Major in 1971 and commanded companies in both 1 and 2 PIR. He was selected to attend the Australian Army Staff College in 1973

Queen Elizabeth talks to Major Peter Annasis during the 1977 royal visit to PNG. Behind the Queen is Brigadier Ted Diro (wearing a cap).

He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1974 and assumed command of 1 PIR. Later that year he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and appointed as Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force. In 1975 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and appointed as Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force. He resigned from the Defence Force in 1981 to follow a political career and eventually became Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea for a time.