Australian Army Officers 1939-1945

Australian Army Officers
1939-1945

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Note. Whereas a first date against an award indicates the date of gazetting in the London Gazette, the possible second one is that of gazetting in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette.

Allen,
Arthur Samuel
"Tubby"
A.S. Allen

Son of late John Allen, engine driver, and Annie (Hadfield) Allen. Married (07.12.1921, Rollands Plains) Agnes Mona Blair, daughter of late Robert Mackay, Kempsey, NSW; two sons.

10.03.1894
Hurstville, Sydney, NSW
-
25.01.1959
Concord Rehabilitation Hospital, Sydney, NSW

2nd Lt. AMF	24.09.1913
Prov. Lt. AMF	01.07.1915
Hon. Capt. AMF	03.06.1918
Bt. Maj. AMF	08.05.1918 *
2nd Lt. AIF	26.04.1915
Hon. Lt. AIF	01.07.1915
Lt. AIF	01.02.1916
Capt. AIF	12.03.1916
T/Maj. AIF	05.07.1917
Maj. AIF	09.09.1917
T/Lt.Col. AIF	19.04.1918-22.05.1918
Lt.Col. AIF	20.11.1918
Maj. CMF	31.03.1921
Lt.Col. CMF `	31.03.1921
T/Col. CMF	01.05.1933-30.10.1933
Col. CMF	31.10.1933
T/Brig. CMF/AMF	01.05.1938-17.06.1941 [NX 2]
T/Maj.Gen. AMF	18.06.1941-13.08.1941
Maj.Gen. AMF	14.08.1941 (retd 03.04.1945)

* For continuous good service as Company Commander, 2nd-in-Command and CO, Gallipoli/France, 1915/18.

	CB	08.07.1941	Middle East 12.40-02.41 *
	CBE	01.04.1941	Middle East 08.1939-11.40 **
	DSO	25.08.1917 20.12.1917	Battle of Messines 06.17 ***
-	VD	?	?
	MID	28.12.1917	service 26.02.17-20.09.17
	MID	18.04.1918	?
	MID	30.12.1941	Middle East 02.41-07.41 [awarded 08.12.41] #
	CdeG	07.01.1919 23.05.1919	Western Front [awarded 01.11.1918] ****
	GrkWC	10.04.1942 23.11.1944	Greece [awarded 08.12.41]

* Brigadier A.S. Allen commanded 16 Aust Inf Bde in the attacks on Bardia (3-5 Jan) and Tobruk (21-22 Jan.). By his organization, enthusiasm and close supervision of detail, he ensured the success of his brigade in the set-piece attacks. In the subsequent exploitation he proved himself a skilful and inspiring leader and achieved even greater success. The crushing defeat of the enemy in both the above engagements depended very largely on the work of Brig. Allen's Brigade, especially in securing bridge-heads for the I – tanks.
** Brigadier Allen rendered very valuable service as the Commander of the original force of Australian troops to arrive in Palestine in February 1940. Not only did he attend to the training of this force un an able manner, but he laid the foundations for the comfort of the later contingents by the establishment of camps, services, and all kinds of amenities, often under great difficulties. Further than this, Brigadier Allen, by his own personal enthusiasm, established extremely cordial relations with the British troops, Government officials and Arab notables, to the distinct advantage of all subsequent Australian convoys.
*** For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his company with great dash and determination against enemy trenches, through heavy artillery and machine-gun barrage, and against a stubborn resistance of the garrison, of whom he captured 100 prisoners. He continued to rally and lead his men to the attack, gaining further ground by his aggressive spirit and setting a fine example of initiative and organising ability. [Recommendation approved 14.07.1917]
**** Click here for recommendation
# Only one MID to be found in the London Gazette, dated 30.12.1941. An award reference card indicates 23.06.1942, which can't be found in the published version. According to his own data, as provided by Allen to the "Who's who", he got despatches thrice, for North Africa, Greece & Syria.

Education: Hurstville Superior Public School; private study (night schools)
Audit clerk with the New South Wales Government Railways, 16.02.1912.

1911			joined the cadets and then the 39th Battalion of the Australian Militia Forces (AMF)
24.09.1913			commissioned, 38th Infantry Battalion (Kogarah)
26.04.1915	-	10.11.1919	served European War in the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) (Middle East & France)
09.08.1915			embarked for Egypt with 8th reinforcement for the 13th Battalion
23.10.1915	-	02.03.1916	served with 13th Battalion (Mudros, Alexandria)
03.03.1916	-	25.09.1917	served with 45th Battalion (Tel-el-Kebir; arrived in Marseilles, France 08.06.1916; platoon commander at Pozières 08.1916; Somme 1916-1917; company commander at Battle of Messines 06.1917)
25.09.1917	-	10.01.1918	CO 45th Battalion (temporary) (Passchendaele 09.1917, Ypres & Broodseinde 10.1917)
10.01.1918	-	24.01.1918	CO 48th Battalion (temporary)
25.01.1918	-	27.02.1918	served with 45th Battalion
27.02.1918	-	19.04.1918	CO 45th Infantry Battalion (temporary) (Dernancourt 12.04.1918)
19.04.1918	-	21.05.1918	CO 48th Infantry Battalion (temporary) (Monument Wood 03.05.18)
22.05.1918	-	29.06.1918	served with 45th Infantry Battalion
29.06.1918	-	04.10.1918	course, Senior Officers' School at Aldershot
01.10.1918			officially transferred to 5th Company, 45th Infantry Battalion, but actually:
04.10.1918	-	20.11.1918	served with 48th Infantry Battalion
20.11.1918	-	10.11.1919	CO 13th Infantry Battalion (returned to Australia 23.07.1919, arriving in Melbourne 10.09.1919)
1921	-	1939	served Citizens Military Forces (CMF) (Militia)
31.03.1921	-	30.06.1922	CO 13th Infantry Battalion
01.07.1922	-	30.09.1922	Unemployed List
01.10.1922	-	30.06.1924	CO 41st Infantry Battalion
01.07.1924	-	30.06.1929	CO 18th Infantry Battalion
01.07.1929	-	13.05.1931	Unemployed List
14.05.1931	-	30.04.1933	CO 36th Infantry Battalion
01.05.1933	-	12.10.1939	Commander, 14th Infantry Brigade
1922	-	1945	Chartered Accountant, partner Truman, Allen & Co., Sydney
13.10.1939	-	17.06.1941	Commander, 16th Australian Infantry Brigade (6th Australian Division) (left Australia 1940, Middle East, N Africa [First Libyan Campaign, Battles of Bardia & Tobruk 01.1941], Greece)
18.06.1941	-	13.08.1941	General Officer Commanding, 7th Australian Infantry Division (temporary)
14.08.1941	-	14.03.1943	General Officer Commanding, 7th Australian Infantry Division (Middle East [Syrian Campaign], Australia [03.1942], Java *, New Guinea [08.1942-03.1943; defence of Port Moresby, Owen Stanley Range Campaign & Battles Imita Ridge to Kokoda])
14.11.1942	-	06.02.1943	also General Officer Commanding, 6th Australian Infantry Division (temporary)
07.02.1943	-	23.02.1943	also General Officer Commanding, 11th Australian Infantry Division (temporary)
15.03.1943	-	29.10.1944	General Officer Commanding, Northern Territory Force & General Officer Commanding, 12th Australian Infantry Division (Australia)
15.03.1943	-	09.07.1943	also Commander, Northern Territory Line of Communications Area
			Reserve of Officers

Associate of Commonwealth Institute of Accountants, 06.06.1922. Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (FCA (Austr.)) Practising as A.S. Allen & Co., Chartered Accountants (Aust.), 4 Balmoral Ave., Mosman, NSW; Director of companies.
Literature: Stuart Braga, Kokoda Commander : the life of Major General Tubby Allen (2004)
* Allen did get to Java in February 1942 but never took any command since the forces were less than a Brigade and the force was given to a battalion commander promoted to Brigadier.

Anderson,
Warren Melville
W.M. Anderson

Eldest son of Marsham Ambrose Anderson, from Singleton, NSW.
Married (1928) Violet, only daughter of Nathaniel Josslyn Clark, Allowah, New Lambton, NSW.

31.08.1894
?
-
10.02.1973
Darling Point, NSW?

Lt.	03.11.1914
Hon. Capt.	?
Capt.	30.09.1920
Hon. Maj.	01.03.1916
Bt. Maj.	30.09.1920
Maj.	01.09.1932
Bt. Lt.Col.	14.10.1938
Lt.Col.	03.07.1938
T/Col.	29.04.1940-30.06.1941
Col.	01.07.1941
Maj.Gen.	? (retd 1951)

CBE	1946	?
DSO	01.1919	New Year 19
MID	12.01.1918	?
MID	22.01.1919	?

1914-15 Star; Britsh War Medal; Victory Medal

Education: Royal Military College, Duntroon, Australia

03.11.1914			enlisted B Squadron, 6th Light Horse Regiment
21.12.1914	-	17.07.1919	Australian Imperial Force (overseas, France)
06.02.1920	-	30.04.1921	General Staff Officer, 3rd grade (GSO3), 6th Military District
01.10.1920			transferred to Staff Corps
01.05.1921	-	31.07.1922	Staff Officer, G Branch, 1st Cavalry Division
01.08.1922	-	10.12.1922	Staff Officer, G Branch, 2nd Division
11.12.1922	-	19.12.1924	Brigade Major, 1st Infantry Brigade
20.12.1924	-	17.02.1927	Staff College, Quetta
04.03.1927	-	31.05.1929	Staff Officer, IG Branch
01.06.1929	-	31.01.1932	General Staff Officer, Training, AHQ
01.02.1932	-	31.08.1932	Brigade Major, 3rd Cavalry Brigade
01.09.1932	-	14.03.1933	General Staff Officer, 1st grade (GSO1), 2nd Cavalry Division (temporary)
01.09.1932	-	31.05.1933	Brigade Major, 5th Cavalry Brigade
01.06.1933	-	21.11.1936	Brigade Major, 6th Cavalry Brigade
22.11.1936	-	18.03.1939	General Staff Officer (GSO), 1st Cavalry Division
19.03.1939	-	05.01.1940	Exchange Officer, India (General Staff Officer, 2nd grade (GSO2), Meerut District)
08.01.1940	-	19.04.1940	General Staff Officer, 1st grade (GSO1), HQ 4th Australian Division
20.04.1940	-	30.06.1941	Director of Staff Duties, AHQ
01.07.1941			transferred to Australian Armoured Corps (AIF)
01.07.1941	-	04.01.1942	Assistant Adjutant & Quartermaster-General (AA&QMG), 1st Australian Armoured Division
05.01.1942	-	05.04.1942	DMT LHQ
03.11.1941	-	12.12.1941	attached HQ 1st Australian Corps
06.04.1942	-	15.06.1943	Brigadier General Staff (BGS), III Australian Corps
16.06.1943	-	01.08.1943	Brigadier General Staff (BGS), Second Australian Army
02.08.1943	-	04.01.1944	Brigadier General Staff (BGS), Advanced LHQ
05.01.1944	-	22.09.1944	Brigadier General Staff (BGS), HQ Northern Territory Force
16.02.1944	-	17.03.1944	Administrative Commander, Northern Territory Force
01.08.1944	-	12.08.1944	Administrative Commander, Northern Territory Line of Communications Area & Brigadier in charge of Administration Northern Territory Force
06.08.1944	-	14.08.1944	Administrative Commander, Northern Territory Force
22.09.1944	-	(1945?)	attached as Brigadier in charge of Administration, 8th US Army
1947	-	1951	Adjutant-General, Australian Military Forces & Second Member, Military Board

Blamey,
Sir Thomas Albert

Son of Richard H. Blamey, Sydney; married 1st, 1908, Minnie (died 1935), daughter of Edwin Millard; one son; 2nd, 1939, Olga, daughter of late Henry Farnsworth.

Detailed biographies:
* Digger History
* Australian War Memorial

24.01.1884
Lake Albert, nr Wagga Wagga, NSW
-
27.05.1951
Melbourne, Vict.

Lt.	01.07.1906
Capt.	01.12.1910
Maj.	01.07.1914
Brev. Lt.Col.	24.09.1917
Lt.Col.	20.01.1919
Col.	01.01.1920
Hon. Brig.Gen.	01.06.1918
Maj.Gen.	01.06.1931
Lt.Gen.	13.10.1939
Gen.	24.09.1941 (retd 31.01.1946)
Field Marshal	08.06.1950

GBE	29.05.1943	?
KCB	1942	New Year 42
CB	1919	?
Kt	1935	?
CMG	1918	?
DSO	1917	?

Cross of St John, Grand Cross Order of OrangeNassau, 1917, French Croix de Guerre, 1st Class Military Cross of Greece, American DSC.

			Commonwealth Military Forces, Deputy Chief of General Staff, Australia; Chief of Staff, Australian Corps, 1918, and of Australian Imperial Force, 1919; served European War, 1914-1918 (despatches seven times, DSO, CMG, CB); Australian Defence representative in London attached to the War Office, 1922; Second Chief of General Staff, Commonwealth Military Forces, 15.11.1923-31.08.1925; commanded 3rd Australian Division, 01.06.1931-31.05.1937; Chief Commissioner of Police Victoria, 1925-1937; Controller-General of Recruiting Secretariat, Commonwealth of Australia, 1938-1939
1939	-	1940	Chairman of Australian Man Power Committee
13.10.1939	-	03.04.1940	General Officer Commanding, 6th Australian Division & Ancillary Troops, Australian Imperial Force
04.04.1940	-	09.12.1940	General Officer Commanding, 1st Australian Army Corps, Australian Imperial Force
10.12.1940	-	26.03.1942	General Officer Commanding of Australian Imperial Force in Middle East
23.04.1941	-	27.11.1942	Deputy Commander-in-Chief British Forces Middle East
27.11.1942	-	1945	Commander-in-Chief, Australian Military Forces
18.04.1942	-	1945	Commander-in-Chief Allied Land Forces, SouthWest Pacific Area

Miles,
Charles George Norman

Son of Charles Stafford Miles, Civil Service clerk, Brisbane, Australia, & Maria Wallace..
Brother of Capt. Francis Nigel Miles, OBE, RN.
Married (1923) Marjorie, 2nd daughter of M. Campbell Langtree, of Sydney, NSW; one son, one daughter.

10.11.1884
[Brisbane, Australia ?]
-
18.02.1958
[Sydney, Australia ?]

Capt.	(1914)
Maj.	?
Bt. Lt.Col.	? 01.10.1925, seniority 01.11.1919
local Maj.	01.10.1925, seniority 01.12.1915
A/Lt.Col.	23.07.1917
Lt.Col.	?
local Lt.Col. & Bt. Col.	01.02.1927-14.10.1927
Bt. Col.	?
Col.	(1932)
T/Brig.	(1939)
Maj.Gen.	? (retd 11.11.1944)
A/Lt.Gen.	?
Hon. Lt.Gen.	11.11.1944

CMG	1918 18.04.1918	?
DSO	01.01.1917 29.06.1917	?
MID	28.05.1918 24.10.1918	?
MID	02.01.1917 29.06.1917	?
MID	28.12.1917 18.04.1918	?
MID	31.12.1918 23.05.1919	?

Order of St. Stanislas - 3rd Class (with swords) (Russia) (15.02.1917; 25.07.1917); 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Education: Toowoomba (1898) and Brisbane Grammar Schools

1914	-	1918	served European War (despatches, CMG, DSO)
14.08.1914	-	30.05.1919	served AIF as Captain (Adjutant), HQ Field Artillery Brigade 2
20.10.1914			embarked from Melbourne. Vict.
13.03.1917	-	(07.1917)	General Staff Officer, 2nd grade (GSO2), 2nd Division
(1919?)			Lt.Col., 1st Division Artillery
01.10.1925	-	14.10.1927	Exchange Officer with the Indian Army:
08.01.1927	-	02.10.1927	General Staff Officer, 2nd grade (GSO2), Bal. District, Western Command (India)
(1932)			Director of Military Training, Army HQ (Melbourne)
01.07.1936	-	13.10.1939	also: ADC to the King (additional)
21.04.1935	-	1939	Commandant, Royal Military College of Australia (Duntroon, Australia)
01.08.1940	-	(04).1941	General Officer Commanding, Eastern Command & District Commandant, 2nd Military District (Sydney, Australia)
09.1941			departed Sydney for service in Malaya

Smith (Jnr),
Sydney
S. Smith (Photo courtesy of Mr Kenneth Allan)

Son of Sydney Smith, OCE, from Chatswood, NSW.
Married 1st (26.11.1945, Sydney, Australia) Nellie Pemberton, Second Officer WRNS (1905-1985).
Married 2nd (late 1980s?); widowed mid-1990s.

service record (digital)

19.09.1914
Petersham, NSW
-
11.2006 still alive

Lt.	01.08.1940, seniority 14.04.1940 [NX70171] (reld 12.10.1945)

39\|45St	?	?
AfrSt	?	?
BWM	?	?
AusSM	?	?

Education: North Sydney Boys’ High School
Insurance clerk.

16.07.1940			enlisted at Largs, NSW with the Royal Australian Artillery (Medium) (Survey) (6th divisional Artillery Reinforcements)
01.08.1940			Royal Australian Artillery (Anti-Tank) Reinforcements (seconded to Australian Imperial Force)
30.08.1940	-	30.09.1940	disembarked from Australia (per HMS T1) for Palestine
30.09.1940	-	11.01.1941	6th Australian Division Artillery Training Regiment [trained in Palestine for active service in the Mediterranean]
11.01.1941	-	13.04.1941	Royal Australian Artillery (Anti-Tank) (Australian Imperial Force): 2nd Battery, 1st Anti-Tank Regiment RAA [01.04.1941 embarked in ME for Greece [Crete] and was captured unharmed by the Germans at Slovina [?] in the night of 12 on 13.04.1941]
30.05.1941			Permanent Supernumerary List (prisoner of war)
30.05.1941	-	05.1945	Oflag VI B Camp (Eichstat, Germany), then Oflag V-B (Biberach, Germany), then Oflag X-C (Lübeck, Germany) [liberated by the Russians and Americans]
09.05.1945	-	19.06.1945	arrived in the UK as recovered POW [2 AIF Reception Camp UK, then 24.05.1945 1 AIF Transit Camp UK, then 12.06.1945 1 AIF Reception Camp UK, then 17.06.1945 2 AIF Reception Camp UK]
19.06.1945	-	23.07.1945	passage to Australia per "J12" & disembarked in Sydney, Australia
20.08.1945	-	20.09.1945	113 (Concord) Military Hospital (chronic bronchitis)
12.10.1945			released from active service (28 days war service in Australia, 1789 days active service outside Australia, 81 days active service in Australia, totalling 1898 days) upon transfer to Reserve of Officers (Permanent Supplementary List)

Stewart,
James Thomas Davy

Fourth child of six of Henry Harrington 'Harry' Stewart and Elizabeth Maud Stewart (née Davy).
Married (09.1953) Pearl Yapp (predeceased him); one son, one daughter.

24.07.1921
Morningside, Brisbane, Qld.
-
14.05.2007
Buderim, Qld.

Lt.	22.01.1942 [18049 (QX21935)]
T/Capt.	17.03.1944-11.07.1945
Capt.	13.07.1945
T/Maj.	12.02.1959-10.07.1959
Maj.	11.07.1959
T/Lt.Col.	29.11.1965-... (retd 1974)

AM	1979	for services to welfare of ex-servicemen & women
MC	1952	Malaya (first emergency)
MID	1945	Burma
39\|45St	?	?
PacSt	?	Burma
BWM	?	?
GSM	?	& 2 clasps
AusSM	?	?

Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal 1977, EM, UN Medal Korea

Education: Christian Brothers' College, Townsville, Qld. (left school aged 14)

1935	-	1941	soldier, CMF
02.07.1941			enlisted, West End, Qld.
22.01.1942			2/26th Australian Infantry Battalion Reinforcements
01.04.1943	-	12.07.1945	47th Australian Infantry Battalion
19.09.1943	-	17.12.1943	Liaison Officer, HQ 29th Australian Infantry Brigade
18.12.1943	-	(07.1945?)	Liaison Officer, HQ 5th Australian Division (AIF)
07.1945	-	03.1953	commissioned, British Army (1945-1947 India)
28.04.1953	-	1974	Australian Regular Army (serving in New Guinea, Burma, NEI, India, Austria, Korea, Malaysia, Bomeo)
29.04.1953	-	10.06.1953	31st Infantry Battalion
20.06.1953	-	10.07.1953	RASR
11.07.1953	-	20.07.1953	11 NS Training Battlaion (Australian Staff Corps)
21.07.1953	-	18.07.1954	1 RAR
19.07.1954	-	07.11.1954	Liaison Officer, HQ 28th British Commando Infantry Brigade
08.11.1954	-	24.05.1955	1 RAR
25.05.1955	-	08.06.1956	Instructor, School of Infantry
09.06.1956	-	17.06.1957	Adjutant, School of Infantry
18.06.1957	-	04.01.1961	Instructor, Joint Training Centre
05.01.1961	-	18.01.1961	Major, Training Cell HQ Eastern Command
19.01.1961	-	27.03.1963	attached, HQ 1 LSF
28.03.1963	-	27.05.1963	Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, HQ 1 LSF
28.05.1963	-	30.07.1964	Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General (Operations & Maintenance), HQ 17th Gurkha Division (Far East Land Forces)
31.07.1964	-	04.08.1965	Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General (Operations & Maintenance), HQ 17th Division (Far East Land Forces)
29.11.1965			Assistant Inspector, DO&M, Army Headquarters

Access Officer of Commonwealth Records, Australian Archives and Australian War Memorial until 2000.
RSL State President of ACT Branch, 1974-1977. Leader RSL 60th Anniversary Tour ot the Gallipoli landing, 1975. Life member of RSL, 1987. Honorary National Vice-President of RSL, 1995 (for life). RSL Meritious Medal, 1998.

Sturdee,
[Sir] Vernon Ashton Hobart
V.A.H. Sturdee

Only son of late Col A.H. Sturdee, CMG; married 1913, Edith Georgina, only daughter of late F.J. Robins, Melbourne; one son, one daughter.

Private papers

16.04.1890
Frankston, Vict.
-
25.05.1966
Melbourne, Vict. ?

2nd Lt.	1908 [31 (NX35000)]
Lt.	(08.1914)
local Maj.	01.11.1919-...
Bt. Lt.Col.	01.01.1920
Lt.Col.	(06.1933)
Bt. Col.	(01.1937)
T/Col.	(01.1939)
Col.	(11.1939)
local Maj.Gen.	1939
T/Lt.Gen.	13.10.1939=31.07.1940