Major General Edwin Tivey

Depicts a portrait of Major General Edwin Tivey (1866-1947) CB, CMG, DSO, MID, Commanding 5 Div AIF, Western Front, also (Boer) war Chelsea; 8th Infantry Brigade, 5th Australian Division.
Edwin Tivey is one of the least remembered generals in the AIF despite being the only man to command 8th Australian Brigade during the war. His anonymity has something to do with his depiction as an 'English-like' commander, which appears not be a compliment. Charles Bean described him unflatteringly as 'a nice little man who fancies himself a bit'. Tivey was born in Inglewood, Victoria, qualified as an accountant and became a member of the Melbourne Stock Exchange in 1903. He was educated at All Saints Grammar, St Kilda and Wesley College, Melbourne. Afterwards he returned to Inglewood to become an accountant. In 1899 he became founder and first president of the local branch of the Australian Natives Association. In 1903 he became a member of the Melbourne Stock Exchange. In May 1900 Tivey volunteered for service in South Africa and joined the Victorian 4th Imperial Continent as a captain. Tivey served widely in South Africa. When the First World War broke out, Tivey was Commanding Officer of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade, but he was not appointed to the AIF until July 1915, when he took command of the newly formed 8th Brigade, in whose recruitment he played a leading part. Tivey is mentioned in the history books , as a result of 8th Brigade deploying to the Suez Canal by train, while other units of 4th and 5th Australian Divisions marched for three days across blisteringly hot deserts. Henceforth, 8th Brigade were stigmatised as 'Tiveys Chocs', chocolate soldiers who looked good but could not take the heat. Tivey was twice wounded and gassed once during the war and was six times mentioned in despatches. Tivey returned to Australia in July 1919 where his appointment to the AIF was terminated on 16 February 1920. For his services, and the achievements of his men, on the Western Front, Tivey had been mentioned in dispatches twice during 1918 and again on 16 March 1919, bringing his total to six, and made a Companion of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1919 New Year's list. He commanded the 2nd Cavalry Division from 1921 to 1926 and was honorary colonel of the Victorian Mounted Rifles from 1928 and the 32nd Battalion from 1932. After the war he was also a successful stockbroker, leaving more than £75,000 at his death in 1947. It is likely that Coates painted this portrait of Tivey in Chelsea, England before his return to Australia in July 1919.