Major General George Vasey

Places
Accession Number ART26932
Collection type Art
Measurement framed: 128.2 x 88 cm; image: 108.5 x 71.6 cm
Object type Painting
Physical description oil on canvas
Maker Bale, A M E
Place made Australia: Victoria, Melbourne
Date made 1946
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Period 1940-1949
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

Portrait, painted posthumously, of VX9 Major General George Alan Vasey, CB, CBE, DSO and Bar, General Commanding the 6th Division AIF. A Duntroon graduate, Vasey served in the First World War with artillery brigades and later as a staff officer with the 11th Infantry Brigade. Major Vasey was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in June 1918 for 'conspicuous service' while on the staff of his Brigade. In the Second World War, he was posted to the 6th Division in the Middle East. In 1941 he was appointed commander of the 19th Infantry Brigade, which he led in Greece and Crete, also taking overall command of Australian forces involved in the defence of Crete. After returning to Australia Vasey was promoted to major general and gained command of the 6th Division, fighting the Japanese in Papua. He was transferred to lead the 7th Division through the fighting at Gona, Sanananda, Nadzab, Lae and the Ramu Valley. In mid 1944 he was evacuated sick. In 1945 he was appointed to command the 6th Division, but died in an aircraft crash off Cairns on 5 March.