Service number | N76069, NX70343 |
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Ranks Held | Brigadier General, Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Temporary Brigadier General |
Birth Date | 1887-04-16 |
Birth Place | Australia: Victoria, Melbourne, Balwyn |
Death Date | 1962-08-01 |
Death Place | Australia: New South Wales, Dural |
Final Rank | Lieutenant General |
Service | Australian Imperial Force |
Units |
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Places | |
Conflicts/Operations |
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Gazettes |
Biographical information The Oxford companion to Australian military history in 1995 Published in London Gazette in 1918-01-01 Published in London Gazette in 1917-06-01 Published in London Gazette in 1919-07-11 Published in London Gazette in 1918-05-28 Published in London Gazette in 1917-12-28 Published in London Gazette in 1919-06-03 Published in London Gazette in 1918-12-31 Published in London Gazette in 1917-01-04 Published in London Gazette in 1915-11-05 Published in London Gazette in 1917-03-09 Published in London Gazette in 1915-08-05 Published in London Gazette in 1915-11-08 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1917-08-21 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1918-10-24 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1916-01-27 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1916-01-27 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1915-10-28 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1917-06-29 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1919-10-30 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1919-09-15 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1918-04-18 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1918-04-18 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1919-05-23 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1917-10-04 |
Lieutenant General Henry Gordon Bennett
Gordon Bennett, born on 16 April 1887 at Balwyn, Melbourne, was Australia's most controversial Second World War commander. As a youth he attended Balwyn State School and Hawthorn College before becoming an actuarial clerk at the Australian Mutual Provident Society. He was commissioned into the Citizen Military Forces in 1908 at the age of 21 and posted to the 5th Infantry Regiment. In 1912 he was promoted to major.
Shortly after the First World War began Bennett transferred into the AIF; he embarked for Egypt in October 1914 as Second-in-Command of the 6th Battalion. He landed at Gallipoli early on the morning of 25 April 1915 and was wounded that afternoon. Having been evacuated to a hospital ship, Bennett took it upon himself to return to the line and quickly acquired a reputation for courage and leadership. He was involved in the 2nd Brigade's disastrous charge against Turkish positions at Krithia on 8 May and the next day was promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel, taking command of the 6th Battalion.
During the battalion's early operations on the Western Front Bennett alternated as battalion and acting brigade commander. He married Bessie Buchanan in November 1916 and in December was promoted again, to temporary brigadier, taking command of the 3rd Brigade. His reputation as an excellent front-line commander grew throughout 1917 and 1918 with his performances at Bullecourt, Passchendaele, and the Hindenburg Line. Alongside his reputation as a fine commander, however, Bennett also acquired among some of his fellow officers a very different reputation; as a jealous, prickly, and querulous individual.
After the war Bennett worked in Sydney as a clothing manufacturer and accountant. He sat on the State Repatriation Board and in October 1928 became one of three commissioners administering Sydney City. Between 1931-33 he presided over the New South Wales Chamber of Manufacturers. Bennett continued also in the military, taking command of the 2nd Division in 1926. But when the Second World War began he was furious at not being given command of the AIF; his difficult temperament made such an appointment impossible. Only in September 1940 was he given a divisional command, the 8th Division, which he led to Malaya in 1941.
Following the Japanese invasion of Malaya on 8 December 1941, Bennett had as little success preventing their southward advance as had his British counterparts. In February the Japanese reached Singapore and on the 15th of that month, as surrender negotiations took place, Bennett handed over command of his division and left the island. Some supporters applauded his escape but his claim that he left to pass on his knowledge about how to fight the Japanese - given his lack of success - failed to convince many. He was never given another field command and an enquiry after the war found he was not justified in leaving Singapore. Bennett's dreams of leading the Australian Army were ruined.
After the war Bennett took up farming near Sydney. He died at Dural, Sydney, on 1 August 1962.
Rolls
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Colonel
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Brigadier General
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- City of Melbourne Regiment
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Major
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Temporary Brigadier General
- London Gazette
- 31 December 1918 on page 15225 at position 8
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 23 May 1919 on page 878 at position 44
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 6th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel
- London Gazette
- 05 November 1915 on page 11002 at position 67
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 27 January 1916 on page 156 at position 99
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 6th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Major
-
First World War Embarkation Roll:
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Major
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 6th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 6th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Major
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel
- London Gazette
- 08 November 1915 on page 11026 at position 8
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 27 January 1916 on page 157 at position 39
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Temporary Brigadier General
- London Gazette
- 28 May 1918 on page 6200 at position 3
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 24 October 1918 on page 2055 at position 19
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 1st Australian Division
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Colonel
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 6th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Major
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Temporary Brigadier General
- London Gazette
- 03 June 1919 on page 6821 at position 4
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 15 September 1919 on page 1371 at position 21
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Colonel
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 6th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Major
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 6th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Major
- London Gazette
- 05 August 1915 on page 7668 at position 40
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 28 October 1915 on page 2737 at position 2
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Major
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Colonel
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 6th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Major
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Temporary Brigadier General
- London Gazette
- 09 March 1917 on page 2448 at position 2
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 21 August 1917 on page 1781 at position 2
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Temporary Brigadier General
- London Gazette
- 11 July 1919 on page 8826 at position 5
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 30 October 1919 on page 1656 at position 114
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 6th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel
- London Gazette
- 04 January 1917 on page 254 at position 133
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 29 June 1917 on page 1392 at position 66
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Colonel
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Temporary Brigadier General
- London Gazette
- 28 December 1917 on page 13563 at position 3
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 18 April 1918 on page 841 at position 7
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 6th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Major
-
First World War Nominal Roll:
- Unit
- 6th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Brigadier General
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 1st Australian Division
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Colonel
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Temporary Brigadier General
- London Gazette
- 01 June 1917 on page 5419 at position 2
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 04 October 1917 on page 2622 at position 24
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 6th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Major
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Colonel
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Temporary Brigadier General
- London Gazette
- 01 January 1918 on page 2 at position 1
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 18 April 1918 on page 845 at position 136
Timeline
Date of birth | 16 April 1887 | Balwyn, VIC. |
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Date commissioned | 14 August 1908 | Commissioned as a second lieutenant, 5th Australian Regiment. |
Date promoted | 01 July 1912 | Promoted to major. |
Other units | 1914 | Served as a major in the 64th Infantry. |
Date of enlistment | 19 August 1914 | Joined the Australian Imperial Force as second in command of the 6th Battalion. |
Other | 1914-10 | 6th Battalion embarked for Eygpt. |
Date of embarkation | 19 October 1914 | |
Other | 25 April 1915 | Landed at Gallipoli. Bennett was wounded on Pine Ridge, while directing fire on the Turkish positions. He was evacuated to a hospital ship but rejoined his battalion on the front line the next day. |
Other | 08 May 1915 | Involved in Second Battle of Krithia. The 6th Battalion suffered heavy loses. Bennett was the only original officer of the 6th who survived the battle. |
Date promoted | 09 May 1915 | Bennett became commander of the 6th Battalion and was promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel. |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 21 June 1915 | |
Date of honour or award | 05 August 1915 | Mention in Despatches, for services at Gallipoli. |
Date of honour or award | 05 November 1915 | Mention in Despatches, for services at Gallipoli. |
Date of honour or award | 08 November 1915 | Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, for services at Gallipoli. |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 06 October 1916 | |
Date promoted | 03 December 1916 | Temporary brigadier general in command of the 3rd Infantry Brigade. At 29 he became the youngest general ever in the Australian army. |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 1917 | |
Date of honour or award | 04 January 1917 | Mention in Despatches, for services in France. |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 07 March 1917 | |
Date of honour or award | 09 March 1917 | Montenegrin Order of Danilo - 3rd Class. |
Date of honour or award | 01 June 1917 | Mention in Despatches, for services in France. |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 26 September 1917 | |
Date of honour or award | 28 December 1917 | Mention in Despatches, for services in France. |
Date of honour or award | 01 January 1918 | Companion of the Bath, for services in France. |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 08 March 1918 | |
Date of honour or award | 28 May 1918 | Mention in Despatches. |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 28 September 1918 | |
Date of honour or award | 31 December 1918 | Mention in Despatches, for services in France. |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 06 January 1919 | |
Date returned to Australia | 15 May 1919 | |
Date of honour or award | 03 June 1919 | Distinguished Service Order. |
Date of honour or award | 11 July 1919 | Mention in Despatches. |
Other units | 1921 - 1926 | Bennett commanded the 9th Infantry Brigade. |
Other units | 1926 - 1932 | Bennett commanded the 2nd Division. |
Date promoted | 01 August 1930 | Promoted to major general. |
Other units | 30 September 1940 | Bennett became General Officer Commanding 8th Division, Australian Imperial Force. |
Other | 1941 | Bennett was posted to Malaya with the 8th Division. |
Other | 15 February 1941 | Singapore was surrended to the Japanese. Bennett and several others managed to escape from Singapore and return to Australia. |
Date promoted | 07 April 1942 | Lieutenant general in command of III Corps in Perth. |
Date of discharge | 09 May 1944 | Transferred to the Reserve of Officers. |
Date of death | 01 August 1962 | Dural, NSW. |
Related information
Units
Subjects
Related Objects
- MAJOR GENERAL BENNETT. PERSONALITIES. SERVICES.
- Informal portrait of Major General (Maj Gen) Gordon Bennett, Commander 8th Division and General ...
- Major General Gordon Bennett, Commander 8th Division and General Officer Commanding AIF Malaya ...
- MALAYA. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN THE FAR EAST, AIR CHIEF MARSHAL SIR ROBERT BROOKE-POPHAM (CENTRE ...
- Informal group portrait of, from left, Major General Gordon Bennett, General Officer Commanding ...
- A.I.F. IN MALAYA. BUGLER PLAYING "THE LAST POST" ON THE STEPS OF A MALAYAN CENOTAPH. MAJOR ...
- A.I.F. IN MALAYA. MAJOR GENERAL GORDON BENNETT (CENTRE) WITH HIS TROOPS AT CENOTAPH.
- A LARGE CHINESE MILITARY MISSION WHICH VISITED MALAYA WAS DEEPLY IMPRESSED WITH THE EMPIRE'S ...
- MAJOR GENERAL GORDON BENNETT, GOC, AIF, IS INTERVIEWED BY AN AMERICAN JOURNALIST PHOTOGRAPHER.
- MAJOR- GENERAL GORDON BENNETT, GOC, AIF, MALAYA.