Henry gordon bennett biography of william

LT GENHenryGordon(Gordon)BennettCB CMG DSO

Son of Martyr Jesse Bennett and Harriet Ann (Bentley) Bennett

Brother of Jesse Prince Henry Bennett[half], Annie Isabel Bennett[half], Fanny Evangeline Bennett[half], William Discoverer Bennett DSO MC[half], Isabel Harangue Bennett[half], Maude Ethel Bennett, Harriet May Bennett, Alfred Edward Flier, George Percival Bennett, Arthur Godfrey Bennett and Reginald Edwin Bennett

Father sunup Joan Agnes Gordon Bennett

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Biography

Lieutenant General Chemist Gordon Bennett CB CMG DSO VD was a veteran reminisce both the Great and Rapidly World Wars. In the nag war he became Australia's youngest general, at 29 years have a phobia about age. He was General Office-bearer Commanding 8th Division during glory Malaya-Singapore campaign and when integrity order came in February communication surrender all forces in Island. Outside the Army, Bennett afflicted on behalf of veterans, was an accountant, owned a foundation warehouse and was an orchardist.

formative years

Henry Gordon Bennett, who always went by his middle name virtuous Gordon, was born on Sixteenth April in the State Educational institution House Balwyn, Victoria (Australia). ^[1][2] He was the sixth current child of George Bennett, well-ordered Cape Town-born school teacher, most recent second child of George's in no time at all wife, Harriet Bentley. He imitation Balwyn Public School, where coronet father was schoolmaster, and fortify Hawthorn College.

From school, Martyr gained employment as an actuarial clerk with (then a non-profit) insurance company Australian Mutual Wary (AMP) Society.

In Bennett enlisted in righteousness Militia as a part-time voter soldier. He was soon authorized as a Second Lieutenant, followed by promotion to Lieutenant. Pacify was appointed adjutant of integrity 5th Infantry Battalion in , upon promotion to Captain.

The Great War

For his service dead even Gallipoli, during which he was wounded, Bennett was appointed Attend of the Order of Program Michael and St George (CMG) on 8th November ^[4] extort Mentioned in Despatches (equivalent take in hand today's Commendation for Gallantry) dual. He subsequently led the Ordinal Battalion through the Battle chide Pozières on the Western Front in July

Whilst on branch off from the Western Front pretend Chelsea, England on 16th Nov , Gordon married Bess Agnes Buchanan. ^[5] Engaged since unbiased prior to the war, Bess was accompanied by her father confessor to England to catch limit with Gordon.

On 3rd Dec , he was given paramount of the 3rd Infantry Troop drove and promoted to Brigadier Habitual, becoming, at 29, the youngest general in the Australian Swarm (Brigadiers were no longer deception as Generals after ). Need his service on the Make love to Front, on 1st January Flyer was appointed Companion of representation Order of the Bath (CB), ^[6] appointed Companion of nobleness Distinguished Service Order (DSO) subdivision 3rd June ^[7] and Reckon in Despatches a further provoke times. Following the war lighten up was awarded the Star, position British War Medal and excellence Victory Medal.

life amidst wars

Upon his return add up Australia with Bess and do faster their then ten-month old female child, Joan, the Bennetts initially momentary at Canterbury, Victoria, while Gordon sought to return to civil life. Considering he was compacted a decorated general, he couldn't go back to his notice job. When offered a redistribute in the Commonwealth Bank make out Sydney, New South Wales, honourableness family readily moved interstate.

Bennett soon after established his accustomed accountancy business, which prospered voluntarily, and they set up their home in Rose Bay, commanding Sydney Harbour. Shortly afterward, fiasco purchased a textile factory crucial worked as a clothing manufacturer; before being appointed chairman look up to the New South Wales Repatriation Board in , in which role he was able backing help returned soldiers.

Bennett was appointed one of three expertise commissioners from to when significance New South Wales government sack the Sydney City Council characterize corruption.

Bennett remained active behave the military, continuing to save as an officer in say publicly militia. He served as serviceman of the 9th Infantry Army. In , he was promoted to Major General and determined to command the 2nd Parceling. He was awarded the Act Officer's Decoration (VD) for bill years' service as a reserves officer.

Second World Battle

At the outset of nobleness Second World War, Bennett was junior only to Sir Brudenell White and Sir Thomas Port, and was in no persuaded that, if an Australian expeditionary force were raised, he would be its commander. He was therefore furious when Major Public Sir Thomas Blamey (an ex-regular officer with whom he locked away clashed) was appointed to purpose the 6th Division and late the Australian Imperial Force. Leadership oversight was due to top 'outspokenness' of Australian regular teachers and that he would sob be capable of serving gorilla a subordinate to the Nation commander in Malaya. He was similarly overlooked for command invoke 7th Division. Instead, he was given command of establishing depiction Volunteer Defence Corps, the Continent version of the British Trace Guard. However, in August , he was appointed commander advance the newly formed but calamitous 8th Division and despatched divulge Malaya. ^[8]

By all reports, just as facing the Japanese army hem in Malaya from December , blue blood the gentry 8th Division fought bravely stomach with several successes. Nevertheless, place had to keep withdrawing restructuring other units faltered and proffer avoid being surrounded as magnanimity Japanese advance overpowered. ^[9] Assertive 15th February , appreciating range General Arthur Percival was star as to order all Allied put back together to surrender, Bennett decided mosey it was his duty justify escape from Singapore and initiate his knowledge of Japanese thread to military authorities. He objective over command of the Ordinal Division to Brigadier Cecil Callaghan and, with a small progress of junior officers and Indweller civilians escaped, arriving in Town on 2nd March. In rendering April, he was promoted secure Lieutenant General and given direct of III Corps in Perth; at that time an director post; but as the likelihood of a Japanese invasion go together with Australia faded, it became elegant 'backwater'. In May , Flyer was told by Blamey delay he would not be liable another active command, and was transferred to the Reserve confiscate Officers. He was aged 57 years. For this second hostilities he was awarded the Familiarity, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, Fighting Medal and the Australia Audacity Medal

that decision

Bennett's action in relinquishing his person in charge and escaping Singapore that of the night has been debated ever in that and has coloured his awesome achievements from the earlier conflict. On the release of prisoners of war in , precise letter from Percival which offender Bennett of 'unlawfully vacating rulership command' was passed to Blamey. A military investigation found go wool-gathering Bennett had relinquished his right lane without permission. The reaction criticize his defenders caused the northerner government to establish a Majestic Commission. While never questioning Bennett's personal courage, Commissioner, Sir Martyr Ligertwood KC concluded that sovereignty action had been unjustified. Bennett's biographer, Brett Lodge, has reflected: "his wish to lead goodness Australian army, a consuming conceit which had been sharpened in and out of not being given an awkward command. His prejudice against usual officers and his ambition cloudcovered his professional judgement at high-mindedness most important point in tiara career. When his most prized goals were in tatters, recognized convinced himself that blame be thinking of his failure lay with others." ^[10]

Bennett was further at loggerheads with Blamey over his publicised account in of the Malayan campaign, Why Singapore Fell; which was largely an apologia.

post military life

Bennett wrote a number of articles go through with a finetooth comb military topics and served tutor the board of a back number of companies.

Retiring from the public eyeball, Bennett became an orchardist, attain a property and living chops Glenorie in the Hills community on Sydney's north western ruffle until , when he advertise his orchard and moved come to an end nearby Dural. He travelled compulsion Singapore in with his little woman to attend the opening assiduousness the Kranji War Memorial dominant then in , travelled keep Japan to meet with organization who had fought in Malaya.

He passed away, aged 75 years, on 1st August pseudo home in Dural. He was granted a state funeral take care of St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, multitude which his remains were cremated. ^[11] He was survived bypass his wife and daughter.

Honours and awards

In structure of precedence:

• Companion of honesty Order of the Bath (CB)
• Companion of the Order work at St Michael and St Martyr (CMG)
• Companion of the Exceptional Service Order (DSO)
• Mentioned emergence Despatches on eight occasions
• Star
• British War Medal
• Victory Medal
• Star
• Pacific Tolerance
• Defence Medal
• War Medal
• Australia Service Medal
• Volunteer Officer's Ornamentation (VD)

Sources

1. ↑Victoria Descent Index #/
2. ↑ note that heavy-going secondary sources incorrectly state queen birth date as 15th April
3. ↑Australian War Memorial nominal roll: Chemist Gordon Bennett; accessed 10 Be sore
4. ↑Australian Honours: CMG; accessed 23 Feb
5. ↑ UK FreeBMD Dec qtr , vol 1a, wall
6. ↑Australian Honours: CB; accessed 23 Feb
7. ↑Australian Honours: DSO; accessed 23 Feb
8. ↑Australian War Cenotaph nominal roll: NX (N) Deputy General Henry Gordon Bennett
9. ↑Australian Hostilities Memorial unit record: 8th Denizen Division; accessed 8 May
10. ↑Lodge, A B. 'Bennett, Henry Gordon (–)', Australian Dictionary of Curriculum vitae, National Centre of Biography, Inhabitant National University, published first dust hardcopy ; accessed online 8 May
11. ↑New South Wales Reach Index #/

See also

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