General (Australia)

General (abbreviated GEN) is the second-highest rank, and the highest active rank, of the Australian Army and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of general; it is also considered a four-star rank.

For other countries which use this rank, see General.

General
The GEN insignia of Crown of St Edward above a star of the Order of the Bath above a crossed sword and baton, with the word 'Australia' at the bottom.
Country	Australia
Service branch	Australian Army
Abbreviation	GEN
Rank	Four-star
NATO rank	OF-9
Non-NATO rank	O-10
Formation	1917
Next higher rank	Field marshal
Next lower rank	Lieutenant general
Equivalent ranks	Admiral (RAN) Air chief marshal (RAAF)

Prior to 1958, Australian generals (and field marshals) were only appointed in exceptional circumstances. In 1958, the position which is currently called Chief of the Defence Force was created, and since 1966, the rank of general has been held when an army officer is appointed to that position.

General is a higher rank than lieutenant general, but is lower than field marshal. General is the equivalent of admiral in the Royal Australian Navy and air chief marshal in the Royal Australian Air Force.

A general's insignia is St Edward's Crown above a star of the Order of the Bath (or 'pip') above a crossed sword and baton, with the word 'Australia' at the bottom.[1][note 1]

Australian generals

The following have held the rank of general in the Australian Army:

Name	Year promoted	Born	Died	Notes
William Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood GCB, GCSI, GCMG, GCVO, CIE, DSO	1917	1865	1951	Appointed a general in the Australian Imperial Force in 1917, and made honorary field marshal in the Australian Army in 1925.[note 2]
Sir Harry Chauvel GCMG, KCB	1929	1865	1945	Chief of the General Staff (1923–30) and Inspector-in-Chief Volunteer Defence Corps (1940–45)
Sir John Monash GCMG, KCB, VD	1929	1865	1931	Australian Corps (1918)
Sir Brudenell White KCB, KCMG, KCVO, DSO	1940	1876	1940	Chief of the General Staff (1920–23, 1940)
Sir Thomas Blamey GBE, KCB, CMG, DSO, ED	1941	1884	1951	Promoted field marshal in 1951. Deputy Commander-in-Chief Middle East Command (1941–1942), General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Australian Military Forces (1942–45) and Commander of Allied Land Forces, South West Pacific Area (1942–45)
Sir John Wilton KBE, CB, DSO	1968	1910	1981	Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (1966–70)
Sir Frank Hassett AC, KBE, CB, DSO, LVO	1975	1918	2008	Chief of the Defence Force Staff (1976–77)
Sir Arthur MacDonald KBE, CB	1977	1919	1995	Chief of the Defence Force Staff (1977–79)
Sir Phillip Bennett AC, KBE, DSO	1984	1928	—	Chief of the Defence Force (1984–87) and Governor of Tasmania (1987–95)
Peter Gration AC, OBE	1987	1932	—	Chief of the Defence Force (1987–93)
John Baker AC, DSM	1995	1936	2007	Chief of the Defence Force (1995–98)
Sir Peter Cosgrove AK, CVO, MC	2002	1947	—	Chief of the Defence Force (2002–05) and Governor-General of Australia (2014–19)
David Hurley AC, DSC	2011	1953	—	Chief of the Defence Force (2011–14) and Governor of New South Wales (2014–19) and Governor-General of Australia (2019–)
Angus Campbell AO, DSC	2018	—	—	Chief of the Defence Force (2018–)

In addition, John Northcott held the honorary rank of general while acting as Governor-General of Australia in 1951 and 1956.[2]

The following Australians have held the rank of general in the British Army:

Name	Year promoted	Born	Died	Notes
Sir John Hackett GCB, CBE, DSO & Bar, MC	1966	1910	1997	Deputy Chief of the Imperial General Staff (1963–66) and Commander-in-Chief of the British Army of the Rhine (1966–68)

See also

• Australian Defence Force ranks and insignia
• Australian Army officer rank insignia
• List of Australian Army generals

Notes

1. Australian Army officer rank insignia are identical to British Army officer rank insignia, with the difference that Australian Army insignia have the word "Australia" below them.
2. When Birdwood was promoted to field marshal in the British Army in 1925, he was given the honorary rank of field marshal in the Australian Army. He is one of only three Australian field marshals.

References

1. "Chapter 4: Badges and Emblems" (PDF). Army Dress Manual. Canberra, ACT: Australian Army. 6 June 2014. p. 48. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2015.
2. Coates, Henry John (2000). "Northcott, Sir John (1890–1966)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 13 April 2009 – via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)