Portrait Gallery: Generals of The Great War from New South Wales

 

Group portrait of 1st Australian Division officers, Australian Imperial Force, Egyptian desert, 1915. Seated second from left MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM THROSBY BRIDGES, CMG. Other NSW officers achieving rank of general later in the war: standing first from left COLONEL NEVILLE REGINALD HOWSE, VC, standing first from right COLONEL EWAN GEORGE SINCLAIR-MACLAGAN, DSO, kneeling COLONEL HENRY NORMAND MACLAURIN.

MAJOR GENERAL SIR WILLIAM THROSBY BRIDGES KCB, CMG, born 1861 in Scotland but in 1879 joined his family at Moss Vale, New South Wales. Served with NSW Contingent to Sudan in 1883 and, on secondment to British Army, the Boer War during 1899-1900. On outbreak of World War I promoted to major general and appointed commander 1st Division, AIF. Killed in action at Gallipoli, 15 May 1915.

Group portrait of Australian Light Horse officers, Jordan Valley, Palestine, 1918. NSW officers from left to right: first: BRIGADIER GENERAL GEORGE MACLEAY MACARTHUR-ONSLOW, DSO, commander 5th ALH Brigade, sixth: LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIR HARRY CHAUVEL, KCB, KCMG, commander Desert Mounted Corps, eighth: BRIGADIER GENERAL CHARLES FREDERICK COX, CB, CMG, commander 1st ALH Brigade, tenth: BRIGADIER GENERAL GRANVILLE DE LAUNE RYRIE, CB, CMG, commander 2nd ALH Brigade.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIR HENRY GEORGE CHAUVEL, GCMG, KCB born in Tabulam, northern New South Wales in 1865 and educated Sydney Grammar School. In 1888 his family moved to Queensland. Served with Queensland Mounted Infantry in Boer War 1899-1901. On outbreak of World War I chosen as a colonel to command 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade, AIF. Led the Brigade at Gallipoli where he was promoted to major general. In March 1916 appointed commander of Anzac Mounted Division in Egypt. In April 1917 the Division formed part of the Desert Column, later renamed Desert Mounted Corps, which served in Egypt and Palestine under Chauvel as lieutenant-general. Died in Melbourne, 4 March 1945.

Another portrait of Lieutenant General Sir Henry Chauvel.

MAJOR GENERAL CHARLES FREDERICK COX, CB, CMG, DCO, VD, (“Fighting Charlie”) born in Pennant Hills, New South Wales, on 2 May 1863. Served in Boer War from 1899 to 1902. On declaration of war in 1914 appointed as a lieutenant colonel to command 6th Light Horse Regiment, AIF. Wounded at Gallipoli. Later in 1915 put in command of 1st Light Horse Brigade as brigadier general in Egypt and Palestine. Given honorary rank of major general in 1923. Died in Sydney, 20 November 1944.

BRIGADIER GENERAL CECIL HENRY FOOTT, CB, CMG, born at Bourke, New South Wales, 16 January 1876. A captain in the Royal Australian Engineers, joined 1st Division AIF as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General in Egypt, January 1915. Served at Gallipoli and then on the Western Front. In July 1917 became Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General of AIF Depots in the UK. On 17 March 1918 became Chief Engineer of the Australian Corps on the Western Front until the Armistice. Retired in 1936 as an honorary brigadier general. Died in Victoria, 27 June 1942.

BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES HEANE, CB, CMG, DSO, VD, (“Cast Iron Jimmy”) born in Sydney, 29 December 1874. September 1914 promoted to captain and appointed company commander in 4th Infantry Battalion AIF, Egypt. Saw action and wounded at Gallipoli. January 1916 promoted to lieutenant colonel and given command of 1st Infantry Battalion AIF on the Western Front. December 1916 promoted to full colonel and temporary brigadier general and put in command of 2nd Infantry Brigade AIF until the Armistice. Died Collaroy, Sydney, 20 August 1954.

BRIGADIER GENERAL SYDNEY CHARLES EDGAR HERRING, CMG, DSO, VD, born Gladesville, Sydney, 8 October 1881. Appointed to 13th Infantry Battalion AIF as a captain, October 1914. Promoted to major February 1915. Served at Gallipoli and given command of 13th Battalion, June 1915. Afterwards returned to Egypt and made commander of new 45th Infantry Battalion. Deployed to Western Front, June 1916. Promoted to brevet major, September 1917. June 1918 made commander 13th Infantry Brigade AIF, promoted to colonel and temporary brigadier general until Armistice. Died Sydney, 27 May 1951.

MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM HOLMES, CMG, DSO, VD, (“Billee”) born at Victoria Barracks, Paddington, Sydney, 12 September 1862. Served in Boer War as brevet lieutenant colonel, 1899-1900. As full colonel, commanded Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force in German New Guinea, August 1914 to February 1915. Commander 5th Brigade AIF in Egypt, June 1915. Served at Gallipoli and in November 1915 given command of 2nd Division AIF. After evacuation returned to 5th Brigade and deployed to Western Front. January 1917 appointed commander 4th Division AIF, promoted to major general. Killed by German shell 2 July 1917 while escorting NSW Premier William Holman on inspection of Messines battlefield.

MAJOR GENERAL SIR NEVILLE REGINALD HOWSE, VC, KCB, KCMG, FRCS, born England, 26 October 1863, moved to Newcastle, New South Wales, 1897. A medical doctor, deployed to South Africa 1900-1902 initially as a lieutenant with NSW Army Medical Corps. Awarded Victoria Cross July 1900. Promoted to captain September 1900. Appointed principal medical officer with Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force in 1914, served in New Guinea with rank of lieutenant colonel. Afterwards made Assistant Director of Medical Services 1st Australian Division AIF and saw service at Gallipoli. September 1915 Director of Medical Services with rank of surgeon-general. Moved with AIF to Western Front and promoted to major general in 1917. Died England, 19 September 1930.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL JAMES GORDON LEGGE, CB, CMG, born England 15 August 1863, moved with family to Sydney, New South Wales, in 1878. Studied at Sydney Grammar School and Sydney University. Commissioned into 1st New South Wales Regiment as 2nd lieutenant 1887, lieutenant 1892, captain 1894. Served in Boer War 1899-1900 with Australian Regiment and then 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles. Promoted brevet major 1900, major 1904, lieutenant colonel 1907. Appointed Quartermaster General, Australian Army, 1909. May 1914 made Chief of the General Staff. Given command of 1st Australian Division AIF at Gallipoli, May 1915 after death of Major General William Bridges. July 1915 sent to Egypt to command 2nd Australian Division AIF and returned to Gallipoli with the Division in September 1915. Deployed with 2nd Division to Western Front, April 1916. Evacuated sick January 1917 and returned to Australia. Retired 1924 as honorary lieutenant general. Died Victoria, 18 September 1947.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIR IVEN GIFFARD MACKAY, KBE, CMG, DSO & BAR, VD, (“Mister Chips”) born Grafton, New South Wales, 7 April 1882. Was a captain with the militia when he joined AIF in August 1914 as adjutant, 4th Infantry Battalion AIF. Arrived Egypt January 1915.  Promoted to major July 1915 and given command of a company at Gallipoli. April 1916 moved to Western Front. Promoted to lieutenant colonel and given command of 4th Battalion. March 1918 made commander of 1st Machine Gun Battalion, 1st Infantry Division AIF with brevet rank of major. June 1918 promoted to colonel and temporary brigadier general in command of 1st Infantry Brigade AIF until Armistice. Served in active command roles in the Second World War. Died East Lindfield, Sydney, 30 September 1966.

BRIGADIER GENERAL HENRY NORMAND MACLAURIN, born Sydney, 31 October 1878. As a major and regimental commander in the militia, joined AIF in August 1914 as a full colonel. Given command of 1st Infantry Brigade. Landed at Gallipoli, but killed in action on 27 April 1915. Posthumously promoted to brigadier general.

MAJOR GENERAL SIR GRANVILLE DE LAUNE RYRIE, KCMG, CB, VD, (“Bull”) born Micalago, New South Wales, 1 July 1865. Served in the Boer War 1899-1902, promoted to honorary major. On outbreak of World War I promoted to brigadier general and given command of 2nd Light Horse Brigade AIF, part of ANZAC Mounted Division. From Egypt deployed to Gallipoli and wounded in action. Back in Egypt commanded the Brigade in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. December 1918 made commander of ANZAC Mounted Division and in April 1919 put in charge of AIF in Egypt. Promoted to major general, September 1919. Died Sydney, 2 October 1937.

Another portrait of Major General Sir Granville Ryrie.

MAJOR GENERAL EWEN GEORGE SINCLAIR-MACLAGAN, CB, CMG, DSO, born Scotland, 24 December 1868. Served in Boer War with British Army and moved to New South Wales in 1910. On outbreak of World War I appointed commander 3rd Infantry Brigade, 1st Division AIF. Served at Gallipoli, medically evacuated August 1915. Deployed with Brigade to Western Front July 1916. Made commander of 4th Division AIF on death of Major General William Holmes, July 1917. Promoted to major general and commanded 4th Division until Armistice. Died Scotland, 24 November 1948. 

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