List of Australian Army generals


The following is a list of Australians who have attained general officer rank in the Australian Army; that is, officers who have held the rank of field marshal, general, [Lieutenant General (Australia)|general (Australia)|lieutenant general], major general or brigadier general. The Commonwealth Military Forces were established on 1 March 1901, following the Federation of Australia, as Australia's ground forces. The service was reorganised and re-titled as the Australian Military Forces in 1916 and then to the Australian Army in 1980. Major Downes, commandant of the military forces in Victoria in 1901 and a retired British Army major general, saw his British Army rank reciprocated in the Commonwealth Military Forces; he thus became the first person to attain general officer rank in the Australian forces.
The number of general officers swelled during the First World War, as Australia committed five infantry and the core of two mounted divisions to the war effort. In 1917, on assuming command of the Desert Column, Sir Harry Chauvel became simultaneously the first Australian to command a corps and the first to be promoted to lieutenant general. Chauvel was made Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the Australian Military Forces, post-war and—alongside Sir John Monash—was in 1929 the first officer to be promoted to full general. The Australian Military Forces again mushroomed during the Second World War, peaking at eleven infantry and three armoured divisions. In recognition of his service as Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Military Forces during the war, Sir Thomas Blamey was promoted to field marshal in 1950. He remains the only non-royal to attain the substantive rank of field marshal in the Australian Army. A further twelve officers have achieved the rank of general, 46 lieutenant general, and at least 263 major general, while a further 31 achieved brigadier general before the rank was abolished and replaced by the senior officer rank of brigadier in the 1920s. Eleven officers have additionally retired with the honorary rank of lieutenant general, and 29 as honorary major generals.

Field marshals

NameBornDiedDate promotedSenior command or appointment in rankNotes
+18651951
18841951Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Military Forces and Commander of Allied Land Forces, South West Pacific Area
Charles III+1948King of Australia
George VI18951952King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth
19212021Prince Consort of Elizabeth II

Generals

The rank of general is the most senior active rank in the Australian Army. Only the five-star rank of field marshal is higher, but it is reserved for exceptional circumstances and only Sir Thomas Blamey has attained the rank in a non-ceremonial capacity. There are currently no appointments in the Australian Defence Force at the five-star level. With the current structure of the ADF, the rank of general is held only when an officer of the Australian Army is appointed as Chief of the Defence Force.
Generals of the Australian Army are as follows:
NameBornDiedDate promotedSenior command or appointment in rankNotes
19362007Chief of the Defence Force
19282023Chief of the Defence Force
Chief of the Defence Force
18651945Inspector-in-Chief Volunteer Defence Corps, Chief of General Staff
1947Chief of the Defence Force
1932Chief of the Defence Force
19182008Chief of the Defence Force Staff, Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee
1953Chief of the Defence Force
19191995Chief of the Defence Force Staff
18651931
18761940Chief of the General Staff
19101981Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee

Lieutenant generals

Lieutenant general is the highest permanent rank in the Australian Army. The rank of lieutenant general is always held by the Chief of Army, though is also held when an Australian Army officer is appointed as Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Chief of Joint Operations, Chief of Joint Capabilities, Chief of Defence Intelligence, Chief of Personnel or an equivalent position.
Lieutenant generals of the Australian Army are as follows:
NameBornDiedDate promotedSenior command or appointment in rankNotes
18871962III Corps
18941981Eastern Command, I Corps, II Corps
18991993British Commonwealth Forces Korea
1965Chief of Joint Operations
+18941964Southern Command
+18941971British Commonwealth Forces Korea, Eastern Command
19151994Chief of the General Staff
1964Chief of Army
1960Chief Capability Development Group
+18921968
19322018Chief of the General Staff
*1970Chief of Joint Capabilities
19132004Chief of the General Staff
19232011Chief of the General Staff
19031978Eastern Command, Southern Command
19532008Chief of Joint Operations
*Chief of Personnel
Chief of Joint Capabilities, National COVID Vaccine Taskforce, Principal Deputy Director Australian Signals Directorate
19001977Chief of the General Staff, Southern Command
1952Chief of Army, Vice Chief of the Defence Force
1939Chief of the General Staff
18921982I Corps, New Guinea Force, II Corps
1941Chief of Army
+18641938
18841948Chairman of the Manpower Committee
18851957 /
18 June 1941
First Army, I Corps, Southern Command
1952Chief of Army
+18601939
18631947
18821966New Guinea Force, Second Army, Home Forces
+18641930
*National Cyber Security Coordinator
18841958Eastern Command
1956Chief of Army
18891959I Corps, Second Army, New Guinea Force, II Corps
1943Vice Chief of the Defence Force
+18931966United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
18901966British Commonwealth Occupation Force, Chief of the General Staff
1933Chief of the General Staff
+18601931
*UN Military Adviser for Peacekeeping Operations
19031978Chief of the General Staff, Eastern Command
1957Chief of Joint Operations
Chief of Defence Intelligence
18941960Southern Command, British Commonwealth Forces Korea, British Commonwealth Occupation Force, First Army
18941975Chief of the General Staff, Vice Chief of the General Staff, I Corps
1940Chief of Army, Commander Joint Forces Australia, Commander United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia
18901954II Corps, New Guinea Force, I Corps
+18971962Northern Command, Eastern Command
18911961Southern Command
18821940Chief of the General Staff, Inspector General of the Australian Army
*Chief of Army
18901966Chief of the General Staff, First Army
18981973Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, Chief of the General Staff, British Commonwealth Forces Korea, Southern Command
+18811952Southern Command
18991967Eastern Command
18861945Lieutenant General Administration at Allied Land Headquarters, Eastern Command

Major generals

NameBornDiedDate promotedSenior command or appointment in rankNotes
1948Land Commander Australia, Deputy Chief of Army, Head Strategic Policy and Plans
Commander Joint Health and Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force
18941959Northern Territory Force, 7th Division
19121967Adjutant-General, 1st Division
18941973Adjutant-General
+18661937
1940Land Commander Australia, 1st Division
*
19241994Chief of Personnel – Army
19681951Director-General of Medical Services
19001995Adjutant-General, Deputy Chief of the General Staff
19323rd Division
18951975Chairman of the New Weapons and Equipment Development Committee, Master-General of the Ordnance
19242021Logistics Command
*Head Land Systems, Head Armoured Vehicle Division
18871965Northern Territory Lines of Communication Area
1939Land Commander Australia, Royal Military College, Duntroon
Head Land Systems Division, Commander Joint Agency Task Force Operation Sovereign Borders
19221994Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Chief of Materiel, Chief of Operations
+18731961
1957Cadet, Reserve and Employer Support Division
18611915General Officer Commanding Australian Imperial Force, 1st Division
191420062nd Division, Communication Zone
+18561943
18731961Chief of the General Staff, Royal Military College, Duntroon, Adjutant-General, 1st Military District
19352003Training Command
*2nd Division
+18561920
18881960Director General of Medical Services
19201985Chaplain-General, Chaplain-General
19282020Training Command
18901967AIF in Malaya, 8th Division
19001997Royal Military College, Duntroon
2nd Division
19101996Southern Command, Master-General of the Ordnance
18821976Quartermaster General, 2nd Division
1956Joint Task Force 633, Chief of Operations, Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority, Deputy Chief of Army
19152003Chief of Materiel, Master-General of the Ordnance, Northern Command
19412001Deputy Chief of the General Staff
1962Director of Operations, United States Central Command, Deputy Chief of Joint Operations
Commander Joint Logistics, Head Land Systems
1958Northern Territory Emergency Response Taskforce, Head Information Capability Management Division
18961963Quartermaster General, Central Command, Army Representative on the Australian Military Mission, Washington, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Deputy-Adjutant and Quartermaster General
19562017Head of Information Capability Management
1933Chief of Operations, 1st Division, Head of Australian Defence Staff in London
19071994Director-General of Medical Services
*1st Division
1944Commander Australian Theatre, Director Defence Intelligence Organisation
1931Chief of the Army Reserve, 3rd Division
1958Head Defence Support Operations
1963Head Armoured Vehicle Division, Head Land Systems, Senior Plans Officer, Headquarters International Security Assistance Force
+18641947
*Judge Advocate General
+18631944
18701949Chief of the General Staff, Quartermaster General
Joint Task Force 633, Special Projects Officer for the Chief of the Defence Force, Deputy Director of Operations, United States Central Command, Head Military Strategic Commitments
1944Director Defence Intelligence Organisation, Assistant Chief Defence Force, Assistant Chief of the General Staff – Material
19092007Citizen Military Forces Member of the Military Board, Communication Zone
+18571933
1954Australian Military Representative to NATO and the European Union
19352021Australian Defence Force Academy, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Logistic Command
1960Head of Cyber and Information Security, Australian Signals Directorate, Chief of Plans, ISAF Joint Command
19301991Logistics Command, Chief of Logistics – Army
18731943Adjutant General
19071998Citizen Military Forces Member of the Military Board, 2nd Division
18341923Commandant of the Military Forces in Victoria
18851945Director of Medical Services, Second Army, Inspector General of Medical Services, Director-General of Medical Services
193120211st Division
188419493rd Division
1941Judge Advocate General
*Commander Forces Command, Commander Cyber Command
1947Head of the Defence Personnel Executive, Military Head of the Defence Efficiency Review Secretariat
188519571st Division, 4th Division
18851963Queensland Lines of Communication Area, Northern Command, Western Command
19001984Western Command
+18631956
1901199311th Division
187819313rd Division
1970Queensland State Recovery Coordinator, 1st Division, Deputy Chief of Army
19272005Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Chief of Materiel – Army
19251990Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Head of Australian Defence Staff in Washington, D.C.
19331998Assistant Chief of the General Staff – Army Reserve, 2nd Division
+18641943
1941Force Commander, Multinational Force and Observers
18851950New South Wales Lines of Communication Area, 1st Division
Assistant to the Chief of the Defence Force, Deputy Commanding General – Operations, United States Army Central, Commander Forces Command, Vice Director of Operations and Plans, United States Central Command
Special Operations Command
19101997Royal Military College, Duntroon, Quartermaster-General
1939Head of Australian Defence Staff in Washington, D.C., Deputy Chief of the General Staff, 1st Division
19342015Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Chief of Personnel
2nd Division
Head People Capability
1945Chief Military Adviser, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Chief of Staff, United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, 1st Division
+18671928
19372004Chief of Material
19182001Logistic Command, Southern Command, Commander Australian Force Vietnam, Royal Military College, Duntroon
1958Head Helicopter Systems Division
Head of Australian Defence Staff in Washington, D.C.
Commander Joint Agency Task Force Operation Sovereign Borders
18971971Head of the Australian Military Mission to Germany
1949Assistant Chief of the Defence Force and Head Reserve Policy
*Force Commander, Multinational Force and Observers
187219453rd Division
1962Military Strategic Commitments Division, Commander Forces Command, Deputy Chief of Army, Special Operations Command
187619554th Division, 1st Division
193520232nd Division, 3rd Division
1952Chief of Staff, United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, Deputy Chief of Army, Training Command – Army, Deputy Force Commander, United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor
190719963rd Division
19442022Chief of the Army Reserve
+18561929
*Special Operations Command
*Head of Cyber Operations Division
1940Training Command – Army
192019961st Division, Northern Command, Deputy Chief of the General Staff
191719873rd Division
19302022Field Forces Command, Chief of Operations – Army
186919494th Division
19192006Surgeon General Defence Force, Joint Services Medical Advisor, Director-General of Army Health Services, Director-General of Medical Services
1947Joint Logistics Command
*1974Aviation Command
Australian Military Representative to NATO and the European Union, Director Defence Intelligence Organisation
190519613rd Division
+18821956
19001981Northern Command
19121971Eastern Command, Adjutant-General, Quartermaster-General, Chairman, Joint Planning Committee, Western Command
1943Land Commander Australia, Deputy Chief of Army, Director Defence Intelligence Organisation, Training Command
19201998 Royal Military College, Duntroon, 1st Division, Australian Forces Vietnam, Deputy Chief of the General Staff
19191995Training Command, 1st Division
1956Training Command – Army, Joint Task Force 633, Special Operations Command
18561911Chief of the General Staff, Inspector-General of the Military Forces
Project Lead – Afghanistan NEO Review, Deputy Coordinator – Operations, National Recovery and Resilience Agency, Deputy National Bushfire Recovery Coordinator
19302024Royal Military College, Duntroon, Chief of Personnel – Army
19472nd Division
186219174th Division
18971990Royal Military College, Duntroon
19382024Director-General Natural Disasters Organisation
18631930Director General of Medical Services, Director of AIF Medical Services
+18581944
19292016Controller of Establishments
19202003Chief of the Reserve, 1st Division, Director, Joint Staff
+18671937
18861948Western Command, 5th Military District, Northern Command, 1st Military District
19302015Director-General Army Health Services
19372020Assistant Chief of the General Staff for Materiel, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, 1st Division
Aviation Command
186819493rd Division
*Commander Defence Signals Intelligence and Cyber Command, First Assistant Director-General Expeditionary and Transnational Intelligence, Head of Military Strategic Plans
1945Head Strategic Command, Training Command, 1st Division
193420012nd Division
1929Field Force Command, 1st Division
1956Joint Task Force 633, Land Command, 1st Division
+18971963
Special Operations Command
19101985Citizen Military Forces Member of the Military Board
*Head Joint Aviation Systems Division, Head Land Capability
+18971959Central Command, Northern Command, Principal Administrative Officer, British Commonwealth Forces in Japan and Korea
18931984Director-General of Medical Services
19301999
19121975Southern Command, Quartermaster-General, Chairman, Joint Planning Committee, Royal Military College, Duntroon, Western Command, Head Australian Joint Services Staff in the United Kingdom
Deputy Chief of Staff – Plans, Headquarters International Security Assistance Force
*Head Joint Support Services Division
19272013Director General National Disaster Organisation
19001977Master-General of the Ordnance, Quartermaster-General
1953Special Operations Command
18991956Adjutant General
18831957Second Army, 1st Division, Director-General of Recruiting, 2nd Division
+18941962
19141980Adjutant-General, Master-General of the Ordnance, Head Australian Joint Services Staff in the United States
1947Assistant Chief of the Defence Force, Assistant Chief of Army
1942Assistant Chief of the Defence Force, Assistant Chief of the General Staff
19041984Citizen Military Forces Member of the Military Board, 2nd Division
+18671946
+18591935
19172004Field Force Command, Eastern Command, Quartermaster-General, 1st Division, Australian Force Vietnam
Deputy Commanding General – North, United States Army Pacific
19251993Training Command, 1st Division, Chief of the Army Reserve
19191996Citizen Military Forces Member of the Military Board, 2nd Division
191219873rd Division
1937Logistic Command
Commander Forces Command, Head of Modernisation and Strategic Planning, Head Joint Capability Coordination, Deputy Chief of Staff – Plans, Headquarters International Security Assistance Force
1st Division, Head Land Systems
1957Director Defence Intelligence Organisation, Training Command – Army
19212003Inspector-General of the Army Reserve, Assistant Commander Logistic Command, 3rd Division
19061996Master-General of the Ordnance, Central Command, Controller of Design and Inspection, Department of Supply
Head of Australian Defence Staff in Washington, D.C., Special Operations Command, Chief of Defence Force Liaison Officer to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
18881953Director-General of Medical Services
19262018Inspector-General of the Army Reserve, 2nd Divisional Field Force Group, 2nd Division
1955
*Head Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator
1949Head of the Centenary of Anzac Planning Team, Head of Cadet, Reserve and Employer Support Division
18941972Adjutant-General, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Morotai Force, 7th Division, 5th Division, Master-General of the Ordnance
1962Head ICT Operations Division
19252003Judge Advocate General, Judge Advocate General – Army
19502023Chief of Operations, Multi-National Force – Iraq, Australian Defence College, 1st Division
+18701936
18881975Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit, New Guinea Lines of Communication Area, New Guinea Force, 8th Military District
19272008Chief of Personnel, Royal Military College, Duntroon
1964Commander Joint Logistics, Joint Task Force 636, Deputy Chief of Staff – Support, Operation Resolute Support
19172005Citizen Military Forces Member of the Military Board, 2nd Division
191019921st Division, Deputy Chief of the General Staff
18921951Northern Territory Force, Rear Echelon, First Australian Army, 4th Division, 10th Division, Newcastle Covering Force
19291991Chief of the Army Reserve, 2nd Divisional Field Force Group
*1959Surgeon-General of the Australian Defence Force Reserves
19222007Training Command – Army
*Commander Space Command
Chief of the Army Reserve, 3rd Division
1960Joint Task Force 633, Australian Defence College, Head People Capability
+18671943
1940Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force
*Head Force Integration, Defence Strategic Review Implementation Task Force, Commander Forces Command
19182012Chief of Personnel, Royal Military College, Duntroon, 1st Division
18821966Inspector of the Coast and Anti-Aircraft Defences, Master-General of the Ordnance, Quartermaster-General
1935Assistant Chief of the General Staff – Personnel
18901950New South Wales Lines of Communication Area, Victoria Lines of Communication Area, Western Command, 5th Military District
19232018Logistic Command
19051963Citizen Military Forces Member of the Military Board, 2nd Division
19612nd Division
19292024Chief of Supply
1949Deputy Force Commander, United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, Training Command – Army
18971981Master-General of the Ordnance
+18611927
1895197311th Division, 5th Division
18871957
Head Force Design, Deputy Chief of Army
19132009Director-General of Medical Services
188019541st Cavalry Division
19011992Citizen Military Forces Member of the Military Board, 3rd Division
1951Strategic Policy Division, Deputy Chief of Army, Training Command – Army
1946Judge Advocate General
1936Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force
1952Surgeon-General of the Australian Defence Force Reserves
18751954AIF Depots in the United Kingdom, 2nd Division
1945Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence College
186519371st Cavalry Division, ANZAC Mounted Division
18661928Quartermaster-General, Adjutant-General
Special Operations Command, Head of Modernisation and Strategic Planning – Army, Deputy Chief of Army, Commander Forces Command
192920222nd Division
+18981969
18941964Signal Officer-in-Chief
19071971Citizen Military Forces Member of the Military Board, 3rd Division
1958Commander Forces Command, 1st Division, Head Defence Personnel
19352019Land Commander Australia, Field Force Command, Assistant Chief of Defence Force – Operations
*Deputy Chief of Army, Deputy Commanding General – Strategy and Plans, United States Army Pacific
Deputy Force Commander, United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor
19592nd Division
1963Deputy Chief of Joint Operations, 1st Division, Joint Task Force 633
+18511935
18861967Queensland Lines of Communication Area, Adjutant-General
18921955Engineer-in-Chief
+18951966
19362025Logistic Command, Chief of Logistics
18961969Citizen Military Forces Member of the Military Board, 2nd Division, 6th Division, 12th Division, Northern Territory Force, 4th Division
1946Chief of the General Staff – Personnel
19252008Chief of Logistics, Logistic Command
19222012Director-General Natural Disasters Organisation
1960Director Defence Intelligence Organisation, Deputy Chief of Army
19292008Chief of Materiel – Army
1988Southern Command, Deputy Chief of General Staff
Joint Task Force 629, 2nd Division
Head ICT Operations
186619472nd Cavalry Division, 5th Infantry Division
Head Force Integration Division, Head of Land Capability
19482019Judge Advocate General
*Head Land Capability
189519457th Division, 6th Division, Deputy Chief of the General Staff
19171998Citizen Military Forces Member of the Military Board, 3rd Division
19161995Chief of Personnel, Adjutant-General, Head Australian Joint Services Staff in the United States, Commander Australian Force Vietnam, 1st Division
19051995Northern Command, Adjutant-General, Head Australian Joint Services Staff in the United States
*Head National Support, Commander Joint Logistics
+18571932
18881962Director of Medical Services, First Australian Army
19242004Director-General Army Health Services
*1976Commander Joint Logistics
1953Chief Military Judge and Chief Judge Advocate
+18601946
18941964Western Command, Victoria Lines of Communication Area, Major General, Royal Artillery
19212010Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Chief of Personnel – Army, Chief of Operations
+18921964
1964Head of Joint Enablers, Australian Defence College
+18551943
18841950Chief Military Advisor to the Director-General of Munitions, Master-General of the Ordnance
18561919
19261980Field Force Command, Deputy Chief of General Staff, Chief of Operations
1948Head of Australian Defence Staff in Washington, D.C., Head Defence Personnel Executive, Head Joint Education and Training
19001982Central Command
1947Assistant Chief of the Defence Force and Head Reserve Policy, 2nd Division
1955Director Defence Intelligence Organisation, 1st Division, Training Command – Army
19001987Citizen Military Forces Member of the Military Board, 2nd Division
*Deputy Commanding General – Strategy and Plans, United States Army Pacific, 1st Division
19212009Controller of Establishments
18931970Citizen Military Forces Member of the Military Board, 3rd Division, 9th Division

Brigadier generals

NameBornDiedDate appointedSenior command or appointment in rankNotes
18651940AIF Headquarters London
18791954Royal Artillery, 1st Australian Division
18771947Royal Artillery, 5th Australian Division
18601941
18681931Royal Artillery, 5th Australian Division
187619424th Division, 3rd Military District, 1st Military District, 11th Mixed Brigade, Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores, Deputy Adjutant-General, Deputy Director of Repatriation, Chief Engineer, Australian Corps, Deputy Adjutant and Quartermaster-General, AIF Depots in the United Kingdom
18551919Director of Military Art, Chief of the General Staff
1873191612th Brigade
1869195514th Brigade, 9th Brigade
187019391st Cavalry Brigade, 4th Light Horse Brigade, 3rd Light Horse Brigade
18651947Administrator of Nauru, Administrator of the Territory of New Guinea, Inspector-General of Administration, AIF Headquarters London
187419545th Brigade, 11th Brigade, 1st Division Demobilization Group, 2nd Brigade
188119515th Brigade, 10th Brigade, 13th Brigade
187519339th Brigade
+18591935
187819623rd Brigade, 19th Brigade, 12th Brigade
18741930Director of Education
187519311st Cavalry Division, 4th Cavalry Brigade, 6th Light Horse Regiment, 5th Light Horse Brigade
187819151st Brigade
187519506th Brigade, 5th Brigade
18691946Deputy Assistant and Quartermaster-General, AIF Depots
18771947Director of Education, 10th Brigade
186419422nd Cavalry Brigade, 4th Light Horse Brigade
18621918Administrator of the Territory of New Guinea
1869194011th Brigade
187819517th Brigade, 3rd Brigade, 6th Brigade, Director of Training, AIF Depots, 12th Brigade
188119282nd Brigade, 18th Brigade, 17th Brigade, 5th Brigade
1884194715th Brigade, 10th Brigade, 14th Brigade
+18561943
187119471st Cavalry Brigade, 11th Mixed Brigade, 3rd Light Horse Brigade
1869194522nd Brigade, 7th Brigade