Denzil Macarthur-Onslow
Encyclopedia
Major-General Sir Denzil Macarthur-Onslow CBE
, DSW
, ED
(5 March 1904 – 30 November 1984) was an Australian general.
Macarthur-Onslow, the son of grazier Arthur Macarthur-Onslow
, enlisted in the Australian Citizens Military Forces in 1924. In 1935 he was appointed Captain Ex Reserve of Officers in the 2nd Military District of the Australian Field Artillery; on 31 June 1936 he was appointed to Captain Royal Australian Artiller. On 26 May 1939 he was appointed Captain of the 2nd Australian Armoured Regiment and a Captain in the Australian Imperial Force
. He was promoted major in October 1939 and served with the 6th Australian Division Reconnaissance Regiment. On 11 June 1941 he was promoted lieutenant-colonel and placed in command of the 6th Australian Division Regiment, and on 23 April 1942 was appointed second in command of the 1st Australina Armoured Brigade. On 14 July he was promoted Temporary Brigadier
to command of the brigade. He relinquished command in March 1946 and was granted the rank of Honorary Brigadier; he was promoted Brigadier on 4 January 1949. He was discharged in August 1953 but re-enlisted in August 1954, commanding the 2nd Division; he transferred to the Reserve on 1 December 1957 and was appointed to the Military Board on 1 December 1958 as a Major-General.
Macarthur-Onslow was also politically active; he was by far the most successful candidate for the Liberal Democratic Party at the 1943 federal election
, coming close to winning the seat of Eden-Monaro
. He contested Eden-Monaro again for the Liberal Party
in 1946 and 1949.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DSW
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, ED
Efficiency Decoration
The Efficiency Decoration is a defunct medal of Britain and the Commonwealth awarded for long service in the Territorial Army of the UK, the Indian Volunteer Forces and Colonial Auxiliary Forces....
(5 March 1904 – 30 November 1984) was an Australian general.
Macarthur-Onslow, the son of grazier Arthur Macarthur-Onslow
Arthur Macarthur-Onslow
Francis Arthur Macarthur-Onslow was an Australian grazier and real estate investor. After service in the South African War, he raised sheep, was a director of the Camden Park Estate and its associated dairy farm, and finally moved to Camden to invest in real estate and travel extensively.Arthur,...
, enlisted in the Australian Citizens Military Forces in 1924. In 1935 he was appointed Captain Ex Reserve of Officers in the 2nd Military District of the Australian Field Artillery; on 31 June 1936 he was appointed to Captain Royal Australian Artiller. On 26 May 1939 he was appointed Captain of the 2nd Australian Armoured Regiment and a Captain in the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
. He was promoted major in October 1939 and served with the 6th Australian Division Reconnaissance Regiment. On 11 June 1941 he was promoted lieutenant-colonel and placed in command of the 6th Australian Division Regiment, and on 23 April 1942 was appointed second in command of the 1st Australina Armoured Brigade. On 14 July he was promoted Temporary Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
to command of the brigade. He relinquished command in March 1946 and was granted the rank of Honorary Brigadier; he was promoted Brigadier on 4 January 1949. He was discharged in August 1953 but re-enlisted in August 1954, commanding the 2nd Division; he transferred to the Reserve on 1 December 1957 and was appointed to the Military Board on 1 December 1958 as a Major-General.
Macarthur-Onslow was also politically active; he was by far the most successful candidate for the Liberal Democratic Party at the 1943 federal election
Australian federal election, 1943
Federal elections were held in Australia on 21 August 1943. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent Australian Labor Party led by Prime Minister of Australia John Curtin easily defeated the opposition Country Party led...
, coming close to winning the seat of Eden-Monaro
Division of Eden-Monaro
The Division of Eden-Monaro is anAustralian Electoral Division in New South Wales.The division was created in 1900, and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the town of Eden and the Monaro district of southern New South Wales...
. He contested Eden-Monaro again for the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
in 1946 and 1949.