Lieutenant General (Australia)
Encyclopedia
- See lieutenant generalLieutenant GeneralLieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
for other countries which use this rank
Lieutenant general (abbreviated LTGEN) is the second-highest active rank of the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
and was created as a direct equivalent of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
military rank of lieutenant general. It is also considered a three-star rank.
The rank of lieutenant general is held by the Chief of Army. The rank is also held when an army officer is the Vice Chief of the Defence Force
Vice Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
The Vice Chief of the Defence Force is the military deputy to the Chief of the Defence Force of Australia, and acts as the CDF in his absence under standing acting arrangements....
, the Chief of Joint Operations
Chief of Joint Operations (Australia)
Until September 2007, the Vice Chief of the Defence Force was "double hatted" as the Chief of Joint Operations . In this role he commanded Australian Defence Force operations on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Force...
, or the Chief of Capability Development.
Lieutenant general is a higher rank than major general
Major General (Australia)
Major General is a senior rank of the Australian Army, and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of Major General. It is the third-highest active rank of the Australian Army, and is considered to be equivalent to a two-star rank...
, but lower than general
General (Australia)
General 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....
. Lieutenant general is the equivalent of vice admiral
Vice Admiral (Australia)
Vice admiral is the second-highest active rank of the Royal Australian Navy and was created as a direct equivalent of the British rank of vice admiral. It is a three-star rank...
in the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
and air marshal
Air Marshal (Australia)
Air marshal is the second highest active rank of the Royal Australian Air Force and was created as a direct equivalent of the British Royal Air Force rank of air marshal, it is also considered a three-star rank...
in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
The insignia for a lieutenant general is the crown of St Edward above a crossed sword and baton.
Current Australian Lieutenant Generals
There are currently two Lieutenant Generals in the Australian Defence Force:- David MorrisonDavid MorrisonLieutenant General David Lindsay Morrison AO is a senior officer within the Australian Army, currently serving in the position of Chief of Army.-Early life and career:...
– Chief of Army (CA) - Ash PowerAsh PowerLieutenant General Brian Ashley "Ash" Power AM, CSC is a senior officer in the Australian Army, currently serving as Chief of Joint Operations.-Service history:...
– Chief of Joint OperationsChief of Joint Operations (Australia)Until September 2007, the Vice Chief of the Defence Force was "double hatted" as the Chief of Joint Operations . In this role he commanded Australian Defence Force operations on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Force...
(CJOPS)
Australian Army Lieutenant Generals
Although not an Australian, Field Marshal William Birdwood, 1st Baron BirdwoodWilliam Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood
Field Marshal William Riddell Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood, GCB, GCSI, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, CIE, DSO was a First World War British general who is best known as the commander of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915.- Youth and early career :Birdwood was born...
, was a popular general with the Australians. He commanded the Australian Imperial Force
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
during the First World War, and when he was promoted to the rank of field marshal in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in 1925, he was awarded the honorary rank of field marshal in the Australian Army.
The first Australian lieutenant general was Sir Henry George "Harry" Chauvel in 1917.
CGS/CA – Chief of the General Staff and Chief of Army
From 1 January 1909 to 18 Feb 1997, the most senior Australian Army position was named Chief of the General Staff. The first Australian to occupy this position was Colonel William Throsby Bridges
William Throsby Bridges
Major General Sir William Throsby Bridges KCB, CMG served with Australian forces during World War I, and was the first Australian to reach general officer rank...
. The first Australian lieutenant general to occupy this position was Brudenell White
Brudenell White
General Sir Cyril Brudenell Bingham White KCB, KCMG, KCVO, DSO was a senior officer in the Australian Army, who served as Chief of the General Staff from 1920 to 1923 and again from March to August 1940, when he was killed in the Canberra air disaster.-Early Life and career:White was born in St...
, from 1 June 1920. From August 1940, this position, and its successor (Chief of Army), have been held by Australian lieutenant generals.
CCOSC/VCDF/CCDG/CJOPS/etc.
– Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (1958–1965)
In March 1958, the role of Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee was created, but with no command authority. This was initially occupied by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Wells (March 1958 – March 1959), and was rotated through the three services, hence (briefly) providing a three-star position available to army officers. In 1965 this became a four-star position. It was replaced in February 1976 by a new position, Chief of Defence Force Staff (CDFS), with command authority over the ADF, and in October 1984 the position was renamed Chief of the Defence Force
Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
Chief of the Defence Force is the most senior appointment in the Australian Defence Force . The CDF commands the ADF under the direction of the Minister of Defence, in a coequal arrangement with the Secretary of Defence, the most senior public servant in the Department of Defence.The position is a...
(CDF) to more clearly reflect the role and its authority.
– Vice Chief of the Defence Force (since 1986)
In June 1986, the three-star position Vice Chief of the Defence Force
Vice Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
The Vice Chief of the Defence Force is the military deputy to the Chief of the Defence Force of Australia, and acts as the CDF in his absence under standing acting arrangements....
(VCDF) was created. As with CDF, this position rotates between the forces. Lieutenant General (later General) John Baker
John Baker (general)
General John Stuart Baker, AC, DSM was an Australian army general. He was Chief of the Australian Defence Force from July 1995 to July 1998...
was the first army officer to occupy the position (October 1992 – April 1995).
– Chief of Capability Development Group (since 2003)
A third three-star position, Chief of Capability Development Group (CCDG), which also rotates between the forces, was created in 2003.
– Chief of Joint Operations (since 2007)
In September 2007, a fourth three-star position, Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS), was created.
– etc.
There are two other three-star positions in the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
, Chief of Navy (CN) and Chief of Air Force
Chief of Air Force
Chief of Air Force is the most senior appointment in the Royal Australian Air Force , responsible to the Chief of the Defence Force and the Secretary of Defence. The rank associated with the position is Air Marshal . The role encompasses "the delivery of aerospace capability, enhancing the Air...
(CAF), which, of course, are never held by a lieutenant general. There are also a number of other three-star-equivalent positions in the Australian Defence Organisation
Australian Defence Organisation
The Australian Defence Organisation is an Australian Government organisation which consists of the Australian Defence Force and the civilian Department of Defence personnel supporting the ADF...
, but these are all held by civilians.
List
The following people have held the rank of lieutenant general in the Australian Army:See also
- Australian Defence Force ranks and insigniaAustralian Defence Force ranks and insigniaThis article lists the ranks of officers and enlisted personnel in the Australian Defence Force 's three service branches. The ADF comprises the:*Royal Australian Navy *Australian Army*Royal Australian Air Force...
- Australian Army officer rank insigniaAustralian Army officer rank insigniaAustralian Army officers receive a commission that is personally signed by the Governor-General of Australia, acting for the Monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II, of Australia...
- List of Australian generals and brigadiers