Ronald Hopkins
Encyclopedia
Major General
Ronald Nicholas Lamond Hopkins CBE (24 May 1897 – 24 November 1990), was a senior officer
in the Australian Army
. He began his military career in 1915 when he entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon
as a staff cadet and graduated as a lieutenant
in the Permanent Forces in late 1917. Following this, he was deployed overseas and subsequently served in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign
during the First World War. During the inter war years, Hopkins undertook a variety of regimental and staff positions in Australia, India and the United Kingdom. During the Second World War, he was promoted several times, briefly commanding the 7th Division Cavalry Regiment
and was deployed to the Middle East
before returning to Australia to undertook further staff positions. In this role he played a key role in organising the Australian Armoured Corps before later serving as a liaison officer to American forces taking part in the New Guinea campaign
. Following the war, Hopkins commanded the 34th Brigade in Japan
, before finishing his career as Commandant of the Royal Military College, Duntroon. In retirement he wrote a comprehensive history of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps before he died in 1990 at the age of 93.
, Victoria
on 24 May 1897. His father, William Hopkins, was a surgeon who was later killed on active service during the Boer War
in 1900. His mother was Rose Margaret Burton (née Lamond). After attending the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School, Hopkins was appointed to the Royal Military College, Duntroon
as a staff cadet in 1915 where he undertook training to become an officer in the Australian Army. Upon graduation in late 1917 he was commissioned as a lieutenant
and volunteered for overseas service with the Australian Imperial Force
(AIF), being assigned to the cavalry
. In early 1918 he was posted to the 6th Light Horse Regiment and served with them in Palestine
during the First World War. He was also seconded to the headquarters of the 2nd and 3rd Light Horse Brigades, and the Anzac Mounted Division, to serve in a staff role. Following the end of hositilities, Hopkins helped plan the return of Australian personnel from the Middle East.
Throughout the interwar years, Hopkins undertook a number of regimental and staff appointments in the Permanent Forces, including a stint as an instructor at Duntroon, before attending the Staff College at Quetta
in India
in 1927. Prior to his departure, in December 1926, having been promoted to captain earlier in the year, he married Nora Frances Reissmann, with whom he would subsequently have a son. He returned from India in 1928 and undertook staff work at brigade level and then at Army Headquarters in Melbourne, Victoria. Promotion to major
came in 1936. The following year, in early 1937, he was sent to the United Kingdom
on a fact finding mission to learn about developments in tanks and armoured warfare. He returned to Australia in April 1939 and was instrumental in organising the Australian Armoured Corps during the Second World War.
and given command of the 7th Division Cavalry Regiment
. After another promotion, this time to colonel
, he served briefly in the Middle East
in early 1941 before being transferred back to Australia to undertake staff work attached to the 1st Armoured Division. He was later promoted to brigadier
and attached to the staff of New Guinea Force
and then served as a liaison officer to the American forces participating in the New Guinea campaign
throughout 1943 and 1944.
For his services in these roles, in late 1943 Hopkins was invested as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for "distinguished service in the SW Pacific". The United States government also bestowed a Legion of Merit
upon him.
In September 1944, Hopkins was appointed the position as commander of the Australian Staff School. Located at Cabarlah, Queensland
, the school subsequently became the Australian Staff College. Hopkins remained in this role until April 1946.
in Japan. Between 1951 and 1954 he served as Commandant of the Royal Military College, Duntroon. Hopkins retired from the army on 25 May 1954, with the rank of major general
.
In his retirement, Hopkins returned to Adelaide, South Australia where he served an honorary role at the University of Adelaide
and helped to organise the Adelaide Festival of the Arts, serving as its chief executive officer in 1960. He also wrote the Royal Australian Armoured Corps' history, titled Australian Armour: A History of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps 1927–1972, which was published in 1978. The work received considerable praise as an in-depth study of the development of armour within the Australian Army and for its analysis of the way in which the Army utilised the Corps during the fighting in the Second World War and in Vietnam
. Hopkins subsequently died on 24 November 1990, leaving behind his wife of almost 64 years, Nora, and one son.
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...
Ronald Nicholas Lamond Hopkins CBE (24 May 1897 – 24 November 1990), was a senior officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in 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...
. He began his military career in 1915 when he entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon
Royal Military College, Duntroon
The Royal Military College, Duntroon is the Australian Army's officer training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory, in 1911 and is situated on picturesque grounds at the foot of Mount Pleasant near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence...
as a staff cadet and graduated as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the Permanent Forces in late 1917. Following this, he was deployed overseas and subsequently served in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign
Sinai and Palestine Campaign
The Sinai and Palestine Campaigns took place in the Middle Eastern Theatre of World War I. A series of battles were fought between British Empire, German Empire and Ottoman Empire forces from 26 January 1915 to 31 October 1918, when the Armistice of Mudros was signed between the Ottoman Empire and...
during the First World War. During the inter war years, Hopkins undertook a variety of regimental and staff positions in Australia, India and the United Kingdom. During the Second World War, he was promoted several times, briefly commanding the 7th Division Cavalry Regiment
2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia)
The 2/7th Cavalry Regiment was one of three commando regiments raised by the Australian Army for service during World War II. It was originally raised as the 7th Division Cavalry Regiment in 1940 and in this guise it served in North Africa and the Middle East at the beginning of the war, before it...
and was deployed to the Middle East
Middle East Theatre of World War II
The Middle East Theatre of World War II is defined largely by reference to the British Middle East Command, which controlled Allied forces in both Southwest Asia and eastern North Africa...
before returning to Australia to undertook further staff positions. In this role he played a key role in organising the Australian Armoured Corps before later serving as a liaison officer to American forces taking part in the New Guinea campaign
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II.Before the war, the island of New Guinea was split between:...
. Following the war, Hopkins commanded the 34th Brigade in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, before finishing his career as Commandant of the Royal Military College, Duntroon. In retirement he wrote a comprehensive history of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps before he died in 1990 at the age of 93.
Early life and career
Hopkins was born in StawellStawell, Victoria
Stawell , is a town in the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia. The town is located in Shire of Northern Grampians Local Government Area, west-north-west of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Stawell had a population of 6,035....
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
on 24 May 1897. His father, William Hopkins, was a surgeon who was later killed on active service during the Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
in 1900. His mother was Rose Margaret Burton (née Lamond). After attending the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School, Hopkins was appointed to the Royal Military College, Duntroon
Royal Military College, Duntroon
The Royal Military College, Duntroon is the Australian Army's officer training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory, in 1911 and is situated on picturesque grounds at the foot of Mount Pleasant near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence...
as a staff cadet in 1915 where he undertook training to become an officer in the Australian Army. Upon graduation in late 1917 he was commissioned as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
and volunteered for overseas service with 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...
(AIF), being assigned to the cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
. In early 1918 he was posted to the 6th Light Horse Regiment and served with them in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
during the First World War. He was also seconded to the headquarters of the 2nd and 3rd Light Horse Brigades, and the Anzac Mounted Division, to serve in a staff role. Following the end of hositilities, Hopkins helped plan the return of Australian personnel from the Middle East.
Throughout the interwar years, Hopkins undertook a number of regimental and staff appointments in the Permanent Forces, including a stint as an instructor at Duntroon, before attending the Staff College at Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1927. Prior to his departure, in December 1926, having been promoted to captain earlier in the year, he married Nora Frances Reissmann, with whom he would subsequently have a son. He returned from India in 1928 and undertook staff work at brigade level and then at Army Headquarters in Melbourne, Victoria. Promotion to major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
came in 1936. The following year, in early 1937, he was sent to the United Kingdom
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...
on a fact finding mission to learn about developments in tanks and armoured warfare. He returned to Australia in April 1939 and was instrumental in organising the Australian Armoured Corps during the Second World War.
Second World War
In late 1939 he was promoted to lieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
and given command of the 7th Division Cavalry Regiment
2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia)
The 2/7th Cavalry Regiment was one of three commando regiments raised by the Australian Army for service during World War II. It was originally raised as the 7th Division Cavalry Regiment in 1940 and in this guise it served in North Africa and the Middle East at the beginning of the war, before it...
. After another promotion, this time to colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, he served briefly in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
in early 1941 before being transferred back to Australia to undertake staff work attached to the 1st Armoured Division. He was later promoted to 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....
and attached to the staff of New Guinea Force
New Guinea Force
New Guinea Force was a military command unit for Australian, territory of Papua and territory of New Guinea troops serving in the New Guinea campaign during World War II. Formed in April 1942 it was responsible for planning and directing all operations within the territory up until October 1944,...
and then served as a liaison officer to the American forces participating in the New Guinea campaign
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II.Before the war, the island of New Guinea was split between:...
throughout 1943 and 1944.
For his services in these roles, in late 1943 Hopkins was invested as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for "distinguished service in the SW Pacific". The United States government also bestowed a Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
upon him.
In September 1944, Hopkins was appointed the position as commander of the Australian Staff School. Located at Cabarlah, Queensland
Cabarlah, Queensland
Cabarlah is a locality approximately 15 km north of the Toowoomba city centre. It is situated on the Great Divide with views to the east of the Lockyer Valley through to Brisbane and to the west across the Darling Downs...
, the school subsequently became the Australian Staff College. Hopkins remained in this role until April 1946.
Later life
Following the war, Hopkins commanded the 34th Brigade as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation ForceBritish Commonwealth Occupation Force
The British Commonwealth Occupation Force , was the name of the joint Australian, Canadian, British, Indian and New Zealand military forces in occupied Japan, from 21 February 1946 until the end of occupation in 1952...
in Japan. Between 1951 and 1954 he served as Commandant of the Royal Military College, Duntroon. Hopkins retired from the army on 25 May 1954, with the rank of major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
.
In his retirement, Hopkins returned to Adelaide, South Australia where he served an honorary role at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
and helped to organise the Adelaide Festival of the Arts, serving as its chief executive officer in 1960. He also wrote the Royal Australian Armoured Corps' history, titled Australian Armour: A History of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps 1927–1972, which was published in 1978. The work received considerable praise as an in-depth study of the development of armour within the Australian Army and for its analysis of the way in which the Army utilised the Corps during the fighting in the Second World War and in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Hopkins subsequently died on 24 November 1990, leaving behind his wife of almost 64 years, Nora, and one son.