General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry.
In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...
Sir John Monash (; 27 June 1865 – 8 October 1931) was an Australian
civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering – the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructure while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing i ...
and military commander of the
First World War
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. He commanded the
13th Infantry Brigade before the war and then, shortly after its outbreak, became commander of the
4th Brigade in Egypt, with which he took part in the
Gallipoli campaign.
In July 1916, he took charge of the newly raised
3rd Division in north-western France and, in May 1918, became commander of the
Australian Corps, at that time the largest corps on the
Western Front. According to historian
A. J. P. Taylor, he was "the only general of creative originality produced by the First World War".
Early life
Monash was born in 58 Dudley Street,
West Melbourne, Victoria
West Melbourne is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, north-west of the Melbourne central business district, located within the City of Melbourne Local government areas of Victoria, local government area. West Melbourne reco ...
, to
Jewish
Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
parents, both from
Krotoschin in the
Prussia
Prussia (; ; Old Prussian: ''Prūsija'') was a Germans, German state centred on the North European Plain that originated from the 1525 secularization of the Prussia (region), Prussian part of the State of the Teutonic Order. For centuries, ...
n province of
Posen (now
Krotoszyn, Poland). His birth certificate records his date of birth as 23 June 1865, but that is probably a mistake, because he was almost certainly born on 27 June. He was the first child of Louis Monash and his wife Bertha, née Manasse, who had arrived in Melbourne on the ''Empire of Peace'' on 5 June 1864.
The family name was originally spelt ''Monasch'' and was pronounced with the emphasis on the second syllable.
The young family soon relocated from Dudley Street to larger premises on nearby Victoria Parade, before moving to a third rental property in Church Street,
Richmond. In 1873, Bertha received a large inheritance from her mother, with which she purchased two houses, a large one in Yarra Street,
Hawthorn, and a smaller one in Clifton Street, Richmond. The family resided in the smaller one and rented-out the larger one. The young John was sent to St Stephen's School on Docker's Hill in Richmond, and was remembered as a bright and alert schoolboy, with a special interest in English, some skill in drawing, a keen sense of fun, and no interest whatsoever in organised sport. At home his mother taught him piano, and encouraged him to read to her in English, French and German. The family spoke German as their
native language
A first language (L1), native language, native tongue, or mother tongue is the first language a person has been exposed to from birth or within the critical period hypothesis, critical period. In some countries, the term ''native language'' ...
. As might be expected from a man brought up by cultivated German parents who had arrived in Australia barely two years before John's birth, Monash spoke, read, and wrote German fluently. However, from 1914 until his death, he had good reason not to attract attention to his German background.
In 1874, the family moved to the small town of
Jerilderie, in the
Riverina
The Riverina ()
is an agricultural list of regions in Australia, region of south-western New South Wales, Australia. The Riverina is distinguished from other Australian regions by the combination of flat plains, a climate with significant seaso ...
region of
New South Wales
New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
, where his father ran a store. Monash later claimed to have met the
bushranger
Bushrangers were armed robbers and outlaws who resided in The bush#Australia, the Australian bush between the 1780s and the early 20th century. The original use of the term dates back to the early years of the British colonisation of Australia ...
Ned Kelly
Edward Kelly (December 185411 November 1880) was an Australian bushranger, outlaw, gang leader, bank robber and convicted police-murderer. One of the last bushrangers, he is known for wearing armour of the Kelly gang, a suit of bulletproof ...
during the Kelly gang's raid there in 1879. Monash attended the state school where his intelligence was recognised. The family was advised to move back to Melbourne to let John reach his full potential, which they did in 1877. Although his parents had largely abandoned religious practice, Monash celebrated his
Bar Mitzvah
A ''bar mitzvah'' () or ''bat mitzvah'' () is a coming of age ritual in Judaism. According to Halakha, Jewish law, before children reach a certain age, the parents are responsible for their child's actions. Once Jewish children reach that age ...
at the
East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation and sang in its choir. He was educated under
Alexander Morrison at
Scotch College, Melbourne
Scotch College is a private, Presbyterian day and boarding school for boys, located in Hawthorn, an inner-eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
The college was established in 1851 as The Melbourne Academy in a house in Spri ...
, where he passed the matriculation examination when only 14 years of age.
At age 16, he was
dux of the school.
He graduated from the
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne (colloquially known as Melbourne University) is a public university, public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in the state ...
: a Master of Engineering in 1893; a
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...
and
Bachelor of Laws
A Bachelor of Laws (; LLB) is an undergraduate law degree offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree and serves as the first professional qualification for legal practitioners. This degree requires the study of core legal subje ...
in 1895,
and a
Doctor of Engineering
The Doctor of Engineering (DEng or EngD) or Doctor of Engineering Sciences is a research doctorate in engineering and applied science. An EngD is a terminal degree similar to a PhD in engineering but applicable more in industry rather than in ac ...
in 1921.
On 8 April 1891, Monash married Hannah Victoria Moss (1871–1920), and their only child, Bertha, was born in 1893. Monash had previously engaged in an affair with Annie Gabriel, the wife of one of his colleagues, which ended as an active matter after his conscious choice of 'Vic' for marriage (though communication continued many years afterwards). He worked as a
civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering – the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructure while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing i ...
, and played a major role in introducing
reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete, also called ferroconcrete or ferro-concrete, is a composite material in which concrete's relatively low tensile strength and ductility are compensated for by the inclusion of reinforcement having higher tensile strength or ...
to Australian engineering practice. He initially worked for private contractors on bridge and railway construction, and as their advocate in contract arbitrations. Following a period with the
Melbourne Harbor Trust, in 1894 he entered into partnership with
J. T. N. Anderson as consultants and contractors. When the partnership was dissolved in 1905 he joined with the builder
David Mitchell and industrial chemist John Gibson to form the Reinforced Concrete & Monier Pipe Construction Co, and in 1906 with them and businessmen from
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...
, to form the S. A. Reinforced Concrete Co. He took a leading part in his profession and became president of the
Victorian Institute of Engineers and a member of the
Institution of Civil Engineers
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) is an independent professional association for civil engineers and a Charitable organization, charitable body in the United Kingdom. Based in London, ICE has over 92,000 members, of whom three-quarters ar ...
, London.
Monash joined the university company of the
militia
A militia ( ) is a military or paramilitary force that comprises civilian members, as opposed to a professional standing army of regular, full-time military personnel. Militias may be raised in times of need to support regular troops or se ...
in 1884, and he became a lieutenant in the North Melbourne battery on 5 April 1887. He was promoted to captain in 1895 and in April 1897 was promoted to major and given command of the battery. On 7 March 1908, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in the intelligence corps. He was given command of the
13th Infantry Brigade in 1912,
and was promoted colonel on 1 July 1913.
First World War
Gallipoli

When the First World War broke out in August 1914, Monash became a full-time army officer, accepting an appointment as the chief censor in Australia. Monash did not enjoy the job, and was keen for a field command. In September, after the
Australian Imperial Force was formed, he was appointed as the commander of the
4th Infantry Brigade, which consisted of four
battalion
A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of up to one thousand soldiers. A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subdivided into several Company (military unit), companies, each typically commanded by a Major (rank), ...
s: the
13th,
14th,
15th and
16th. His appointment was met with some protest within the military, in part due to his German and Jewish ancestry, but Monash was supported by numerous high-ranking officers, including
James Legge
James Legge (; 20 December 181529 November 1897) was a Scottish linguist, missionary, sinologist, and translator
who was best known as an early translator of Classical Chinese texts into English. Legge served as a representative of the Lond ...
,
James McCay and
Ian Hamilton, and his appointment stood.
When the first contingent of Australian troops, the
1st Division, sailed in October, the 4th Brigade remained behind. Training was undertaken at
Broadmeadows, Victoria
Broadmeadows is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, north of Melbourne's Melbourne central business district, Central Business District and the council seat of the City of Hume Local government areas of Victoria ...
, before embarking in December 1914. After arriving in
Egypt
Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...
in January 1915, Monash's brigade established itself at
Heliopolis, where it was assigned to the
New Zealand and Australian Division
The New Zealand and Australian Division was a composite army Division (military), division raised for service in the First World War under the command of Major General Alexander Godley. Consisting of several Mounted infantry, mounted and standard ...
under
Major General Alexander Godley
General (United Kingdom), General Sir Alexander John Godley, (4 February 1867 – 6 March 1957) was a senior British Army officer. He is best known for his role as commander of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and II Anzac Corps during the ...
. After a period of training, in April, the brigade took part in the
Gallipoli campaign against the
Turks. Assigned the role of divisional reserve, Monash came ashore early on 26 April.
The brigade initially defended the line between Pope's Hill and
Courtney's Post, and the valley behind this line became known as "Monash Valley". There he made a name for himself with his independent decision-making and his organisational ability. He was promoted to
brigadier general in July, although the news was marred by spiteful rumours that were passed in Cairo, Melbourne and London about him being a "German spy".
His promotion was gazetted in September, with effect from 15 September 1914.
During the
August offensive, launched by the Allies to break the deadlock on the peninsula, Monash's brigade was to conduct a "left hook" to capture of Hill 971, the highest point on the Sari Bair range. On the evening of 6/7 August, the brigade launched its attack, but poor maps, heavy resistance and the mountainous terrain defeated them. Elsewhere, the offensive also stalled, resulting in disaster for the last co-ordinated effort to defeat the Turkish forces on the Gallipoli Peninsula. By mid-August, Monash's brigade was down to just 1,400 men out of the 3,350 at the beginning of the campaign. On 21 August, Monash led them in an attack on
Hill 60, before it was withdrawn from the peninsula for rest. While the brigade recuperated on
Lemnos
Lemnos ( ) or Limnos ( ) is a Greek island in the northern Aegean Sea. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Lemnos (regional unit), Lemnos regional unit, which is part of the North Aegean modern regions of Greece ...
, Monash took leave in Egypt, where he learned of his appointment as a
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Companion may refer to:
Relationships Currently
* Any of several interpersonal relationships such as friend or acquaintance
* A domestic partner, akin to a spouse
* Sober companion, an addiction treatment coach
* Companion (caregiving), a caregi ...
.
In November, the 4th Brigade returned to Gallipoli, occupying a "quiet sector" around Bauchop's Hill. Monash used his engineering knowledge to improve his brigade's position to withstand the winter, and he worked to improve the conditions that his troops would have to endure but, in mid-December, the order to evacuate the peninsula came.
Monash's time on Gallipoli and his departure from it were not, however, without controversy for reasons unrelated to the fighting. While on Gallipoli he "wrote very freely to his wife revealing much current information" and "opened himself to the criticism that he would not keep the rules by which his juniors had strictly to adhere." Later, in a long diary-letter sent home by Monash and known by him to be illegal in Army terms, Monash implied that he was "one of the very last off Gallipoli". However, "he had left for the beach nearly five hours before the last. It was a clumsy deception as so many people knew the facts."
Following the withdrawal from Gallipoli, Monash returned to Egypt, where the AIF underwent a period of reorganisation and expansion. That process resulted in the 4th Brigade being split, providing a
cadre of experienced personnel to form the
12th Brigade. It was also reassigned to the
4th Division. After a period of training, Monash's brigade undertook defensive duties along the
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal (; , ') is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, Indo-Mediterranean, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez and dividing Africa and Asia (and by extension, the Sinai Peninsula from the rest ...
. On 25 April 1916, the first anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli, while at Tel-el-Kebir, Monash and his men solemnly observed
Anzac Day
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia, New Zealand and Tonga that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and ...
. Monash distributed red ribbons to soldiers present at the first landing and blue ribbons to those who came later.
Western Front
In June 1916, Monash and his command were transferred to the
Western Front, being sent to the front around
Armentières
Armentières (; , ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Nord (French department), Nord department in the Hauts-de-France region in northern France. It is part of the Métropole Européenne de Lille.
The motto of the town is ''Pauvre mais fi� ...
. On 10 July, Monash was promoted to temporary
major general and placed in command of the
Australian 3rd Division.
He trained the division in England with attention to detail, and after the division was sent to the Western Front in November 1916, including
Messines,
Broodseinde, and the
First Battle of Passchendaele,
with some successes, but incurring the usual heavy casualties. The British High Command was impressed by Monash and, according to biographer Geoffery Serle, while dining with
Field Marshal
Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army (in countries without the rank of Generalissimo), and as such, few persons a ...
Sir Douglas Haig, Monash was informed that Haig "wanted him as a corps commander".
Monash's division spent the winter of 1917–1918 around
Ploegsteert. Early the following year, after the Germans launched their
Spring Offensive, the 3rd Division was deployed to undertake defensive operations around
Amiens
Amiens (English: or ; ; , or ) is a city and Communes of France, commune in northern France, located north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme (department), Somme Departments of France, department in the region ...
. Throughout April and May, the division undertook several
peaceful penetration operations.
Monash later described the recapture of the town of
Villers-Bretonneux on 25 April 1918, after the Germans had overrun the 8th British Division under General
William Heneker, as the turning-point of the war. Sir
Thomas William Glasgow's 13th Brigade, and Harold Elliott's 15th Brigade, were both heavily involved in the operation.
Commander of the Australian Corps

On 1 June 1918, the promotion of Monash to
lieutenant general
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) 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 norma ...
and commander of the
Australian Corps, at the time the largest individual corps on the Western Front, was confirmed.
Monash's promotion was not without contention. Among those who considered and advocated for Major General
Brudenell White to have command of the Australian Corps were Australia's Official War Correspondent and later Official Historian, Charles Bean, and journalist Keith Murdoch, although historian Justin Chadwick has written that Bean was one of many of that view.
Bean had reservations about Monash's "ideals".
[Bean diary, entry 18 June 1918, AWM38, 3DRL 606/115/1, p. 56.] and was said to have a general prejudice against Monash's Prussian Jewish background. According to Kelly, Bean's core motivation at that time was that Brudenell White's appointment was in the best interest of the AIF, and that it would be a big mistake for White to leave the Australian Corps and go with
Birdwood to the British Fifth Army.
Historian Burness noted that Bean did recognise Monash's ability and was not concerned that he should be promoted, but he considered Brudenell White was better fitted to command the fighting corps.
In that climate
Hughes arrived at the front, before the
Battle of Hamel, prepared to replace Monash but, after consulting with senior officers, and having seen the superb power of planning and execution displayed by Monash, he changed his mind.
In his Official History,
Charles Bean noted that Monash was more effective the higher he rose within the Army. His depth of knowledge not only of military matters, but also of engineering and business, ensured that his operational plans were the product of meticulous preparation and thorough and rigorous scrutiny.
Bean later wrote of his own "high intentioned but ill-judged intervention" and that "those who took action (relating to Monash's appointment) did so as I afterwards realised, without adequate appreciation of Monash, who, though his reputation as a front line soldier had been poor, was never the less a much greater man than most of us then thought."
At the Battle of Hamel on 4 July 1918, Monash, with the support of the British 4th Army commander
Sir Henry Rawlinson, commanded the 4th Australian Division, supported by the British 5th Tank Brigade, along with a detachment of American troops, to win a small but operationally significant victory for the
Allies.
On 8 August 1918, the
Battle of Amiens was launched. Allied troops under the command of Haig, predominantly Rawlinson's British 4th Army (consisting of the Australian Corps under Monash, Canadian Corps under
Sir Arthur Currie, British III Corps under Butler and British Cavalry Corps under Kavanagh), attacked the Germans. The Australian Corps sprearheaded the allied attack. Monash gave them, as a key objective in the first phase, the capture of enemy artillery, in order to minimise the potential harm to the attacking forces.
The battle was a strong, significant victory for the Allies, the first decisive win for the British Army of the war, causing the Germans to recognise that for them the War was lost. The defeated German leader, General
Erich Ludendorff
Erich Friedrich Wilhelm Ludendorff (; 9 April 1865 – 20 December 1937) was a German general and politician. He achieved fame during World War I (1914–1918) for his central role in the German victories at Battle of Liège, Liège and Battle ...
, described it in the following words: "August 8th was the black day of the German Army in the history of the war". Those operations were just a start of a broad Allied offensive across the Western Front. On 12 August 1918, at
Château de Bertangles, Monash was knighted by
King George V
George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936.
George was born during the reign of his pa ...
as a Knight Commander of the
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by King George I of Great Britain, George I on 18 May 1725. Recipients of the Order are usually senior British Armed Forces, military officers or senior Civil Service ...
.

After that, the Australians achieved under Monash a series of victories against the Germans at
Chuignes,
Mont St Quentin,
Peronne and
Hargicourt. Of the battle of Mt St Quentin and the subsequent taking of the town of Peronne, Charles Bean wrote in the Official History: "the dash, intelligence, and persistence of the troops dealt a stunning blow to five German divisions, drove the enemy from one of its key positions in France, and took 2,600 prisoners at a cost of slightly over 3,000 casualties."
Monash had 208,000 men under his command, including 50,000 inexperienced Americans. He planned the attack on the German defences at the
Battle of the Hindenburg Line between 16 September and 5 October 1918. The Allies had eventually breached the
Hindenburg Line
The Hindenburg Line (, Siegfried Position) was a German Defense line, defensive position built during the winter of 1916–1917 on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front in France during the First World War. The line ran from Arras to ...
by 5 October, and the war was essentially over. On 5 October,
Prinz Max von Baden, on behalf of the German Government, asked for an immediate
armistice
An armistice is a formal agreement of warring parties to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, as it may constitute only a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace. It is derived from t ...
.
By the end of the war, Monash had acquired an outstanding reputation for intellect, personal magnetism, management and ingenuity. He also won the respect and loyalty of his troops. His motto was "Feed your troops on victory". Monash was regarded with great respect by the British. A British captain on the staff of
William Heneker's 8th Division described Monash as "a great bullock of a man... though his manners were pleasant and his behaviour far from rough, I have seen few men who gave me such a sensation of force... a fit leader for the wild men he commanded". Field Marshal
Bernard Montgomery
Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (; 17 November 1887 – 24 March 1976), nicknamed "Monty", was a senior British Army officer who served in the First World War, the Irish War of Independence and the ...
later wrote: "I would name Sir John Monash as the best general on the western front in Europe".
For his services during the War, and in addition to his creation as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, Monash was appointed as a Knight Grand Cross of the
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince of Wales (the future King George IV), while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George III ...
on 1 January 1919. He also received numerous foreign honours – the French appointed him a Grand Officer of the and awarded him the
Croix de Guerre
The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...
,
the Belgians appointed him a Grand Officer of the
Order of the Crown (''Grand-Officier Ordre de la Couronne'') and awarded him the
Croix de Guerre
The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...
, and the United States awarded him the
Distinguished Service Medal. The Australian Government honoured Monash with promotion to the full rank of general explicitly "in recognition of his long and distinguished service with the Australian military forces" on 11 November 1929.
After the war

In October 1918, towards the end of the war, Australian War Historian, Charles Bean, had urged Prime Minister William Hughes to have a plan of repatriation drawn up by the AIF and to put Monash in charge of it. Soon after the cessation of hostilities in November 1918, Hughes requested that Monash return to London to take up the appointment as Director-General of Repatriation and Demobilisation, heading a newly created department to carry out the repatriation of Australian troops from Europe.
In August 1919, while in London, Monash wrote ''The Australian Victories in France in 1918'' which was published in 1920. According to Geoffrey Searle: "It was propaganda, but not far off the truth," and "(it) laid the groundwork for the popular narrative of 'Monash- the-war-winner.'" Monash was, nevertheless, a noted advocate of
the co-ordinated use of
infantry
Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...
,
aircraft
An aircraft ( aircraft) is a vehicle that is able to flight, fly by gaining support from the Atmosphere of Earth, air. It counters the force of gravity by using either Buoyancy, static lift or the Lift (force), dynamic lift of an airfoil, or, i ...
,
artillery
Artillery consists of ranged weapons that launch Ammunition, munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and l ...
and
tank
A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engine; ...
s. As he wrote in the book:
He returned to Australia on 26 December 1919 to an enthusiastic welcome.
On 1 January 1920, he was promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant-general and returned to the reserves.
Shortly after his return, on 27 February 1920, Monash's wife, Vic, died of cervical cancer. Monash had a prolonged affair with Elizabeth "Lizette" Bentwitch, a first cousin of the prominent Zionist
Herbert Bentwich
Herbert Bentwich (originally Bentwitch; 1856 in Whitechapel – 1932 in Jerusalem) was a British Zionist leader and lawyer.
He was an authority on Copyright law of the United Kingdom, copyright law, and owner/editor of the New Law Journal, Law ...
. The two planned to marry after Vic's death but Monash's daughter put her foot down to stop the union. Later, Monash worked in prominent civilian positions, the most notable being as head of the
State Electricity Commission of Victoria
The State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SEC, SECV or ECV) is a government-owned electricity company in Victoria, Australia. Originally established to generate electricity from the state's reserves of brown coal, the SEC gradually monopoli ...
(SECV) after October 1920. From 1923 until his death eight years later, he was vice-chancellor of the
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne (colloquially known as Melbourne University) is a public university, public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in the state ...
.
Monash was a founding member of the Rotary Club of Melbourne, Australia's first
Rotary Club
Rotary International is one of the largest Service club, service organizations in the world. The self-declared mission of Rotary, as stated on its website, is to "provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, go ...
, and served as its second president (1922–1923). In 1927, he became president of the newly founded
Zionist Federation of Australia and New Zealand.

In 1923, he was called upon by the Victorian Government of
Harry Lawson to organise "special constables" to restore order during the
1923 Victorian Police strike
The 1923 Victorian police strike occurred in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. In November 1923, on the eve of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, half the police force in Melbourne police strike, went on strike over the operation of a superviso ...
. He was one of the principal organisers of the annual observance of ANZAC Day and oversaw the planning for Melbourne's monumental war memorial, the
Shrine of Remembrance
The Shrine of Remembrance (commonly referred to as The Shrine) is a war memorial in Melbourne, Victoria (state), Victoria, Australia, located in Kings Domain on St Kilda Road. It was built to honour the men and women of Victoria who served in ...
. Monash was honoured with numerous awards and decorations from universities and foreign governments.
According to his biographer Geoffrey Serle: "
the 1920s Monash was broadly accepted, not just in Victoria, as the greatest living Australian".
Monash died in Melbourne on 8 October 1931 from a heart attack, and he was given a state funeral. An estimated 300,000 mourners came to pay their respects, the nation's largest funeral crowd to that time. After a Jewish service, and a 17-gun salute, he was buried in
Brighton General Cemetery. In a final sign of humility, despite his achievements, honours and titles, he instructed that his tombstone simply bear the words "John Monash". He was survived by his daughter, Bertha (1893–1979).
Legacy
Military impact
According to British historian
A. J. P. Taylor, Monash was "the only general of creative originality produced by the First World War."
Monash's impact on Australian military thinking was significant in three areas. First, he was the first Australian to fully command Australian forces and he took, as following Australian commanders did, a relatively independent line with his British superiors. Second, he promoted the concept of the commander's duty to ensure the safety and well-being of his troops to a pre-eminent position in a philosophy of "collective individualism". And finally, he, along with staff officer
Thomas Blamey
Field marshal (Australia), Field Marshal Sir Thomas Albert Blamey (24 January 1884 – 27 May 1951) was an Australian general of the First World War, First and Second World Wars. He is the only Australian to attain the rank of field marshal.
Bl ...
, forcefully demonstrated the benefit of thorough planning and integration of all arms of the forces available, and of all of the components supporting the front line forces, including logistical, medical and recreational services. Troops later recounted that one of the most extraordinary things about the Battle of Hamel was not the use of armoured tanks, nor the tremendous success of the operation, but the fact that in the midst of battle Monash had arranged delivery of hot meals up to the front line.
Cultural impact
In recognition of his enduring influence, Monash's face is on the
$100 note, Australia's highest-value currency note.
Monash's success in part reflected the tolerance of Australian society but, to a larger degree, his success – in the harshest experience the young nation had suffered – shaped that tolerance and demonstrated to Australians that the Australian character allowed for mutually tolerant creeds, and a blend of the traditions of the "bush" and the "city". According to author
Colin MacInnes
Colin MacInnes (20 August 1914 – 22 April 1976) was an English novelist and journalist.
Early life
MacInnes was born in London, England, son of singer James Campbell McInnes and novelist Angela Mackail, who was the granddaughter of the Pr ...
, as recounted by Monash's biographer, Geoffrey Serle, Monash's "presence and prestige...made anti-Semitism...impossible in Australia".
He is also honoured in a Cantata for chorus, soloists and orchestra called ''Peace – A Cantata for John Monash'', by composer/conductor David Kram.
Eponyms
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Monash University
Monash University () is a public university, public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria (state), Victoria, Australia. Named after World War I general Sir John Monash, it was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the ...
, a public research university in
Victoria
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City of Monash
The City of Monash is a local government area in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne with an area of 81.5 square kilometres and a population of 200,077 people in 2016.
History
The City of Monash was once h ...
, a local government area in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
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Division of Monash
The Division of Monash is an Divisions of the Australian House of Representatives, Australian Electoral Division in the States and territories of Australia, state of Victoria (Australia), Victoria, which was contested for the first time at the ...
, a Federal electoral division covering part of
Gippsland, Victoria
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Monash Medical Centre
Monash Medical Centre (MMC) is a teaching hospital in Melbourne, Australia. It provides specialist tertiary-level healthcare to Melbourne's south-east.
Monash Medical Centre is part of Monash Health, the largest public health service in Victori ...
, a teaching hospital in Melbourne (and location of his bust, which was originally located in the former SECV town of
Yallourn
Yallourn, Victoria was a company town in Victoria, Australia built between 1921 and 1961 to house employees of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SECV), who operated the nearby Yallourn Power Station complex. However, expansion of th ...
)
*
Monash Freeway
The Monash Freeway is a major urban freeway in Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, linking Melbourne's CBD to its south-eastern suburbs and beyond to the Gippsland region. It carries up to 180,000 vehicles per day and is one of Australi ...
, a major urban freeway in Melbourne
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John Monash Scholarships, annually awarded to outstanding Australians for postgraduate study overseas
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John Monash Science School
The John Monash Science School is a Education in Australia#Government schools, government-funded co-educational academically Selective school, selective and specialist secondary day school, located on the campus of Monash University, in Melbour ...
, a specialist science secondary school in Clayton, Victoria
* Town of
Monash in
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...
*
Kfar Monash
Kfar Monash () is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the northern part of the Sharon plain and covering 2,700 dunams, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In it had a population of . The vast majority of its ...
("Monash village") in
Israel
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
* Suburb of
Monash in
Canberra
Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...
*
Sir John Monash Stakes is a
Group 3 Group 3 may refer to:
* Group 3 element, chemical element classification
* Group 3 (motorsport), FIA classification of cars used in auto racing and rallying
* Group 3, the third tier of races in worldwide Thoroughbred horse racing
* Group 3 image ...
horse race run each July at
Caulfield Racecourse
* Monash Country Club in
Ingleside on the
Northern Beaches
The Northern Beaches is a region within Northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, near the Pacific coast. This area extends south to the entrance of Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour), west to Middle Harbour and north to the ...
of
Sydney
Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
* Sir John Monash Drive in
Caulfield East, Victoria
* 306 Monash Army Cadet Unit
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Sir John Monash Centre, commemorative
interpretive centre at
Villers-Bretonneux, France
*General Monash Branch – Royal Canadian Legion (Branch #115)
Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...
, Manitoba, Canada
Movement for posthumous recognition
Since 2013, there has been a movement to posthumously promote Monash to the rank of
field marshal
Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army (in countries without the rank of Generalissimo), and as such, few persons a ...
. Monash would be the fourth person, and only second Australian-born person, to hold this rank. The movement was led by
Tim Fischer
Timothy Andrew Fischer (3 May 1946 – 22 August 2019) was an Australian politician and diplomat who served as leader of the National Party of Australia, National Party from 1990 to 1999. He was the tenth Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, d ...
, former
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and author of the book, ''Maestro John Monash: Australia's Greatest Citizen General'', and supported by other Australian Members of Parliament including
Josh Frydenberg and
Cathy McGowan. According to Fischer, Monash was denied promotion during his life due to discrimination, including as a result of his German-Jewish ancestry and his status as a reservist rather than professional soldier.
In October 2015, the
Jerilderie Shire Council unanimously adopted the "Jerilderie Proposition", calling on the Australian Government to promote Monash:
Following on the outstanding contribution of Sir John Monash to state and nation before, during and after World War I and reflecting the fact that Sir John Monash received no Australian awards or honours post 11 November 1918, the Prime Minister approve by government gazette publication the posthumous promotion of one step in rank of General Sir John Monash to the rank of Australian field marshal, with effect 11 November 1930, one year after Sir John Monash was eventually promoted to the rank of general.
In fact, Monash was recognised after November 1918 by the Australian Government, and was promoted to the full rank of general by the Prime Minister
James Scullin
James Henry Scullin (18 September 1876 – 28 January 1953) was an Australian politician and trade unionist who served as the ninth prime minister of Australia from 1929 to 1932. He held office as the leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), ...
in recognition of his long and distinguished service with the Australian military forces on Armistice Day 11 November 1929. On 14 April 2018, Neil James, Executive Director of the Australian Defence Association, suggested that posthumously promoting Monash was unnecessary and "would demean his record." James also wrote that the campaign to do so highlighted the problem of "emotive mythology about our military history." He pointed out that
Harry Chauvel was the first Australian to command a division and become a corps commander, being promoted to lieutenant general a year before Monash. James added: "I have yet to meet or even hear of
military historianwho supports the Monash promotion proposal". Three days after James' comments the Australian Prime Minister,
Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Bligh Turnbull (born 24 October 1954) is an Australian former politician and businessman who served as the 29th prime minister of Australia from 2015 to 2018. He held office as Liberal Party of Australia, leader of the Liberal Party an ...
, announced that Monash would not be promoted posthumously to field marshal.
Arms
See also
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1916 Pioneer Exhibition Game – charity match suggested by Monash
Reference list
Sources
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Further reading
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* Pegram, Aaron. (2019). "Monash, John", ''1914–1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War''. Freie Universität Berlin. .
External links
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Sir John Monash (1865–1931)Gravesite at Brighton General Cemetery (Vic)
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Monash, John (Sir) (1865–1931)National Library of Australia, ''Trove, People and Organisation'' record for John Monash
Monash, John (Sir) (1865–1931) Australian War Memorial, digitized records for John Monash
{{DEFAULTSORT:Monash, John
1865 births
1931 deaths
Burials at Brighton General Cemetery
Military personnel from Melbourne
Australian businesspeople
Australian civil engineers
Australian generals
Australian people of German-Jewish descent
Australian military personnel of World War I
Engineers from Melbourne
Grand Officers of the Order of the Crown (Belgium)
Grand Officers of the Legion of Honour
Jewish Australian military personnel
Australian Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
Australian Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
Melbourne Law School alumni
People educated at Scotch College, Melbourne
Australian recipients of the Croix de guerre (Belgium)
Australian recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
Vice-chancellors of the University of Melbourne
Foreign recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
People from West Melbourne, Victoria
People from the Colony of Victoria
Australian city founders
Founders of Australian schools and colleges
University and college founders