Sir Harry Chauvel - A Reflection

GENERAL SIR HARRY CHAUVEL GCMG, KCB

(16th April 1865–14th March 1945)

Few, if any, Australians have grown up in rural New South Wales, left home for boarding school and then served with distinction in the Boer War, World War I and World War II. And in addition, became Australia’s first General and made a major contribution to his church, family and the welfare of veterans.

General Sir Harry Chauvel is one such man. The diversity of his life and his significant contribution to military campaigns and preparedness for war, the welfare of veterans, the life of his church and the love of his family, make him a truly Renaissance Man.

Born on the family property at Tabulam, in the Northern Rivers District of NSW, one can imagine that Harry had a life familiar to many country children of any generation. Caring parents, horses to ride, clear air and blue skies and the social life, even for a child, that revolves around close-knit rural communities. And, also familiar to many country children then and now, time away from family at boarding school, in Harry’s case Sydney Grammar School and Toowoomba Grammar.

After school and returning to the property, Chauvel was commissioned in the Upper Clarence Light Horse, a unit raised by his grazier father, and then transferred to the Queensland Mounted Infantry in 1890.

Chauvel served with distinction in the South African War as a Major in the 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, taking part in the relief of Kimberley, the advance to Pretoria and the Battle of Diamond Hill. At the crossing of the Vet River, he personally captured a troublesome machine-gun. For a time, he led a mixed force, known as Chauvel’s Mounted Infantry, in operations in Eastern Transvaal. Returning to Australia in 1901 he took command of the 7th Australian Commonwealth Horse as Lieutenant-Colonel, but the war ended before he reached Durban. For his services in South Africa, Chauvel was appointed a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) and mentioned in dispatches.

Between the Boer War and World War I, Chauvel filled several staff appointments in Australia, had a strong professional focus on the training of officers, and became Adjutant General and Second Member of the Military Board. On 16 June 1906, at All Saints Anglican Church, Brisbane, he had married Sibyl Campbell Keith Jopp; they had two sons and two daughters.

In 1914, he was posted to London as the Australian Representative on the Imperial General Staff. In December of that year, he was posted to Egypt, the only senior regular officer to be given a command in the infant Australian Imperial Force, in this case command of the 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade.

With the assault on Gallipoli on 25th April 1915, there was an expectation that Light Horse units and formations would provide individual soldiers as reinforcements to infantry units. Chauvel and his fellow Light Horse commanders resisted this potential break-up of men who had trained and lived together, insisting that they deploy as formed units. Chauvel and his colleagues won the day and Light Horse Regiments deployed as dismounted infantry, integral elements of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) in the battles of the Gallipoli Campaign. In November 1915, Chauvel took command of the 1st Australian Division, commanding during the evacuation from Gallipoli and its reconstitution in Egypt.

From March 1916, Chauvel commanded a succession of mounted formations in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign – the ANZAC Mounted Division, the Desert Column and the Desert Mounted Corps. Notable for his time in command of these formations from 1916 until the end of the War in 1918, and his promotion to Major General and then Lieutenant General, was his command of a succession of successful battles against the Turkish Army. Romani, Magdhaba (after which he was knighted), 1st Gaza, Beersheba (regarded by military historians and servicemen as the last great cavalry charge) and Sharon. He is also credited as the first senior commander to enter Damascus after its capture, an honour disputed at the time by TE Lawrence.

The battles that Chauvel commanded in the Sinai and Palestine hold an honoured place in the history of the Australian Army and, more particularly those remaining Light Horse Regiments and the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. His key role in command is well summed up by Henry Gullett, Official Australian War Historian:

“Chauvel was no hard-riding gambler against odds. Like Alva, he could on occasion ignore the ardent enthusiasm of his officers and bide his time. Always cool and looking far enough ahead to see the importance of any particular fight in its proper relation to the war as a whole, he was brave enough to break off an engagement if it promised victory only at what he considered an excessive cost to his men and horses. He fought to win, but not at any price. He sought victory on his own terms. He always retained, even in heated moments of battle, when leaders are often careless of life, a very rare concern for the lives of his men and his horses.”

General Chauvel’s appointment in the 1st AIF ended on 9th December 1919 and the next day he was appointed Inspector General of the Australian Army. He held this position until 1930 during the difficult years of a down-sized Army and the rigours of the Great Depression. His annual reports highlighted the parlours state of Australia’s defence, comments largely ignored until it was almost too late with the outbreak of World War II.

His substantive promotion to Lieutenant General was confirmed in February 1920. In 1923 Chauvel became Chief of the General Staff, retaining his role as Inspector General. In November 1929 he became the first Australian to be promoted to the rank of General, fitting recognition to a man who had served Australia in war and peace. He is credited by many as holding a small, diminishing Army together through his focus on the training of officers and his work and influence.

In April 1930, General Sir Harry Chauvel GCMG KCB retired from the Regular Army. But the only official recognition of his service was a Ministerial direction for the provision of an Army horse for his daily ride in the Melbourne Domain, a privilege he valued immensely. But service continued as an Anglican lay preacher, leader of numerous ANZAC Day Marches in Melbourne, a founder of the Returned Services League, a senior patron of Melbourne Legacy.

In June 1940, Chauvel returned to uniform as Chief of the Volunteer Defence Corps, a position he held until his death on 4th March 1945.

Those who knew Chauvel, as a father, grandfather, commander and peer, described him as a soldier who was always well forward in a battle, who lived simply; loyal; always concerned for the welfare of his soldiers; courage and calmness matched by humanity; a man of considerable tact and diplomacy.

A Renaissance Man and an outstanding leader.