Cecil Foott
Cecil Henry Foott | |
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First World War
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Awards | Mentioned in Despatches (7) Officer of the Order of the White Eagle (Serbia) |
Relations | Mary Hannay Foott (mother) |
Early life and career
Cecil Henry Foott was born on 16 January 1876 at
In 1895, Foott was commissioned into the Queensland Militia Garrison Artillery as a second lieutenant. The following September he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Permanent Military Forces, in the Queensland Artillery. In July 1901 he was promoted to captain in the Royal Australian Artillery.
In 1902 Foott transferred to the
First World War
Being one of only six staff college graduates in the Army, this made Foott in demand for staff duties and on the outbreak of the First World War Major General William Bridges immediately requested him for the 1st Division staff as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General. This part of the division staff was concerned with personnel administration. Foott joined the staff in Egypt in January 1915.
Foott was determined that the men should always be supplied properly, and made a point of letting the officers of the Lines of Communication, living palatially on board the Aragon, know exactly what he thought of them whenever they placed obstacles in his way. He remained in the post for two years. In France he found the logistics far more complex, but much better organised, and increasingly free of shortages, he was able to deliver there a quality of service that he had never been able to achieve at Gallipoli.
On 23 July 1917 Foott became assistant adjutant and quartermaster general of the AIF Depots in the United Kingdom, with the temporary rank of
Post war
After the war ended, Foott became deputy director of Repatriation, working under Lieutenant General Sir John Monash. Foott himself returned to Australia in November 1919.
Foott became a colonel and honorary brigadier general in the Staff Corps. He served at first in the Quartermaster General's Branch at Army Headquarters. In 1926 he became Commandant of the 1st Military District in Queensland. Then in 1930 he became Commandant of the 3rd Military District and commander of the 4th Division in Victoria.
In July 1931, Foott was transferred to the Reserve of Officers. He was placed on the Retired List in February 1936 as an honorary brigadier general.
He died on 27 June 1942 and was buried at Berwick Cemetery.
References
- ^ "Volunteer Defence Corps: General Foott Visiting Wagga To-Day". Daily Advertiser. 20 May 1941. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
- ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 14 June 2018.