John Northcott
The Lord Wakehurst | |
---|---|
Succeeded by | Sir Eric Woodward |
Personal details | |
Born | Creswick, Victoria | 24 March 1890
Died | 4 August 1966 Wahroonga, New South Wales | (aged 76)
Resting place | Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens |
Nationality | Australian |
Spouse | Winifred Mary |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Australia |
Branch/service | Australian Army |
Years of service | 1908–1946 |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Commands | British Commonwealth Occupation Force (1946) Chief of the General Staff (1940, 1942–45) II Corps (1942) 1st Armoured Division (1941–42) |
Battles/wars | First World War
Second World War |
Awards | Knight of Justice of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem |
Northcott joined the Australian Army as a reservist in 1908, before becoming a regular officer in 1912. On duty in
During World War II, Northcott was attached to the British 7th Armoured Division in the Middle East to study armoured warfare, returning to Australia in December 1941 to organise the new 1st Armoured Division. In March 1942, he assumed command II Corps. In September 1942, he was appointed Chief of the General Staff. As General Sir Thomas Blamey's principal non-operational subordinate, he was responsible for administering and training the wartime army. After the war, he served as commander of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in the post-war Occupation of Japan. He retired from the Army in 1946 to become the Governor of New South Wales.
Early life
John Northcott was born on 24 March 1890 at
On 16 November 1912, he was granted a commission as a lieutenant in the Administrative and Instructional Staff of the regular forces, then known as the Permanent Military Forces (PMF), retaining the rank of honorary captain until he was promoted to that rank in the PMF on 1 June 1918.[2]
First World War
Northcott was assigned to staff of the 6th Military District, the military district covering the state of Tasmania, where he was serving when the First World War broke out in August 1914. His initial task was assisting with the raising of Australian Imperial Force (AIF) units in Tasmania. He joined the AIF as a lieutenant on 24 August 1914 and was appointed adjutant of the 12th Infantry Battalion, which was forming at Anglesea Barracks near Hobart. He was promoted to captain in the AIF on 18 October 1914.[2]
Northcott embarked for Egypt from Hobart with the 12th Infantry Battalion on the transport A2, HMAT Geelong on 20 October 1914.[3] This was one of the first battalions ashore in the landing at Anzac Cove on the first Anzac Day, 25 April 1915. Northcott's part in the battle was brief, for that day he was wounded in the chest by a Turkish bullet. He lay among a pile of dead bodies until the evening, when he was found to be alive.[4] He was evacuated to Alexandria and later to England.
While recuperating, he was joined by his fiancée, Winifred Mary Paton, who had travelled to England to be with him. The two were married at the parish church in Oxted on 14 September 1915.[1][4] He returned to Australia on 30 December 1915 and took no further part in the fighting, it being "a rigid rule that no regular officer once invalided to Australia could again go overseas".[5] His AIF appointment was terminated on 30 September 1916 and he was posted to the 5th Military District, the military district covering the state of Western Australia.[1]
Between the wars
Northcott was granted the honorary rank of
Northcott served on the staff of the
Second World War
Northcott was promoted to the local rank of
On 26 January 1940, Northcott became acting
Northcott joined the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) as a major general on 1 September 1941 and was given the AIF serial number VX63396. He was attached to the British 7th Armoured Division in the Middle East to study armoured warfare, returning to Australia in December 1941 to organise the new 1st Armoured Division.[2] The job was a challenging one that some of his subordinates felt that Northcott was not up to, given his lack of command experience.[9] In March 1942, Northcott found out from The Herald newspaper that he was to be promoted to command II Corps. "This is what they do to me", was his comment, "just as my first tank is coming down the road".[10] The new post came with a promotion to the temporary rank of lieutenant general on 6 April 1942, which became substantive on 12 December 1945.[2] Northcott was succeeded as commander by Major General Horace Robertson, an officer with a distinguished combat record in the desert.[9]
However, on 10 September 1942, Northcott was appointed Chief of the General Staff. Formerly, the Army had been controlled by the Military Board. This ceased to function on 30 July 1942, with its responsibilities being assumed by the Commander-in-Chief, General Blamey. The
Northcott spent much of his time from 1943 on in a long battle with the government over the number of men and women allocated to the Army. He attempted to do so without Blamey being dragged into a political fight but this proved to be impossible. In September 1944, the government reduced the Army's monthly intake of women from 925 to 500, while it only received 420 out of 4,020 men allocated to the three services. Such a meagre allocation was below what the Army needed to maintain its strength, and formations had to be disbanded. Blamey took up the matter with Prime Minister John Curtin, and managed to get a more satisfactory monthly allocation of 1,500 men per month out of 3,000 allocated to the three services.[12]
The relationship between Northcott as Chief of the General Staff and Blamey as Commander-in-Chief bore some similarities to the one between the RAAF's Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal George Jones, and Air Vice Marshal William Bostock, the commander of the RAAF forces in the field, but Blamey was senior to Northcott, both in rank and in the Army's command structure. The relationship could still have been a delicate one, but in the event it was characterised by none of the rancour and rivalry that marred the wartime administration of the RAAF.[13] In late 1943, Blamey sought to appoint Northcott as his deputy, but the government turned down his request, on the advice of General Douglas MacArthur, who did not want another officer who was answerable both to himself and the Australian Government.[14] However, when Blamey travelled to Washington, D.C. and London in April 1944, he arranged for Northcott to act as Commander-in-Chief in his absence.[15] After Wynter's death in February 1945, the post of LGA was abolished and the CGS again became responsible for administration.[16]
British Commonwealth Occupation Force
At the end of World War II, Sturdee was again invited to become CGS. He made it a condition of his acceptance that Northcott be given the appointment of Commander-in-Chief of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) in Japan.[1] Sturdee felt that Northcott had missed out on opportunities for active service through his being CGS and saw the BCOF post as a just reward for that service.[17]
Northcott headed the BCOF from December 1945 until June 1946. As such, he negotiated the Northcott-MacArthur agreement with
Governor of New South Wales
On 1 August 1946, Northcott became the first Australian-born, and one of the longest-serving, Governors of New South Wales. As such, he gave patronage and support to many charitable organisations and to youth, church and citizens' groups. Blamey was unable to secure a knighthood for Northcott for his military service, it being Australian Labor Party policy not to award knighthoods at that time.[18]
In April 1949 Northcott took part in an event of historic importance at Sydney's famous
Northcott was made a
Northcott was
Death and legacy
Sir John's wife, Winifred Mary predeceased him on 7 June 1960. Survived by his two daughters, Sir John died on 4 August 1966 in his home at Wahroonga, New South Wales. He was accorded a state funeral with military honours and was cremated with his ashes interred with his wife at Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens.[1] Like most governors of New South Wales, his papers are in the State Library of New South Wales.[26]
In 1968 the Northcott Municipal Council, comprising large areas formerly in the City of Sydney, and the Electoral district of Northcott in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly were dedicated in his name (the council was renamed in December 1968, while the electoral district existed until abolition in 1999).[27] In his military career, Northcott was both highly regarded and successful staff officer, as commander of the 1st Armoured Division, II Corps and BCOF he was "noted neither for innovation nor conspicuous success",[1] especially when compared with Robertson who "possessed the ebullience and flair that Northcott lacked".[1] While governor, Northcott was patron of the New South Wales Society for Crippled Children. He continued to take an active in its affairs for the rest of his life. In 1995, this charity changed its name to The Northcott Society in his honour. In 2004, it became Northcott Disability Services, providing case to people of all ages with disabilities.[4] He is also remembered through Cranbrook School, Sydney by having one of the houses named after him, Northcott House.
He was a long-standing
Honours
Viceregal styles of Sir John Northcott | ||
---|---|---|
Reference style | His Excellency | |
Spoken style | Your Excellency |
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) | 1950[21] | |
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) | 1954[29] | |
Member (Fourth Class) of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) | 1927[6] | |
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) | 1941[30] | |
Knight of Justice of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem (KStJ) |
1946[20] | |
1914–15 Star | [31] | |
British War Medal | [31] | |
Victory Medal | [31] | |
1939–1945 Star | [31] | |
Africa Star | [31] | |
Pacific Star | [31] | |
War Medal 1939–1945 | [31] | |
Australia Service Medal 1939–45 |
[31] | |
King George VI Coronation Medal | 1937[32] | |
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal | 1953[33] |
Honorary military appointments
- 1949 – 31 January 1958: Honorary Colonel of the 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers.[37]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Coates 2000, pp. 493–494
- ^ a b c d e f g h The Army List of Officers of the Australian Military Forces. Melbourne: Australian Military Forces: 4. 1945.
{{cite journal}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ "Nominal Roll – 12th Infantry Battalion" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- ^ a b c "Charity of an ANZAC". Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
- ^ Rowell 1974, pp. 19–20.
- ^ a b "NORTHCOTT, John – The Royal Victorian Order – Member (Fourth Class)". It's an Honour database. Australian Government. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ^ Long 1952, p. 50.
- ^ "NORTHCOTT, John – The Order of the Bath – Companion (Military)". It's an Honour database. Australian Government. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ^ a b Grey 1992, p. 107
- ^ Hopkins 1978, pp. 94–95
- ^ Grey 2001, pp. 138, 162
- ^ Long 1963, pp. 31–33
- ^ a b c Dennis et al. 1995, p. 437
- ^ Horner 1982, p. 280
- ^ Hasluck 1970, p. 488
- ^ Long 1963, p. 24
- ^ a b Grey 1992, p. 126
- ^ Horner 1998, p. 559.
- ^ "Television in N.S.W." The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 11 April 1949. p. 14. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
- ^ a b "No. 37842". The London Gazette. 23 December 1946. p. 122.
- ^ a b "NORTHCOTT, John – Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George". It's an Honour database. Australian Government. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ^ "NORTHCOTT, John – The Royal Victorian Order – Knight Commander". It's an Honour database. Australian Government. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ^ "Viceregal Grand Masters – Who and Why?". Kent Henderson. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- ^ "Governors and Governors-General of Australia". Retrieved 21 April 2009.
- ^ "Right Honourable F. M. Forde and General Sir John Northcott – General D MacArthur's funeral – Finance", NAA (ACT): A463 1964/1815
- ^ "Sir John Northcott papers, 1908–1966". Collection Record Details. State Library of New South Wales. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ^ O'Farrell, Barry (25 November 1998). "Northcott Electorate". Hansard – Legislative Assembly. Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ^ Famous &/or Notable Australian Freemasons[permanent dead link]
- ^ "No. 40159". The London Gazette. 12 February 1954. p. 2500.
- ^ "No. 35029". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1941. p. 3.
- ^ a b c d e f g h NORTHCOTT, John (includes WWI service under ranks of Lieutenant and Captain, and other service under VP7535, VX63396), NAA: B2458, 51
- ^ "CORONATION MEDALS FOR 2,000 VICTORIANS". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 12 May 1937. p. 11. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
- ^ "LIST OF CORONATION MEDAL AWARDS". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 2 June 1953. p. 6. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
- ^ "ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. 94. Australia. 20 December 1951. p. 3224. Retrieved 8 March 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "VICE-REGAL". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 3 March 1952. p. 2. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
- ^ "ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. 44. Australia. 14 August 1958. p. 2644. Retrieved 8 March 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. 15. Australia. 20 March 1958. p. 823. Retrieved 8 March 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
Bibliography
- OCLC 222721504. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
- Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey; Morris, Ewan; Prior, Robin; Conner, John (1995), The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History, South Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press, OCLC 34325813
- Grey, Jeffrey (1992), Australian Brass: The Career of Lieutenant General Sir Horace Robertson, Oakleigh, Victoria: Cambridge University Press, OCLC 24502133
- Grey, Jeffrey (2001), "The Australian Army", The Australian Centenary History of Defence, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, OCLC 71162370
- OCLC 33346943
- Hopkins, R. N. L. (1978), Australian Armour : a History of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps, 1927–1972, Royal Australian Armoured Corps Tank Museum, OCLC 5402990
- OCLC 9464416
- —— (1998), Blamey: The Commander-in-Chief, St Leonards, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin, OCLC 39291537
- OCLC 3134176
- OCLC 1297619
- OCLC 1427892
- The Army List of Officers of the Australian Military Forces. Melbourne: Australian Military Forces. 1945. )