Lieutenant Sir John Dudley Lavarack KCMG KCVO KBE CB DSO idc psc 1885-1957

Commissioned into the Royal Australian Artillery in 1905, he attended the Staff College Camberley then attached to the British Army, serving in France and the Balkans Campaign,transferring to the AIF in 2nd and 5th Divisions. As GSO2 1st Division he clashed with Blamey, setting the scene for ongoing animosity and rivalry. As GSO1 4th Division he planned the landmark battle of Hamel.

Postwar, after attending the Imperial Defence College he became Commandant of RMC in 1933 as major general, then Chief of the General Staff where his clear understanding of the combat supplies-transport nexus reversed the splitting trend within the AASC. He also resisted the obsession on naval defence and the concommitant neglect of the army, gaining the animosity of Secretary of Defence Shedden in particular and assorted ministers.

Promoted lieutenant general in 1940 as GOC Southern Command, appointment to command 6th Division was vetoed by 1 Aust Corps Commander Blamey, and he was forced to drop in rank to command 7th Division. Commanding Tobruk against the initial German attack, C in C Wavell wanted him to command Western Desert Force, again vetoed by Blamey. He led 7th Division in the successful Syrian campaign, was repromoted lieutenant general commanding 1 Aust Corps, with Blamey fobbed off to deputy C in C Middle East.

Lavarack was passed over for the new appointment of C in C of the Australian Army in favour of Blamey, who fobbed him off to 1st Army then Head of the Australian Military Mission in Washington. On return he retired in 1946 to become Governor of Queensland until his death in 1957.