THE GREATEST AUSTRALIAN

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 258, 9 October 1931, Page 6

THE GREATEST AUSTRALIAN

SIR JOHN MONASH DEAD EXTRAORDINARY MILITARY GENIUS Press Association. —Copyright. MELBOURNE, The death of Lieut. -General Sir John Monash, “the greatest Australian,” occurred to-day at the age of 6G. He was foremost a soldier, but also notably an engineer and a law and art student.

News of Sir John’s death was received throughout Australia with profound sorrow, lie was described as Australia’s greatest soldier and a conspicuous figure in Victorian public life. Sir George Pearce, former Minister of Defence, paid tribute to bun as a man of extraordinary military genius. Dr. Bean, Australian war correspondent, said General Monash was known to all Australians as “our greatest Australian.” He possesssed an intellect which gave him a comprehensive grasp of any subject, whether music, art or engineering.

The Federal Government will accord Sir John a State funeral. At the outbreak ot the Great War General Monash was chief censor for, Australia until he became Brigade Commander in the Australian Imperial Forces. In the Gallipoli campaign he was three times meiitioned in despatches. 'Monash Valley, at Anzac, was named after him. Subsequently he served in the Suez Canal zone and in France. On the Western Front General Monash commanded the Third Australian Division from 1916 to 1918, and later the Australian Army Corps. After the war he was Director-Gfeneral of the Department of Repatriation and Demobilisation of the Australian Forces in Europe, Asia and Africa, haying been mentioned in despatches eight times.

Among numerous decorations General Monash received the Croix de Guerre, Grand Officer of the Legion d’Honneur, Croix de Guerre (Belgium), and American Distinguished Service Medal.