By Garry Fabian
MELBOURNE, Australia — On August 8, 1918, Lieutenant General John Monash in recognition of his leadership in the important battle of Hamel, was knighted in the field by King George V. Military historians claim that this battle shortened the war by 18 months, as the German High Command declared that this underlined that they had lost the war.
One hundred years later in August 2018, a function was held here in Melbourne, hosted by the St.Kilda Hebrew Congregation and VAJEX ( Victorian Association of Jewish Ex-serviceman and women) to commemorate the honor bestowed to Monash.
Range of speakers highlighted the different phases of his life, his early days, university education and civilian life as well as his role as a citizen soldier.
The next segment dealt with his military career from the 1915 landing at Gallipoli – to Passchendaele, Hamel and other western front battles and victories that followed the breaking of the Hindenburg Line.
The third segment covered his return to civilian life, his work in establishing the State Electricity Commission and utilization of vast brown coal deposits to establish a major electricity generating complex. He was also the driving force for the building of The Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne,
Perhaps the following sums up the multiple sum of his contributions across a wide spectrum
General Monash was not only a master of battlecraft as a military commander, he was a great leader who had a genuine feel for, and understanding of. those who served with him.
This was further made clear after the war as exemplified by his continuing care and active support for his former comrades including those many Jewish ex-service personnel who had fought under him and who formed the returned soldiers clubs and circles, the fore-runners of the current Jewish exservice associations.
Monash also served as the second President of Rotary in Australia and was a patron of many charitable and civic bodies.
The St.Kilda Hebrew Congregation choir contributed greatly to the solemnity of the function, and sang a number of songs from the era of the period of WWI. One of the highlights of their performance was Ein Keloheinu to the tune “In Flanders Fields.”
The function attended by a number of Melbourne rabbis, state and civic politicians and community leaders was a very impressive and appropriate commemoration of this historic landmark.
Some biographical notes:
John Monash was born in West Melbourne on 27th June 1856
1884 – Joins University Company of Victorian Rifles
1887 – Commissioned in the Militia Garrison Artillery
1908 – Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel
1913 – Appointed Colonel and Commander of 13th Infantry Brigade in Victoria
1915 – Promoted to Brigadier-General
1918 – Knighted by King George V.
1918 – Appointed Australian Corps Commander and promoted to Lieutenant-General
1929 – Promoted to General
1931 – Dies on 8th October
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Fabian is a freelance writer based in Melbourne, Australia. He may be contacted via garry.fabian@sdjewishworld.com