Francis Hassett

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Sir Frank Hassett
11 April 1918
Nickname Frank
Place of birth Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia
Allegiance Australian Army
Years of service 1935-1977
Rank General
Commands held Australian Defence Force
Australian Army
Northern Command
28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade
3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
Battles/wars World War II

Korean War
Malayan Emergency
Awards Companion of the Order of Australia
Knight Commander of the British Empire
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order
Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order
Mention in Despatches (2)

General Sir Francis George "Frank" Hassett AC, KBE, CB, DSO, LVO (11 April 1918-), was an Australian soldier, and head of the Australian Defence Force from November 1975 until April 1977.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Frank Hassett was born on 11 April 1918 in Marrickville, Sydney. He ended his career 59 years later as Australia's most senior soldier, the Chief of Defence Force Staff.

Hassett left school at the age of 15 and found work in the Department of Tramways. He soon grew bored with clerical work and sought a place at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, gaining entry only after receiving special consideration from Colonel John Lavarack, the Chairman of the College's Selection Board. Hassett began his course in March 1935 aged 16 and by his third year in 1937 proved himself an able athlete and boxer. In 1938 he was promoted to under officer (senior cadet in a company, equivalent to Company Sergeant Major).

Upon graduation, Hassett was posted to the Darwin Mobile Force and given command of a rifle platoon.

[edit] World War II

At the outbreak of the Second World War he was posted to the 2/3rd Battalion of the 6th Division as Adjutant and sailed with the division for the Middle East in 1940. His first experience of battle came at Bardia and he was wounded on the eve of an attack on Tobruk. Having recovered he was sent to the British Army Staff College at Haifa and then promoted to Major. Shortly afterwards he was posted as Brigade Major to the 18th Brigade in Syria.

When Japan entered the war, Hassett planned and controlled the brigade's embarkation from Suez and return to Australia, learning on his arrival that he had been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. At 23 he was the youngest army officer to attain that rank. Postings - usually training appointments - in New South Wales, Queensland and New Guinea followed. He ended the Second World War as a staff officer with the 3rd Division on Bougainville without having had an operational command.

Hassett was Mentioned in Despatches twice, and awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his distinguished service in the South-West Pacific[1] during the course of the war.

[edit] Korean War

Hassett returned to Australia at the end of the war and worked as an instructor at the Australian Staff College, marrying Hallie Roberts in 1946. In 1948 he was posted as General Staff Officer (GSO) 1 to the 2nd Division, remaining there until March 1951 when he took command of the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR). Three months later he was sent to Korea to command 3RAR. Hassett led the battalion through the Battle of Maryang San, often exposing himself to artillery, mortar and small arms fire, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.[2] He was considered by his men to be an inspirational leader.

[edit] Later career

After returning from Korea, Hassett took up a senior post at the Royal Military College Duntroon. Later serving as a marshal for Queen Elizabeth II's 1954 world tour, receiving a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order for his service.[3]

Promoted to Brigadier, he commanded the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade in Malaya between 1960 and 1963, later being upgraded to a Commander of the Order of the British Empire[4] for his service there, and becoming General Officer in Command of Australia's Northern Command in 1968. Hassett was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1970 for this position.[5]

In 1971, Hassett was promoted to Major General and assumed the position of Vice Chief of the General Staff; serving in this position for two years. In 1973, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and made Chief of the General Staff, being awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia for his eminent service in June of 1975.[6]

Hassett was promoted to General in November of 1975, and became Chairman Chief of Staff Committee; this position was renamed Chief of the Defence Force Staff in February of 1976, and in June Hassett was knighted via Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.[7]. Ill health forced Hassett into retirement in 1977.

Frank Hassett now lives in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.

After a sizable donation was made to the Royal Australian Regiment Foundation by General and Lady Hassett in 2006, the Hassett Award was established in order to annually honour junior leadership within the Regiment.[8]

[edit] Honours And Awards

General Sir Francis Hassett has been decorated with the following honours:

[edit] References

  1. ^ It's an Honour - Officer of the Order of the British Empire
  2. ^ It's an Honour - Distinguished Service Order
  3. ^ It's an Honour - Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order
  4. ^ It's an Honour - Commander of the Order of the British Empire
  5. ^ It's an Honour - Companion of the Order of the Bath
  6. ^ It's an Honour - Companion of the Order of Australia
  7. ^ It's an Honour - Knight Commander of the British Empire
  8. ^ Army Newspaper - Leadership award first

[edit] External Links

Military offices
Preceded by
Replaces Chief of Staff Committee		 Chief of Defence Force Staff
1976-1977		 Succeeded by
General Sir Arthur MacDonald KBE, CB
Preceded by
Admiral Sir Victor Smith AC, KBE, CB, DSC, RAN		 Chairman Chief of Staff Committee
1975-1976		 Succeeded by
Position Replaced By Chief of Defence Force Staff
Preceded by
Lieutenant General Sir Mervyn Brogan KBE, CB		 Chief of the General Staff
1973-1975		 Succeeded by
Lieutenant General Sir Arthur MacDonald KBE, CB