Alf Garland

Alfred Barrett Garland
Nickname(s) Alf
Born 19 March 1932
Sydney, New South Wales
Died 9 March 2002 (aged 69)
Allegiance  Australia
Service/branch Australian Army
Years of service 1951–1984
Rank Brigadier
Commands held 1st Squadron, Special Air Service Regiment
Battles/wars Korean War
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
Vietnam War
Awards Member of the Order of Australia
Mentioned in Despatches
Other work National President of the Returned and Services League of Australia (1988–93)

Brigadier Alfred Barrett "Alf" Garland AM (19 March 1932 – 9 March 2002) was an Australian Army officer, and National President of the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) from 1988–1993.[1] Garland had a distinguished military career, and attracted media attention by being outspoken on many controversial social issues, often antagonising the Keating government at the time.

Brigadier Garland's army career spanned 35 years. In 1965, he commanded the 1st Special Air Service squadron against Indonesian forces in Borneo. During the Vietnam War, he was second-in-command of the RAR, and was appointed Australia's chief liaison officer to US forces.[1]

He was President of the ACT branch of the RSL, before becoming the RSL National President in 1988.[1]

Garland was elected as the Australian Monarchist League delegate from NSW at the 1998 Australian Constitutional Convention. He joined Bruce Ruxton in campaigning against the notion of Australia becoming a republic. The two sat next to each other, angering republican delegates by opposing them on almost every point.[1] In one attempt to filibuster debate, Garland recounted his family's loyalty to the Crown beginning in medieval times.

He was Chairman of both the Australian Monarchist League NSW and ACT branches.

Garland also opposed the construction of the Japanese funded technology city known as the Multifunction Polis (MFP).[2]

He died at age 69, after a long battle with motor neurone disease.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Final salute to a loyal warrior". Melbourne: Herald Sun. 2002-03-12. p. 2.
  2. ↑ Jupp, James (2007). From White Australia to Woomera: The Story of Australian Immigration. Cambridge University Press. pp. 107–219. ISBN 0-521-69789-1. Retrieved 2008-01-12.