Lawrence O'Donnell (general)

Lawrence George O'Donnell
Born (1933-01-17) 17 January 1933
Quairading, Western Australia
Allegiance Australia
Service/branch Australian Army
Years of service 1952–1990
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands held Chief of the General Staff (1987–90)
Land Commander Australia (1986–87)
Field Force Command (1985–86)
Deputy Chief of the General Staff (1984–85)
Battles/wars Malayan Emergency
Vietnam War
Awards Companion of the Order of Australia
Mentioned in Despatches
Other work President, National Rifle Association of Australia (1990–06)

Lieutenant General Lawrence George O'Donnell AC (born 17 January 1933) was a senior officer in the Australian Army who served as Chief of the General Staff (1987–1990).

Military career

As an exchange troop leader O'Donnell served with 1st King's Dragoon Guards and was dispatched as part of the British Army response to the Malayan Emergency in 1957.[1]

He was posted to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment and, as a major, was deployed to Vietnam where he was Mentioned in Despatches.[2]

He was appointed Chief of the General Staff in 1987 and made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1989 for service to the Australian Army in this role.[3]

In retirement he became Chairman of a campaign to build a permanent monument in Canberra to commemorate the contributions of migrants to Australia.[4] In 2000 he shot for Australia at Bisley.[5]

References

Military offices
Preceded by
Lieutenant General Peter Gration		 Chief of the General Staff
1987–1990 		Succeeded by
Lieutenant General John Coates
Preceded by
Major General Peter Gration		 Deputy Chief of the General Staff
1984–1985 		Succeeded by
Major General Peter Day
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