In 1949 General Gordon Bennett addressed the Annual Meeting of the Parramatta Rotary Club where he shared his beliefs in comparing Australian soldiers of WW1 and WW2. WW2 Soldiers were ‘Softer than Anzacs and lacked Humuor and Unit Pride’
WW2 Men “Lost Humuor Unit Pride” Says Gordon Bennett……..May 1949
“Softer than Anzacs”
1919: Official war artist James Quinn was instructed to paint the portrait of Brigadier General Henry Gordon Bennett, CB, CMG, DSO, who was mentioned in despatches eight times.
A member of the Citizen Military Forces, Bennett had the rank of Major at the onset of the First World War. Volunteering with the Australian Imperial Forces, he was second-in-command of the 6th Battalion and served on Gallipoli. In May 1915 he was promoted to the temporary lieutenant-colonel in command of his battalion. Transferred to France, he was promoted to command the 3rd Infantry Brigade in December 1916 – the youngest brigadier-general in the British Empire armies. Despite a sound reputation as a front-line commander, Bennett was also known by his superiors for his prickly temperament, and argumentative nature.
Following the war, Bennett pursued interests in business, politics and the military. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Bennett was the senior citizen soldier, and received command of the 8th Division. He is generally acknowledged as a poor leader who underestimated the Japanese and when Singapore came under attacked, Bennett abandoned his troops and returned Australia. After a successful career serving with the AIF in the First World War, his behaviour and choices during the Second World War discredited him.
C.1940. PORTRAIT OF MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY GORDON BENNETT CB CMG DSO VD.
Please read about Bennett’s Court Case and Australian opinion
Above: Bennett on right.
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Despite his instruction to Australian troops to stay at their posts, General Bennett and two of his staff officers escaped, controversially, from Singapore on the night of the surrender and eventually reached Australia.
Following a 1945 court of enquiry and a Royal Commission, it was found that General Gordon Bennett was unjustified in relinquishing his command and leaving Singapore after the surrender of the 8th Division in February 1942.