John Monash

Lore & Background

Monash was born in West Melbourne, Victoria, to Jewish parents from Krotoschin in the Prussian province of Posen. The family spoke German as their native language. He was educated at Scotch College, Melbourne, and graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Master of Engineering in 1893, a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws in 1895, and a Doctor of Engineering in 1921. He worked as a civil engineer, playing a major role in introducing reinforced concrete to Australian engineering practice, and became president of the Victorian Institute of Engineers.

During the First World War, Monash commanded the 4th Infantry Brigade at Gallipoli, where he made a name for himself with independent decision-making and organisational ability. His performance during the August offensive to capture Hill 971 was criticised for excessive delegation and failing to properly command his brigade, which broke and ran. After Gallipoli, he returned to Egypt, where the 4th Brigade was split and reassigned to the 4th Division. He later commanded the 3rd Division in France and, in May 1918, the Australian Corps.

Reader's Guide

Monash's significance lies in his command of the Australian Corps during the final year of the First World War, a period when the corps became the largest on the Western Front. Historian A. J. P. Taylor's assessment that Monash was 'the only general of creative originality produced by the First World War' underscores his reputation for innovative tactics. His engineering background informed his military approach, particularly in improving troop conditions and positions, as seen during the Gallipoli winter. However, his career was not without controversy: his German and Jewish ancestry prompted protests upon his appointment, and his conduct at Gallipoli drew criticism for poor command during the August offensive and for a later deception regarding his departure from the peninsula. His legacy is that of a capable commander whose methods were both praised and questioned.

Did You Know?

• Monash's birth certificate records his date of birth as 23 June 1865, but he was almost certainly born on 27 June.
• He claimed to have met the bushranger Ned Kelly during the Kelly gang's raid on Jerilderie in 1879.
• Monash spoke, read, and wrote German fluently, but from 1914 until his death had good reason not to attract attention to his German background.
• He was promoted to brigadier general in July 1915, though the news was marred by spiteful rumours that he was a 'German spy'.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"This achievement is, above everything else, an illustration, which should become classic, of the maxim that in war the moral is to the material as three to one." — John Monash "Feed your troops on victory," is a maxim which does not appear in any text-book, but it is nevertheless true." — John Monash