Sir John Monash

1963, 27 Minutes

A tribute to Sir John Monash, engineer, builder, full-time soldier for only five of his sixty-six years; commander of Australian troops in France during World War I and the first Australia to be knighted on the battlefield.

Few men have contributed more to the general development of Australia, or the establishment of its young traditions, than the Melbourne soldier engineer Sir John Monash. He was a full time soldier for only five of his 66 years, but it was in this capacity that he is most remembered. Monash rose to become a highly regarded commander of Australian troops in France during World War I and was the first Australian to be knighted on the battlefield. According to Lloyd George who was the British Prime Minister at the time, the Australian Monash was the outstanding British military brain of the war—his bold strategies and embrace of modern technology combined to win pivotal battles, such as the battle of Hamel, which helped determine the outcome of the war, while sustaining minimal fatalities.

An Australian Commonwealth Film Unit Production. Produced by Zanthus Films for the State Electricity Commission of Victoria and the Australian Commonwealth Film Unit. © 2011 National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.