Second World War Vernon Sturdee

1 second world war

1.1 defence of australia
1.2 east indies campaign
1.3 island campaigns

second world war
defence of australia

in 1939, chief of general staff, lieutenant general ernest squires, implemented reorganisation of army in old military districts replaced larger commands led lieutenant generals. on 13 october 1939, sturdee promoted colonel lieutenant general , assumed control of new eastern command. had supervise raising, training , equipping of new second australian imperial force units being formed in new south wales, now-conscript militia.

on 1 july 1940, sturdee accepted demotion major general in order become commander of second aif s newly raised 8th division, receiving second aif serial number nx35000. period in command brief. on 13 august 1940, chief of general staff, general sir brudenell white, killed in canberra air disaster. sturdee restored rank of lieutenant general , appointed chief of general staff. such, responsible training , maintenance of aif in middle east , far east—although not operational control—and administration , training of militia.

as prospect of war japan became more likely, did need make appropriate arrangements leading defence of australia. in 1935, lavarack had recommended in event of war, military board abolished , powers vested in commander-in-chief. in april 1941, minister army, percy spender, recommended done, sturdee becoming commander in chief of australian military forces. instead, government elected adopt british system, in military board (or army council called there) continued operate, separate goc home forces. on 5 august 1941, major general sir iven mackay appointed newly created post. however, idea of commander in chief did not go away , editorials in sunday telegraph , sydney morning herald advocated appointment.

east indies campaign

sturdee attempted defend islands north of australia best could. 1 aif infantry brigade available, 23rd, afford protect islands strategically important defence of australia. sent 2/21st infantry battalion ambon, 2/22nd rabaul, , 2/40th infantry battalion , 2/2nd independent company timor. sturdee knew prospects slim expected them put best possible defence resources had, , slow japanese advance allow time reinforcements arrive in australia. when there doubts morale of 1 commander, sturdee replaced him staff officer army headquarters volunteered position despite being aware of odds. garrisons overrun after spirited defence, except 2/2nd independent company, managed hold on in east timor.

in february 1942, on advice lavarack dutch east indies fall, sturdee urged australian government 17,800 troops returning middle east, bound java, diverted australia. sturdee contended java not held, , allied resources should instead concentrated in area offensive launched. best place this, argued, australia. when prime minister john curtin backed chief of general staff, brought him conflict british prime minister winston churchill , united states president franklin d. roosevelt, suggested aif diverted burma. in end, curtin won point, , subsequent events vindicated sturdee s appreciation of situation. official historian lionel wigmore concluded:

it evident 7th division have arrived in time in extraction pegu , take part in long retreat india. in event not have been returned australia, rested , sent new guinea in time perform crucial role carry out in defeat of japanese offensive open there in july, 1942. allied cause therefore served in sound judgement , solid persistence of general sturdee maintained advice against of chiefs of staff in london , washington.

island campaigns

senior commanders on bougainville. sturdee on left.

in march 1942, military board abolished , general sir thomas blamey appointed commander in chief. blamey decided after hectic events of previous months, sturdee needed rest , appointed him head of australian military mission washington, d.c., war s strategy being decided. sturdee accepted on condition after year s duty in washington appointed important command. in washington, sturdee represented australia before combined chiefs of staff , managed obtain right of direct access chief of staff of united states army, general george marshall. services chief of general staff, sturdee made companion of order of bath on 1 january 1943.

sturdee returned australia , assumed command of first army on 1 march 1944. headquarters located in queensland, on 2 october 1944 commenced operations in lae, , sturdee assumed command of troops in new guinea. these included lieutenant general stanley savige s ii corps, headquarters @ torokina on bougainville; major general alan ramsay s 5th division on new britain; major general jack stevens 6th division @ aitape; , 8th infantry brigade west of madang. on 18 october, blamey issued operational instruction defined role of first army: offensive action destroy enemy resistance opportunity offers without committing major forces.

sturdee concerned order s ambiguity , sought clarification blamey. commander in chief responded stating conception action must of gradual nature involving use of patrols determine japanese strengths , positions before large offensives undertaken. situation on new britain straightforward enough; enemy known stronger australian forces there—although not realised how stronger—and best done eliminate small numbers of japanese troops aggressive patrolling. @ aitape, stevens tasked on 1 hand pushing japanese far enough protect airfields; on other, not allowing 6th division become heavily engaged since might required use elsewhere. on bougainville, savige had strength , ability conduct major campaign, blamey counselled caution.

sturdee accepts japanese surrender on deck of british aircraft carrier hms glory @ rabaul. sturdee wearing peaked cap scarlet band.

juggling number of contradictory requirements, sturdee had conduct 3 separated campaigns, aitape–wewak campaign, new britain campaign , bougainville campaign, , limited resources. shipping, controlled general douglas macarthur s ghq south west pacific area, source of continual anxiety . on 18 july 1945, sturdee wrote savige:

we on rather hair trigger operations in bougainville , in 6 division area in view of political hostility of opposition , press criticism of policy of operations being followed in these areas. general policy out of our hands, must conduct our operations in spirit of role given c. in c. [blamey], main essence of should attain our object minimum of australian casualties. have in no way been pressed on time factor , date have managed defeat japs reasonable casualties considering number of japs have been eliminated.

sturdee s operations effective. on bougainville, @ cost of 516 australian dead , 1,572 wounded, savige s troops had occupied of island , killed 8,500 japanese; 9,800 died malnutrition , disease. on new britain, 74 australians died , 140 wounded, heavily outnumbered 5th division had overrun central new britain. meanwhile, 6th division @ aitape , wewak had lost 442 dead , 1,141 wounded while clearing japanese coast , driving them mountains, killing 9,000 , taking 269 prisoners.

on 6 september 1945, sturdee received surrender of japanese forces in first army area general hitoshi imamura, commander of japanese eighth area army, , admiral jinichi kusaka, commander of south east area fleet, in ceremony held on deck of british aircraft carrier hms glory @ rabaul. 2 japanese swords handed on in surrender ceremony, sword worn sturdee, father s, presented australian war memorial lady sturdee in 1982. service in final campaigns, blamey recommended sturdee knighthood, reduced third mention in despatches.