Later life Harry Chauvel

the dedication ceremony shrine of remembrance. on 300,000 people in attendance, figure approximately third of melbourne s population @ time.

in february 1920, chauvel promoted substantive rank of lieutenant general, back-dated 31 december 1919. in january 1920, chaired committee examine future structure of army. committee s recommendations proved next impossible implement in face of defence cuts imposed in 1920 , 1922. on lieutenant general brudenell white s retirement chief of general staff in 1923, post divided two, chauvel becoming 1st chief of general staff inspector general, while brigadier general thomas blamey became 2nd chief of general staff. chauvel served chairman of chiefs of staff committee, being senior of 3 service chiefs. in november 1929, became first australian promoted rank of general. attempted maintain army s structure in face of short-sighted politicians intent on cutting expenditure. result, army became increasingly hollow, retaining form of large force without substance. when conscription abolished prime minister james scullin s government in 1929, left chauvel attempt make new volunteer system work. retired in april 1930.

chauvel @ maribyrnong camp in march 1923.

chauvel s sons ian , edward resigned commissions in australian army in 1930 , 1932 respectively, , accepted commissions in cavalry regiments of british indian army. daughter elyne married thomas walter mitchell, grazier. chauvel became frequent visitor property towong hill near corryong, victoria. staying @ towong hill during black friday bushfires of 1939. when property threatened fire, directed firefighting effort, , @ 1 point climbed tree close house hack away burning branches.

the dedication of shrine of remembrance in 1934 saw series of reunions. ian , edward arrived india on leave, alexander godley came britain, , richard howard-vyse chief of staff prince henry, duke of gloucester. in 1937, chauvel travelled united kingdom head of australian contingent coronation of king george vi, welcomed chetwode , howard-vyse. chauvel had contingent dressed light horsemen, wearing emu plumes, bandoliers , spurs. when dominion troops assembled @ buckingham palace receive king george vi coronation medals, chauvel led parade, howard-vyse chief of staff. on way back, contingent visited france, ceremonies held @ villers–bretonneux australian national memorial , arc de triomphe. chauvel led anzac day parades through melbourne resigned leadership of march in 1938 in protest against @ decision returned , services league of australia change form of service @ shrine christian secular one.

second world war , legacy

during second world war, chauvel recalled duty inspector in chief of volunteer defence corps (vdc), australian version of british home guard. following brudenell white s death in canberra air disaster, prime minister robert menzies turned chauvel advice on successor chief of general staff. on chauvel s recommendation, menzies appointed lieutenant general vernon sturdee post. during war, chauvel s son ian served staff officer in italian campaign, while edward posted new guinea learn jungle warfare australian army. chauvel s daughter eve joined women s royal australian naval service , spent day in lifeboat in north atlantic after ship torpedoed u-boat. tom mitchell captured japanese in battle of singapore. chauvel remained vdc, based @ victoria barracks, melbourne travelling on inspections until death on 4 march 1945.

general sir harry chauvel (centre) group of officers holding owen guns

chauvel given state funeral service @ st paul s cathedral, melbourne officiated anglican archbishop of melbourne, joseph john booth, after cremated @ springvale crematorium full military honours. 8 generals acted pallbearers: lieutenant general john northcott, chief of general staff; lieutenant general john whitham, corps commander, vdc; major general james cannan, quartermaster general; major general charles brand; major general cyril clowes, goc, victoria line of communications area; major general john austin chapman, deputy chief of general staff; major general charles lloyd, adjutant general; , major general clive steele, engineer in chief.

portraits of chauvel held australian war memorial in canberra, naval , military club in melbourne, , imperial war museum in london. portrait george washington lambert in possession of family. chauvel commemorated in bronze plaque in st paul s cathedral, melbourne. sword in christ church, south yarra , uniform in australian war memorial. there memorial window in chapel of royal military college, duntroon. chauvel street in north ryde, sydney named in honour.

chauvel s daughter elyne mitchell wrote number of non-fiction works father , corps. in book 7 pillars of wisdom, t. e. lawrence provided wildly inaccurate version of chauvel. charles bean noted wise, , considerate commander far stupid martinet readers of lawrence s 7 pillars of wisdom might infer. lawrence confessed little of book strict truth though of based on fact.

chauvel s nephew charles chauvel became well-known film director, films included forty thousand horsemen (1940), battle of beersheba.

harry chauvel portrayed in film: bill kerr in lighthorsemen (1987), covered exploits of australian cavalry regiment during third battle of gaza; ray edwards in dangerous man: lawrence after arabia (1990), took place around 1919 paris peace conference; , colin baker in 1992 young indiana jones tv movie daredevils of desert, retelling of third battle of gaza director of lighthorsemen.