General (Australia)


 * See General for other countries which use this rank

General (abbreviated GEN) is the second highest rank, and the highest active rank, of the Australian Army and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of general; it is also considered a four-star rank.

Prior to 1958, generals (and field marshals) were only appointed in exceptional circumstances. In 1958 the position which is currently called Chief of the Defence Force was created, and since 1966, the rank of general has been held when an army officer is appointed to that position.

General is a higher rank than lieutenant general, but is lower than field marshal. General is the equivalent of admiral in the Royal Australian Navy and air chief marshal in the Royal Australian Air Force

A general's insignia is St Edward's Crown above a star of the Order of the Bath (or 'pip') above a crossed sword and baton, with the word 'Australia' at the bottom.

Australian generals
The following have held the rank of general in the Australian Army:


 * General Sir Harry Chauvel GCMG, KCB (1929)
 * General Sir John Monash GCMG, KCB, VD (1929)
 * General Sir Brudenell White KCB, KCMG, KCVO, DSO (1940)
 * General Sir Thomas Blamey GBE, KCB, CMG, DSO, ED (1941)

Since 1966, the rank of general has been held when an army officer is appointed to the position currently called Chief of the Defence Force:
 * General Sir John Wilton KBE, CB, DSO (1968)
 * General Sir Francis Hassett AC, KBE, CB, DSO, LVO (1975)
 * General Sir Arthur MacDonald KBE, CB (1977)
 * General Sir Phillip Bennett AC, KBE, DSO (1984)
 * General Peter Gration AC, OBE (1987)
 * General John Baker AC, DSM (1995)
 * General Peter Cosgrove AC, MC (2002)
 * General David Hurley AC, DSC (2011)

Although he was a British Army officer, General William Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood held the rank of general in the First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) from 1917, and in the Australian Army from 1920. Further, General Sir John Hackett was an Australian-born general of the British Army.