John Wilton (general)

General Sir John Gordon Noel Wilton (22 November 1910 – 10 May 1981) was the most senior military figure in Australia from May 1966 to November 1970.

Early career
On graduation from Royal Military College Duntroon, Wilton was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the British Army's Royal Artillery on 9 December 1930 (with seniority from 22 November).

Having returned to the Australian forces, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 27 April 1944 serving in the South West Pacific in the Second World War. For his war service he was subsequently appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) on 6 March 1947.

Post-war he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 1962 Queen's Birthday Honours, and appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 1964 New Year Honours.

Later appointments

 * January 1963 – May 1966 Chief of the General Staff
 * May 1966 – November 1970 Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee