Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
Sir Frederick Gallagher Galleghan, (11 January 1897 – 20 April 1971) was a senior officer in the
Australian Army
The Australian Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (Austral ...
who served in the
First
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement
Arts and media Music
* 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...
and
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
s.
Born in a suburb of
Newcastle, New South Wales
Newcastle ( ; Awabakal: ) is a metropolitan area and the second most populated city in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It includes the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie local government areas, and is the hub of the Greater Newcastle area, w ...
, Galleghan volunteered for service with the
Australian Imperial Force in the First World War. He served on the
Western Front as a
non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...
. Repatriated to Australia after being wounded, he was later commissioned in the
militia
A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...
. Following the outbreak of the Second World War, he raised the
2/30th Battalion and led it for the majority of the
Malayan campaign
The Malayan campaign, referred to by Japanese sources as the , was a military campaign fought by Allied and Axis forces in Malaya, from 8 December 1941 – 15 February 1942 during the Second World War. It was dominated by land battles between ...
of late 1941–early 1942. He was awarded the
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly of other parts of the Commonwealth, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typ ...
and
mentioned in despatches
To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face ...
for his services during the fighting in
Malaya. Captured along with many of his fellow soldiers following the
fall of Singapore
The Fall of Singapore, also known as the Battle of Singapore,; ta, சிங்கப்பூரின் வீழ்ச்சி; ja, シンガポールの戦い took place in the South–East Asian theatre of the Pacific War. The Empire of ...
, he spent the remainder of the war as a
prisoner of war
A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610.
Belligerents hold prisoners of wa ...
. After the war, he led the Australian Military Mission to Germany and later became involved in charity work. He was
knighted
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...
in 1969 and died two years later in
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
at the age of 74.
Early life
Galleghan was born on 11 January 1897 in
Jesmond
Jesmond is a suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne, situated to the east of the Town Moor. Jesmond is considered to be one of the most affluent suburbs of Newcastle upon Tyne, with higher average house prices than most other areas of the city.
H ...
, a suburb of
Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to:
*Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England
*Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England
*Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area in Australia, named after Newcastle ...
, in
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
. His parents were Alexander Galleghan, a crane driver, and Martha James.
Of West Indian descent, his dark complexion would in later life lead to his nickname of "Black Jack". He studied at Cooks Hill Superior Public School and, due to his keen interest in the military, joined the
Cadets. After completing his education, he began working in the postal service as a telegraph messenger in 1912.
[
]
First World War
Galleghan volunteered for the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), raised for overseas service at the start of the First World War, in January 1916 and was assigned to 34th Battalion as a corporal
Corporal is a military rank in use in some form by many militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. The word is derived from the medieval Italian phrase ("head of a body"). The rank is usually the lowest ranking non ...
.[ The battalion, then being formed in New South Wales, was intended for service on the Western Front as part of 9th Brigade, 3rd Division. By late November 1916, the battalion was in France, having spent the previous five months training in England.]
Having received a promotion to sergeant
Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...
, Galleghan served on the Western Front for over two years. He was wounded in June 1917, around the time the 34th Battalion fought in the Battle of Messines, and again in August 1918, during the Hundred Days Offensive
The Hundred Days Offensive (8 August to 11 November 1918) was a series of massive Allies of World War I, Allied offensives that ended the First World War. Beginning with the Battle of Amiens (1918), Battle of Amiens (8–12 August) on the Wester ...
. His second wound eventually led to his repatriation to Australia and a subsequent discharge on medical grounds from the AIF in March 1919.[
]
Interwar period
Galleghan return to employment with the postal service, this time on clerical duties, before commencing work for the Department of Trade and Customs
The Department of Trade and Customs was an Australian government department that existed between 1901 and 1956. It was one of the inaugural government departments of Australia established at federation.
History
The department was one of the fir ...
in 1926. He remained with this department until 1936, at which time he joined the Sydney office of the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department.[
Galleghan's war injuries were not so serious as to prevent him joining the ]militia
A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...
and he was gazetted as a temporary lieutenant
A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations.
The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...
in September 1919. He was promoted to captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
in 1925, and to major
Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
five years later. By 1932, he was a lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...
and was commander of the 2nd/41st Battalion. Four years later he was awarded the Efficiency Decoration
The Efficiency Decoration, post-nominal letters TD for recipients serving in the Territorial Army of the United Kingdom or ED for those serving in the Auxiliary Military Forces, was instituted in 1930 for award to part-time officers after twe ...
for his service with the militia. He also had periods in command of the 2nd/35th and 17th Battalions. In early March 1940, after the outbreak of the Second World War the previous year, he volunteered for the newly revived AIF.
Second World War
Although the senior lieutenant colonel in the militia, Galleghan was not initially given a command in the AIF. It was only following the intervention of Billy Hughes
William Morris Hughes (25 September 1862 – 28 October 1952) was an Australian politician who served as the seventh prime minister of Australia, in office from 1915 to 1923. He is best known for leading the country during World War I, but ...
, at the time the Attorney-General of Australia
The Attorney-GeneralThe title is officially "Attorney-General". For the purposes of distinguishing the office from other attorneys-general, and in accordance with usual practice in the United Kingdom and other common law jurisdictions, the Aust ...
, that an appointment was found for him in October 1940, when he was named commander of the newly formed 2/30th Battalion. This was part of the 27th Brigade and originally destined for service in the Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...
with the 9th Division. The brigade, and Galleghan's battalion with it, was transferred the following month to the 8th Division 8th Division, 8th Infantry Division or 8th Armored Division may refer to:
Infantry divisions
* 8th Division (Australia)
* 8th Canadian Infantry Division
* 8th Air Division (People's Republic of China)
* 8th Division (1st Formation) (People's Repu ...
, which was intended to be sent to British Malaya
The term "British Malaya" (; ms, Tanah Melayu British) loosely describes a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the island of Singapore that were brought under British hegemony or control between the late 18th and the mid-20th century. U ...
.[
Galleghan, a strict disciplinarian, had high expectations of his battalion and implemented a rigorous training program.][ The battalion would become known as 'Galleghan's greyhounds' and was initially based at Tamworth but in the coming months would move around various bases in ]New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
. Training carried on into 1941 and in July the battalion embarked for Singapore on the Dutch transport ''Johan Van Oldenbarnevelt''.
Malaya and Singapore
During transit to Malaya, the commander of 27th Brigade took ill. Galleghan was disappointed to find that although he was the most senior of the battalion commanders in the brigade, the less experienced Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Maxwell
Brigadier Duncan Stuart Maxwell, MC (8 January 1892 – 21 December 1969), also known as Duncan Struan Maxwell, was a medical practitioner and an Australian Army officer who served in the First and the Second World Wars. He was commander of ...
was to be the replacement. Maxwell, previously commander of 2/19th Battalion, was preferred by the divisional commander, Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
Gordon Bennett, by virtue of having already been in Malaya for several months.
British Indian army
The British Indian Army, commonly referred to as the Indian Army, was the main military of the British Raj before its dissolution in 1947. It was responsible for the defence of the British Indian Empire, including the princely states, which co ...
units took the initial brunt of the Japanese invasion of Malaya
The Malayan campaign, referred to by Japanese sources as the , was a military campaign fought by Allied and Axis forces in Malaya, from 8 December 1941 – 15 February 1942 during the Second World War. It was dominated by land battles between ...
which began on 8 December 1941. By mid-January, the Japanese army had made significant advances down Malaya. Galleghan's battalion was the lead Australian unit and mounted a successful ambush at Gemas
Gemas (Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Gomeh'') is a small town and a mukim in Tampin District, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, near the Negeri Sembilan-Johor state border. It is situated 101 km northeast of Seremban, the state capital city, and 30 km no ...
on 14 January 1942. Taking up positions around a bridge, one company of the battalion allowed two hundred Japanese cyclists through before initiating their ambush by blowing up the bridge. It was estimated that several hundred casualties were inflicted on the Japanese before the company withdrew to a roadblock established by the remainder of the battalion. The battalion continued to hold up the Japanese advance, which resumed the following day due to a quick repair of the bridge. Two anti-tank guns, which Galleghan mistakenly believed would be of so little use that he sent a third gun to the rear the previous day, destroyed or damaged six Japanese tanks. The battalion withdrew in an orderly fashion late that afternoon over the Gemas River
Gemas (Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Gomeh'') is a small town and a mukim in Tampin District, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, near the Negeri Sembilan-Johor state border. It is situated 101 km northeast of Seremban, the state capital city, and 30 km no ...
.
The ambush only delayed the Japanese for a short time and Galleghan's 2/30th Battalion fought another delaying action on 25 January at Ayer Hitam
Ayer Hitam, nicknamed ''Bandar Seramik'' ('Ceramic Town'), is a town in Batu Pahat District, Johor, Malaysia. Located just at the junction of Federal Route and Federal Route , it is known for its many outlets selling pottery and other crafts ...
. This caused around 250 casualties among the Japanese. Australian losses were four killed and 12 missing or wounded. The Japanese continued to advance and three days later, Galleghan briefly commanded the 27th Brigade in an engagement at a rubber plantation; Maxwell had sited his headquarters some distance to the rear. Despite their efforts, the Australians gradually withdrew to Singapore. Galleghan, still resentful of being passed over for command of 27th Brigade, was critical of Maxwell's handling of the brigade. Bennett, the divisional commander, was similarly dissatisfied with Maxwell's repeated requests to withdraw.
Once on Singapore, the 27th Brigade was tasked with the defence of its northwest coast, with 2/30th Battalion positioned to overlook the causeway between Johore Bahru and the island. On 9 February, early in the Battle of Singapore
The Fall of Singapore, also known as the Battle of Singapore,; ta, சிங்கப்பூரின் வீழ்ச்சி; ja, シンガポールの戦い took place in the South–East Asian theatre of the Pacific War. The Empire of ...
and with the Japanese having landed in the adjacent sector, Maxwell sent Galleghan to hospital on the ground he was not fit for duty due to ear troubles. Command of his battalion was handed over to his subordinate. In Galleghan's absence from the front, the Japanese were able to make significant advances as 2/30th Battalion was withdrawn to the rear by a pessimistic Maxwell, who considered the defence of Singapore a lost cause and was seeking to minimise casualties among his forces.
Prisoner of War
After the Battle of Singapore resulted in the British loss of the island, Galleghan was made a prisoner of war
A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610.
Belligerents hold prisoners of wa ...
(POW) by the Japanese.[ Imprisoned at ]Changi
Changi () is a planning area located in the geographical region of Tanah Merah in the East Region of Singapore. Sharing borders with Pasir Ris and Tampines to the west, Changi Bay to the southeast, the South China Sea to the east and the Sera ...
with the remainder of the captured Allied
An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...
soldiers, he was put in charge of POWs from the AIF's Base Depot. In March 1942, the ''London Gazette
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
'' published the announcement of his award of the Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly of other parts of the Commonwealth, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typ ...
; the recommendation cited his "gallant and distinguished services" during the fighting in Malaya. He was also mentioned in despatches
To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face ...
at the same time for his "distinguished services". He became commander of the Australian prisoners at Changi following the transfer in July 1942 of Major General Cecil Callaghan
Major General Cecil Arthur Callaghan, (31 July 1890 – 1 January 1967) was an Australian Army
The Australian Army is the principal land warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Austra ...
, along with other senior British and Australian officers, to a camp in Formosa
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is an island country located in East Asia. The main island of Taiwan, formerly known in the Western political circles, press and literature as Formosa, makes up 99% of the land area of the territorie ...
. The high standards of discipline and presentation that he expected from his 2/30th Battalion was carried over the POWs under his command, with unarmed combat classes and officer training regimes being implemented. He aimed to ensure that they were able to capitalise on any opportunity to stage an uprising against their captors.
His strict standards resulted in a clash early the following year, when a group of 900 POWs who had been held under harsh conditions in Java
Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's List ...
arrived at Changi. Galleghan was critical of their appearance, and suggested that the senior officer in charge of the newly arrived POWs, Lieutenant Colonel Weary Dunlop
Colonel Sir Ernest Edward "Weary" Dunlop, (12 July 1907 – 2 July 1993) was an Australian surgeon who was renowned for his leadership while being held prisoner by the Japanese during World War II.
Early life and family
Dunlop was born in Wan ...
, be replaced. Brigadier Arthur Blackburn
Brigadier Arthur Seaforth Blackburn, (25 November 1892 – 24 November 1960) was an Australian soldier, lawyer, politician, and recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for valour in battle that could be awarded to a member o ...
, an officer senior to both Galleghan and Dunlop and who was passing through the camp at the time, supported Dunlop in his appointment. Before he and his group of POWs left Changi to go onto a camp on the Thai-Burma railway
The Burma Railway, also known as the Siam–Burma Railway, Thai–Burma Railway and similar names, or as the Death Railway, is a railway between Ban Pong, Thailand and Thanbyuzayat, Burma (now called Myanmar). It was built from 1940 to 1943 ...
, Dunlop expressed his disappointment at Galleghan's lack of interest in helping them with provisions.
From 1944, Galleghan was deputy commander of all Allied prisoners in Malaya. Changi was relieved by the Allied forces in August 1945 and two months later, Galleghan returned to Australia. He was never involved with POW associations, always regarding himself a soldier rather than a prisoner and encouraged other former POWs to follow his example. Some under his command found Galleghan's manner to be overbearing and amounting to bullying but for most he engendered considerable respect.[
]
Later life
Galleghan retired from military service in January 1946 with the rank of temporary brigadier
Brigadier is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several thousand soldiers. In ...
; his promotion was with effect from 1942. He returned to his investigative career at the Attorney-General's Department and was soon deputy-director, with responsibility for the Sydney office.[ The following year he was recognised for his leadership during the imprisonment at Changi with an appointment as an ]Officer of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
. The citation noted his "meritorious service & devotion as POW in Malaya". He was made an honorary major general in 1948, and for nearly two years, he was in charge of the Australian Military Mission to Germany. Once his duties in Europe were completed, he became involved in refugee work.[
In the postwar period, Bennett's escape to Australia at the end of the fighting at Singapore came under scrutiny, with some senior generals considering his actions to amount to desertion of his troops. However, Galleghan was a supporter of Bennett's conduct, drawing a comparison to that of General ]Douglas MacArthur's escape from the Philippines
On 11 March 1942, during World War II, General Douglas MacArthur and members of his family and staff left the Philippine island of Corregidor and his forces, which were surrounded by the Japanese. They traveled in PT boats through stormy seas ...
in March 1942. Later, during the preparation of the official history of the Australian effort in Singapore, Galleghan suggested the author, Lionel Wigmore, examine Maxwell's decision to remove him from command of 2/30th Battalion during the early stages of the Battle of Singapore.
Galleghan retired from public service in 1959 and was appointed a Companion of the Imperial Service Order
The Imperial Service Order was established by King Edward VII in August 1902. It was awarded on retirement to the administration and clerical staff of the Civil Service throughout the British Empire for long and meritorious service. Normally a pe ...
. Even in retired life, he continued his involvement with charitable organisations,[ and was honorary colonel of the Australian Cadet Corps. In the 1969 New Year Honours he was knighted for his work with war veterans. Coincidentally, Weary Dunlop, with whom he had clashed at Changi, was similarly honoured at the same time.] He died on 20 April 1971 at his home in Mosman
Mosman is a suburb on the Lower North Shore region of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mosman is located 8 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local governm ...
, a suburb of Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
. He was survived by his second wife, Persia Elspbeth Porter, whom he had married in 1969. Neither of his two marriages resulted in children.[
]
Notes
References
*
*
*
*
*
*
External links
Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Galleghan
nla.gov.au
*AWM
Drawing
Painting
Information sheet
2/30th Battalion
3DRL/2313
3DRL/0512
Photo
Memorial
{{DEFAULTSORT:Galleghan, Frederick Gallagher
1897 births
1971 deaths
Australian Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
Australian Companions of the Imperial Service Order
Australian generals
Australian Knights Bachelor
Australian military personnel of World War I
Australian Army personnel of World War II
Australian Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Australian prisoners of war
Public servants of New South Wales
Military personnel from New South Wales
World War II prisoners of war held by Japan