John Monash

In 1891, John Monash married Hannah Victoria Moss and the couple was blessed with a child named Bertha. A year after the World War was over, his wife died of a fatal disease.

He authored the book entitled ‘The Australian Victories in France’ which was released in the year 1920.

On 8th October, 1931, this accomplished General suffered a cardiac arrest and breathed his last. At his funeral was attended by approximately 300,000 people who mourned his death. He was given a gun salute in the state funeral and his resting place is in ‘Brighton General Cemetery’.

He was born on 27th June 1865, to Louis Monash and Bertha, née Manasse, in West Melbourne, Victoria.

His family shifted to the Jerilderie town located in New South Wales but to provide John with better educational opportunities, they relocated to Melbourne in 1880 and enrolled at the ‘Scotch College’.

This exceptional student joined the ‘University of Melbourne’ where he pursued subjects like Engineering, Law and Arts. He went on to earn a post-graduate degree in engineering in the year 1893. Two years later, he was awarded a dual degree in arts and law.

He was employed as a civil engineer with contractors and engaged in construction of railways and bridges. He also helped the contractors in legal matters. He was also employed at the ‘Melbourne Harbour Trust’ for some time.

In 1904, he along with engineer J.T.N. Anderson began to work as contractors and consultants. But this collaboration ended the following year.

He then, joined hands with the builder-chemist duo David Mitchell and John Gibson to establish the ‘Reinforced Concrete & Monier Pipe Construction Co.’. The following year, they entered into a partnership with South Australian businessmen to establish ‘S. A. Reinforced Concrete Co.’.

He earned a membership at the ‘Institute of Civil Engineers’ located in London and was also appointed as the president of ‘Victorian Institute of Engineers’.

In 1884, he entered the ‘Melbourne University Regiment’ (formerly known as the ‘University Company’) and three years later, he was made a lieutenant at the North Melbourne Battery.

This army officer played a significant role in World War I, and he is credited as being one of the best generals on the Western Front, Europe. His organizational skills were remarkable and he was also concerned about the welfare of his troops. Even during the battles, he reportedly managed to provide his troops with hot meals.

He was instrumental in some of the major battles won by the allied forces in the war like the ‘Battle of Hamel’ and the ‘Battle of the Hindenburg Line’.