General Sir John Monash – His Life and Times in Victoria

Presented by Alan Thomson

Beaumaris Seniors Centre, Wednesday 23rd April, 2pm (no need to book – all welcome on the day)

With Anzac Day fast approaching, we are delighted to announce that Alan Thomson will speak to us about “John Monash – His Life and Times in Victoria”.

His presentation will cover Monash’s early life, the challenges of being a Jewish child from Prussia, his huge contribution to Victoria’s infrastructure and social life and his complicated personal life. Alan has drawn on remembrances of his grandfather who served under Sir John Monash, and will discuss the 1920’s debate about the shrine.

Monash, the child of Jewish immigrants to Melbourne, was dux at Scotch College, a graduate in engineering and law and joined the army reserve before the outbreak of the Great War.

In May 1918, he became commander of the Australian Corps. Winston Churchill described Monash’s military leadership and strategies as “the mightiest military conception and the most terrific onslaught which the annals of war record“.

He was head of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, one of the principal organisers of the annual observance of Anzac Day and oversaw the planning for Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance.

According to historian A.J.P.Taylor, he was “the only general of creative originality produced by the First World War“.