15 Facts About Cecil Callaghan

Cecil Callaghan was the commander of the 8th Division when it surrendered to the Japanese Empire at the fall of Singapore in February 1942.

Cecil Arthur Callaghan was born in Sydney, New South Wales, to a merchant and his wife on 31 July 1890.

Cecil Callaghan joined the Citizens Militia Force in 1910 by enlisting in the Australian Field Artillery, and was commissioned the following year.

Cecil Callaghan participated in the Gallipoli landings on 25 April 1915.

Cecil Callaghan was evacuated in December 1915, with the rest of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, from Gallipoli to Egypt and transferred to the 5th Divisional Artillery.

Cecil Callaghan returned to his command in time to lead it during the Hundred Days Offensive, which ultimately led to the armistice with Germany and the end of the war,.

Cecil Callaghan remained in the Citizens Militia Force and in this capacity commanded various field artillery brigades from 1920 to 1926, as well as working in his family's footwear business.

Cecil Callaghan's rank made permanent, he commanded the 8th Infantry Brigade, another CMF unit, from May 1934 to May 1938.

The division was surrendered to the Japanese the following day, Cecil Callaghan reporting personally to Japanese military authorities.

Percival promoted him to temporary major general to ensure Cecil Callaghan had sufficient status with the Japanese as commander of all Australian forces in Singapore.

Cecil Callaghan was made a prisoner of war and was held in a former British Army barracks near Changi Prison, along with the other Allied soldiers that had surrendered to the Japanese in Singapore.

Cecil Callaghan was later held in camps in Formosa, Japan and lastly in Manchuria, from which he was liberated by the Red Army in August 1945.

Cecil Callaghan was rewarded for his efforts by being made a Companion of the Order of the Bath and was Mentioned in Despatches after the war.

Cecil Callaghan provided evidence in investigations of Bennett's escape from Singapore, of which he did not approve.

Cecil Callaghan retired from the Australian Army on 10 April 1947, having been made a major general earlier that year.