63 Facts About Frank Berryman

Frank Berryman's class graduated early after the First World War broke out, and he served on the Western Front with the field artillery.

Frank Berryman was responsible for the staff work for the attacks on Bardia and Tobruk.

In January 1941, Frank Berryman became Commander, Royal Artillery, 7th Division, and was promoted to brigadier.

Frank Berryman returned to Australia in 1942, becoming Major General, General Staff, of the First Army.

Frank Berryman directed the military response to the 1949 Australian coal strike.

Frank Berryman hoped to become Chief of the General Staff but was passed over as he was seen as a "Blamey man" by Prime Minister Ben Chifley.

Frank Berryman retired and became the Director General of the Royal Tour of Queen Elizabeth II in 1954.

Frank Berryman was chief executive officer of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales from 1954 to 1961.

Frank Horton Berryman was born in Geelong, Victoria, on 11 April 1894, the fourth of six children and the eldest of three sons of William Lee Berryman, a Victorian Railways engine driver, and his wife, Annie Jane, nee Horton.

William Frank Berryman joined in the 1903 Victorian Railways strike and, when it failed, was reinstated with a 14 per cent pay cut, only regaining his 1903 pay level in 1916.

Frank Berryman was educated at Melbourne High School, where he served in the school Cadet Unit, and won the Rix prize for academic excellence.

In 1913, Frank Berryman entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon, having ranked first among the 154 candidates on the entrance examination.

Frank Berryman rose to fifth in order of merit before his class graduated early, in June 1915, because of the outbreak of the First World War.

Frank Berryman was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Permanent Military Forces on 29 June 1915 and again in the First AIF on 1 July 1915.

Frank Berryman was posted to Lieutenant Colonel Harold Grimwade's 4th Field Artillery Brigade of the 2nd Division Artillery, along with Vasey and Milford.

Frank Berryman embarked for Egypt with the 4th Field Artillery Brigade on the transport Wiltshire on 17 November 1915.

In Egypt, Frank Berryman briefly commanded the 4th Brigade Ammunition Column before it was absorbed into the 2nd Division Ammunition Column.

Frank Berryman became a temporary captain on 1 April 1916, a rank which became substantive on 10 June 1916.

Frank Berryman was appointed to command the 18th Field Artillery Battery, and became a temporary major on 1 September 1917, which became substantive on 10 September 1917.

Frank Berryman showed great initiative in reconnoitring Battery positions often under heavy fire; in keeping touch with the Infantry Companies in the front line area and in observing and reporting on hostile movements rendering many useful reports.

Frank Berryman has shewn himself to be an officer of remarkable judgement and great technical ability.

Frank Berryman's citation, signed by Major General Charles Rosenthal, read:.

Frank Berryman was later nominated for a bar to his Distinguished Service Order for the September 1918 fighting, but this was downgraded to a second Mention in Despatches.

Frank Berryman was wounded in the right eye in September 1918 while he was commanding the 14th Field Artillery Battery.

Frank Berryman was appointed to the Staff Corps on 1 October 1920.

Frank Berryman was promoted to captain and brevet major on 1 March 1923, but was not promoted to the substantive rank of major until 1 March 1935.

Frank Berryman attended the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, from 1920 to 1923.

Frank Berryman enrolled in a Bachelor of Science program at the University of Sydney.

Frank Berryman discontinued his university studies to prepare for the entrance examination for Staff College, Camberley.

Frank Berryman joined the Second AIF on 4 April 1940 with the rank of full colonel, receiving the AIF serial number of VX20308, and became General Staff Officer Grade 1 of Major General Iven Mackay's 6th Division, in succession to Sydney Rowell who stepped up to become chief of staff of I Corps.

Mackay and Frank Berryman were determined that the Battle of Bardia would not be a repeat of the disastrous landing at Anzac Cove in 1915.

Frank Berryman's plan provided for the coordination of infantry, armour and artillery.

Later that month Frank Berryman planned the equally successful Battle of Tobruk.

In January 1941, Frank Berryman became Commander, Royal Artillery, in Arthur "Tubby" Allen's 7th Division, and was promoted to brigadier.

When his headquarters came under shell fire for the first time, Frank Berryman sat calmly eating his breakfast "among the flying brick dust and bursting shells", simply telling the men to shut the door, "so they can eat breakfast without being covered in dust".

Frank Berryman's mission was to check the enemy advance in the Merdjayoun area.

Frank Berryman decided that the best way to do this would be to recapture Merdjayoun.

Berryforce was then dissolved and Frank Berryman returned to his role as commander of the 7th Division artillery.

Frank Berryman clashed with Brigadier Jack Stevens of the 21st Infantry Brigade over the siting of Frank Berryman's artillery observation posts, which were forward of the infantry's front lines.

Frank Berryman wanted Stevens' positions advanced so as to obtain effective observation of the enemy's lines for Frank Berryman's gunners.

On 3 August 1941, Frank Berryman became Brigadier, General Staff of I Corps under Lieutenant General John Lavarack, again in succession to Rowell, who became Deputy Chief of the General Staff.

Frank Berryman arrived in Jakarta by air with the advanced party of the I Corps headquarters staff on 26 January 1942 to plan its defence.

Frank Berryman reconnoitred Java and prepared an appreciation of the situation.

Frank Berryman attempted to find out as much as possible about Japanese tactics through interviewing Colonel Ian MacAlister Stewart.

Frank Berryman returned to Australia, where he was promoted to major general on 6 April 1942, when he became Major General, General Staff of Lavarack's First Army.

On 14 September 1942, Frank Berryman became DCGS under the Commander in Chief, General Sir Sir Thomas Blamey, in succession to Vasey.

Blamey and Frank Berryman remained close for the rest of the war, and Blamey came to rely heavily on Frank Berryman for advice.

Frank Berryman established good working relations with the Americans, even though their staff practices were quite different from those of the Australian Army.

Frank Berryman understood the Americans and they understood him; he had a knack of avoiding friction without sacrificing Australian dignity or interests.

Frank Berryman was involved in the plan's execution, once more becoming chief of staff at New Guinea Force under Blamey in August 1943.

When Frank Berryman discovered that the United States Seventh Fleet did not intend to reinforce the 9th Division he immediately went to Blamey, who took the matter up with MacArthur.

On 7 November 1943, Frank Berryman became acting commander of II Corps, a post which became permanent on 20 January 1944, superseding Vasey, whose 7th Division was diplomatically placed directly under Lieutenant General Sir Leslie Morshead's New Guinea Force.

Frank Berryman was promoted to lieutenant general on 20 January 1944.

Whenever the Japanese Army attempted to make a stand, Frank Berryman attacked with 25-pounder artillery barrages and Matilda tanks.

Frank Berryman was aware that seasonal changes were making the surf rougher and making it ever harder to operate the US Army landing craft and Australian Army amphibious trucks that he depended on for the logistical support of his troops, but he realised that the Japanese Army's supply difficulties were greater than his own, and he gambled that if he pushed hard enough the Japanese would be unable to regroup and organise a successful defence.

Frank Berryman's role was to "safeguard Australian interests" at GHQ, but he defended GHQ against criticism from the Australian Army.

Frank Berryman became known for his involvement in charitable organisations such as the War Widows Association, and as head of the Remembrance Drive Project.

Frank Berryman hoped to become Chief of the General Staff in succession to Lieutenant General Vernon Sturdee but he was seen as a "Blamey man" by Chifley and his Labor government colleagues, who disliked the former Commander-in-Chief.

Frank Berryman instead retired from the army, at age 60, in April 1954.

Frank Berryman became the Director General of the Royal Tour of Queen Elizabeth II in 1954, for which he was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.

Frank Berryman was chief executive officer of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales from 1954 to 1961.

Frank Berryman died on 28 May 1981 at Rose Bay, New South Wales, and was cremated with full military honours.

Frank Berryman was for them not only a great general but a great benefactor who provided them with food supplies and medical care.