28 Facts About Frederick Galleghan

Frederick Galleghan served on the Western Front as a non-commissioned officer.

Frederick Galleghan was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and mentioned in despatches for his services during the fighting in Malaya.

Frederick Galleghan was knighted in 1969 and died two years later in Sydney at the age of 74.

Frederick Galleghan was born on 11 January 1897 in Jesmond, a suburb of Newcastle, in New South Wales.

Frederick Galleghan's parents were Alexander Galleghan, a crane driver, and Martha James.

Frederick Galleghan studied at Cooks Hill Superior Public School and, due to his keen interest in the military, joined the Cadets.

Frederick Galleghan volunteered for the Australian Imperial Force, raised for overseas service at the start of the First World War, in January 1916 and was assigned to 34th Battalion as a corporal.

Frederick Galleghan 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.

Frederick Galleghan remained with this department until 1936, at which time he joined the Sydney office of the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department.

Frederick Galleghan was promoted to captain in 1925, and to major five years later.

Frederick 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 was to be the replacement.

Frederick Galleghan's battalion was the lead Australian unit and mounted a successful ambush at Gemas on 14 January 1942.

Two anti-tank guns, which Frederick 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 Japanese continued to advance and three days later, Frederick Galleghan briefly commanded the 27th Brigade in an engagement at a rubber plantation; Maxwell had sited his headquarters some distance to the rear.

Frederick Galleghan was mentioned in despatches at the same time for his "distinguished services".

Frederick Galleghan became commander of the Australian prisoners at Changi following the transfer in July 1942 of Major General Cecil Callaghan, along with other senior British and Australian officers, to a camp in Formosa.

Frederick Galleghan aimed to ensure that they were able to capitalise on any opportunity to stage an uprising against their captors.

Frederick Galleghan was critical of their appearance, and suggested that the senior officer in charge of the newly arrived POWs, Lieutenant Colonel Weary Dunlop, be replaced.

From 1944, Frederick Galleghan was deputy commander of all Allied prisoners in Malaya.

Changi was relieved by the Allied forces in August 1945 and two months later, Frederick Galleghan returned to Australia.

Frederick Galleghan was never involved with POW associations, always regarding himself a soldier rather than a prisoner and encouraged other former POWs to follow his example.

Frederick Galleghan retired from military service in January 1946 with the rank of temporary brigadier; his promotion was with effect from 1942.

Frederick Galleghan returned to his investigative career at the Attorney-General's Department and was deputy-director, with responsibility for the Sydney office.

Frederick Galleghan was made an honorary major general in 1948, and for nearly two years, he was in charge of the Australian Military Mission to Germany.

However, Frederick Galleghan was a supporter of Bennett's conduct, drawing a comparison to that of General Douglas MacArthur's escape from the Philippines in March 1942.

Frederick Galleghan retired from public service in 1959 and was appointed a Companion of the Imperial Service Order.

Frederick Galleghan died on 20 April 1971 at his home in Mosman, a suburb of Sydney.

Frederick Galleghan was survived by his second wife, Persia Elspbeth Porter, whom he had married in 1969.