32 Facts About Mervyn Brogan

Mervyn Brogan presided over the withdrawal of Australian troops from the Vietnam War, the ending of the National Service scheme, and the consequent reduction of the size of the Army, and sweeping organisational changes.

Mervyn Francis Brogan was born in Crows Nest, New South Wales, on 10 January 1915, the son of Bernard Brogan and his wife Hilda.

Mervyn Brogan had an older brother, Bernard Alwyn, who later became a wing commander in Royal Australian Air Force.

Mervyn Brogan's application was accepted, and he entered the Royal Military College on 25 February 1932.

Mervyn Brogan was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Australian Staff Corps on 11 December 1935.

Mervyn Brogan did some work on the fortifications on Rottnest Island guarding the city of Perth.

Mervyn Brogan was on the university's swimming and water polo teams, and was a blue in rugby.

Mervyn Brogan played rugby for Victoria in 1938 and 1939, and attended tryouts for the Wallabies.

Mervyn Brogan became a temporary captain on 1 July 1940.

Mervyn Brogan's brother gave the bride away, and his acted as his best man.

Mervyn Brogan joined the AIF on 22 September 1941, and was allotted the AIF service number NX76403.

Mervyn Brogan was appointed GSO2 of Home Forces on 22 December 1941.

Mervyn Brogan was promoted to the temporary rank of major on 1 July 1942; this became substantive on 1 September.

Mervyn Brogan became Assistant Quartermaster General of I Corps and New Guinea Force with the temporary rank of lieutenant colonel on 2 August 1943, and AQMG of New Guinea Force on 27 August 1943.

Mervyn Brogan was GSO1 of the Military Training Branch at Allied Land Forces, South West Pacific Area from 5 January 1944 to 6 November 1944.

Mervyn Brogan represented the ACT in rugby in 1941 and 1944.

In 1945, Mervyn Brogan was sent as an observer with the British Army during the Western Allied invasion of Germany.

Mervyn Brogan remained in Europe until 1947, when he returned to Australia to become commandant and chief instructor at the School of Military Engineering.

Mervyn Brogan assisted in organising Royal Australian Engineers to mine coal during the 1949 Australian coal strike.

Mervyn Brogan then went back to Britain as a student at the Joint Services Staff College there from 1950 to 1952.

Mervyn Brogan reopened the Land Warfare Centre at Canungra, incorporating lessons from the British Army's experience in the Malayan Emergency.

Mervyn Brogan served as a brigadier on the staff of the British Army's Far East Land Forces from 1956 to 1958, and went back to Britain once more to attend the Imperial Defence College in 1959.

Mervyn Brogan then became the commandant of the Australian Staff College.

Mervyn Brogan was General Officer Commanding Northern Command from 1962 to 1965, and was upgraded to a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1963 Birthday Honours.

Mervyn Brogan was Director of Joint Service Plans from 1965 to 1966, when he became the Quartermaster-General and Third Member of the Military Board.

Mervyn Brogan was made a Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1970 New Year Honours.

On 19 May 1971, Mervyn Brogan reached the pinnacle of his career when he was appointed as the Chief of the General Staff with the rank of lieutenant general.

Mervyn Brogan was the first occupant of that position to possess a university degree.

Mervyn Brogan was upgraded to a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his service in that role in the 1972 Birthday Honours.

The number of battalions in the Royal Australian Regiment was reduced from nine to six, but Mervyn Brogan clung to the divisional structure, which would remain until the 1990s.

Mervyn Brogan revived the position of Vice CGS, appointing Major General Francis Hassett, who would become his successor, to the post.

Mervyn Brogan was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Australian Engineers from 1974 to 1978, and Honorary Colonel of the University of New South Wales Regiment from 1975 to 1980.