A critical year for promotion
2018 is "an absolutely critical year" to push for and achieve the posthumous promotion of Jewish military legend General Sir John Monash to the highest Australian military rank of Field Marshal according to Saluting Monash Council (SMC) chairman Tim Fischer, who fears "the window of opportunity" will rapidly close after the centenary edition of Remembrance Day on November 11.
2018 is “an absolutely critical year” to push for and achieve the posthumous promotion of Jewish military legend General Sir John Monash to the highest Australian military rank of Field Marshal according to Saluting Monash Council (SMC) chairman Tim Fischer, who fears “the window of opportunity” will rapidly close after the centenary edition of Remembrance Day on November 11.
Fischer, a former deputy prime minister, told The AJN on Tuesday that the Prime Minister has the authority to approve and implement Monash’s promotion, and could also opt to have it determined by a parliamentary vote.
“Former prime minister James Scullin took the decision in 1929 to promote Monash from Lieutenant-General to General, so there’s no reason why Prime Minister Turnbull can’t promote him to Field Marshal now,” Fischer said.
“Monash was discriminated against, so this would right a wrong – but this is more than a salute to Monash, [it would be] a salute to the entire Australian Imperial Force’s key role in turning the Great War in the Allies’ favour in 1918.”
Fischer noted there will be several “ideal times” for the promotion to be announced or implemented in 2018, coinciding with crucial WWI battle victories led by Monash including Le Hamel (July 4) and Amiens (August 8), but also on Anzac Day eve at the official launch of the Sir John Monash Centre near Villers-Bretonneux in France, which Turnbull has been invited to attend.
The SMC committee has been bolstered by the addition of six retired Reservist volunteers and is hopeful that with the public’s support, its long-running campaign – already backed by strong statements of support from federal MPs including Josh Frydenberg and Matt Thistlethwaite – can achieve its goal.
“We’re putting out all the stops early in 2018 in what is very much a grassroots driven campaign,” Fischer said.
“I’d urge people in favour of the Jerilderie Proposition and promoting Monash to write to their local MP and/or the Prime Minister, particularly in the months leading up to Anzac Day.
“There is some resistance within some elements that claim that promoting Monash to Field Marshal will set some kind of precedent, but it can’t because we are only talking about promotion by one step in rank – and this has been done before.”
At the 2013 Sir John Monash Oration, Turnbull said he gave his “full support” for efforts to posthumously promote Monash. On Monday The AJN asked Turnbull to confirm his current position, but had not received a response at the time of going to press.
SHANE DESIATNIK
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