Francis George Hassett AC KBE CB (1918-2008)

GEN Sir Francis George (Frank) Hassett AC KBE CB

Born 11 Apr 1918 in Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Son of John Francis Hassett and Alice Mary (Hanslow) Hassett

Brother of John Hassett and Mavis Gaby (Hassett) Trives

Husband of Margaret Hallie Spencer (Roberts) Hassett — married 18 May 1946 in Queensland, Australia

Father of Michael John Spencer Hassett

Died 11 Jun 2008 at age 90 in Red Hill, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

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Profile last modified 27 Jan 2024 | Created 15 Jun 2018

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1 Biography
2 Sources
3 See also

Biography

Frank Hassett AC KBE CB is Notable.

General Sir Francis "Frank" Hassett AC KBE CB DSO LVO was a senior Australian General who rose to the position of Chief of the Defence Force Staff, the professional head of the Australian Defence Force, serving in this capacity from November 1975 until April 1977.

Formative years

Francis George Hassett was born on 11th April 1918 in Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia. He was the younger son of John Hassett, a railway yard manager, and Alice Hanslow. ^[1] He attended Canterbury High School. Leaving school at the age of fifteen, Frank found clerical work in the Department of Tramways.

He entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in March 1935. Upon graduation, Hassett was posted to the Darwin Mobile Force and given command of a rifle platoon.

Second World War

Frank Hassett AC KBE CB is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australian Army 1935-1978 Second World War;
Korean War; Vietnam War

At the outbreak of the Second World War he transferred to the Second Australian Imperial Force ^[2] and was posted to the 2/3rd Australian Infantry Battalion, 6th Division, as Adjutant and sailed with the division for the Middle East in 1940. ^[3]

GEN Sir Frank Hassett AC KBE CB was wounded in action during The Great War.

His first experience of battle came at Bardia, Libya, and he was wounded on the eve of the attack on Tobruk. After recovering, he was sent to the British Army Staff College at Haifa and then promoted to Major. Such was his service with distinction, Frank was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1942 at the age of 23, the youngest army officer to attain that rank. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in July 1945 for his service in the south Pacific. ^[4]

Marriage

On 18th May 1946 Frank married Hallie Roberts, ^[5] with whom he had four children:

Lyndal Hassett (1947-)
Michael Hassett (1950-75)
Jonathon Hassett (1951-)
Sandra Hassett (c1953-)

At war again, in Korea

Jonathon, their third child, came in 1951 whilst he was posted to Holsworthy as commanding officer 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. Three months after taking up that appointment, Hassett was appointed to command the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, in Korea, following the previous commanding officer's death. ^[6] Hassett led the battalion through some of the toughest fighting of the war. For his leadership and planning during the Battle of Maryang San, he was appointed Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). ^[7] The victory was described by the eminent historian, Dr Robert O'Neil, as "probably the greatest feat of the Australian Army during the Korean War".

the Battle of Maryang San was 'probably the
greatest feat of the Australian Army during the Korean War'.
Dr Robert O'Neil

Hassett was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) for his service as Marshal of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's 1954 royal tour. ^[8]

Achieving senior rank

As a Brigadier, Hassett commanded the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade Group in Malaya between 1960 and 1963. He paid a brief visit to Vietnam in 1963 as a temporary Major General. ^[9] He was appointed General Officer Commanding Australia's Northern Command in 1968. He was selected to lead the Army Review Committee, which became more colloquially known as the "Hassett Committee". The committee's far-reaching reforms included moving from a geographical to a functional command system, which involved (in part) the replacement of the various State Army Command Headquarters with a national field force, training and logistics command system; a system that remains largely in place today. Frank was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) for his Northern Command role. ^[10]

In 1971 Hassett was appointed Vice Chief of the General Staff and tasked with implementing the organisational reforms he had initiated, as well as supervising the end of conscription, the withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam, and the consequential organisational changes brought about by a reduction in Army manpower.

Top soldier

Frank was appointed Chief of the General Staff and Chief of the Defence Force Staff

In 1973 Hassett was promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed Chief of the General Staff. Promoted to General later that year he became Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, the professional head of the Australian Military Forces. He was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1975.^[11]

When the Australian Defence Force (ADF) was established on 9th February 1976, Hassett assumed the new title of Chief of the Defence Force Staff. In June 1976 he was created Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). ^[12] In 1977 Hassett was awarded the National Medal for his long military service.

After retiring from the Army in April 1977, he and Lady Hassett farmed near Canberra. He became Colonel Commandant of the Royal Australian Regiment, its father figure.

Final parade

General Sir Frank Hassett passed away, aged 90 years, on 11th June 2008 on his property outside Canberra and was buried in Gunghalin Cemetery, Australian Capital Territory. He was survived by Lady (Hallie) Hassett, his son Jonathon, and daughters Lyndal, Sandra and their families. He left a further legacy of three grandsons serving on the front line with the ADF.

Honours and Awards

General Sir Francis Hassett deservedly received the following honours and awards:

Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO)
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), superseded by KBE above
1939-1945 Star
Africa Star
Pacific Star
Defence Medal
War Medal 1939-45
Australia Service Medal 1939-1945 with MiD clasp
Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75
Australian General Service Medal for Korea
Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal
National Medal
Australian Defence Medal
Australian Service Medal 1945-75
Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee Medal
He was Mentioned In Despatches on two occasions, 1942 and 1945

Francis George Hassett AC KBE CB (1918 - 2008)

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