Major General Robert 'Bob' Hay CB MBE was an Australian Army general. He also played Australian rules football, making two appearances in 1942 for Richmond in the Victorian Football League.
Robert Arthur Hay was born on 9th April 1920 in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. He was the eldest son of Eric Hay and Vera Whitehead. [1]
Both of Hay's Victorian Football League (VFL) games were finals. He made his debut in Richmond's semi-final win over Essendon and then played in the 1942 VFL Grand Final two weeks later against the same opponent. Richmond lost the grand final and Hay never played again in the VFL. [2]
Hay did, however, have a distinguished career in the Australian Army, serving in the Second Australian Imperial Force during the Second World War from 21st August 1942. [3] He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for 'meritorious service in New Guinea September 1942 to December 1943'; presented at Parliament House Melbourne on 15th March 1949. [4][5][6]
As a Lieutenant Colonel he was appointed commander of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) in 1955. He was commander of Australian Military Forces in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970, with the rank of Brigadier. [7] In 1970 he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). [8][9]
Upon his return from Vietnam he was appointed General Officer Commanding 1st Division. He was appointed Commandant of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, 1973-77 [10] before retiring from the Army in 1977, with the rank of Major General, aged 57 years. He was awarded the National Medal with first and second Clasps on 14th July 1977. [11][12][13]
Aged 77 years, he passed away on 26th January 1998 in Geelong, Victoria.
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Categories: Australian Rules Football Players | Geelong, Victoria | Bendigo, Victoria | 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment | Royal Military College, Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory | Companions of the Order of the Bath | Members of the Order of the British Empire | National Medal | Australian Army Generals | Australian Army Generals, Vietnam War | Australia, Notables in the Military | Notables