Gordon Lindsay Maitland AO OBE RFD (1926 - 2018)

Born 25 Aug 1926 in Rockdale, New South Wales, Australia

Husband of Dorothy Bowness (Gunn) Maitland — married 6 Nov 1948 in Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia

Died 18 Oct 2018 at age 92 in New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kenneth Evans [send private message]

Biography

Gordon Maitland AO OBE RFD is Notable.

Formative years

Major General Gordon Lindsay Maitland AO OBE RFD ED was born on 25th August 1926 in Rockdale, New South Wales, Australia. He was the younger son of James Maitland and mother unknown. He was educated at Canterbury Boys’ High School before studying economics at the University of Sydney by night while by day working as a clerk for the Commonwealth Bank. ^[1]

Second World War

Gordon Maitland AO OBE RFD is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australian Army 1944-1947
Allied Translator & Interpreter Section

Having reached his eighteenth birth anniversary, Gordon in the Second Australian Imperial Force on 8th September 1944 for service overseas during the Second World War. ^[2] He was soon sent on an intelligence course, and then to the Allied Translator & Interpreter Section. Following completion of a course in Japanese at the Air Force School of Languages, on 20th September 1945, aged 19 and still a Private, he flew from Melbourne to join Timor Force; where his responsibilities included locating and questioning Japanese war criminals and witnesses, finding Australian graves, ensuring Japanese compliance with surrender arrangements, and dealing with issues arising from the Free Indonesian Movement. His responsibilities earned Gordon prompt promotion to Sergeant. He served as the chief interpreter at the War Crimes Trials in Darwin. Gordon returned as an instructor to the School of Languages at Point Cook, where he was commissioned as a Lieutenant on 14th October 1946. In August 1947, he refused promotion to Captain, instead accepting demobilisation. ^[1]

Marriage

Gordon married Dorothy Bowness Gunn, who he had met whilst working at the Commonwealth Bank, on 6th November 1948 in Ashfield, New South Wales. ^[3] They had three children, Neil, Barbara and Elizabeth. ^[1]

Citizen Military Force

Gordon Maitland AO OBE RFD is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australian Army 1948-1982
Chief of the Army Reserve

Gordon was commissioned as an officer in the newly-formed Citizen Military Force on 1st April 1948. From 1948 to 1961 Gordon was an officer in the 45th Battalion (The St George Regiment), progressing from Lieutenant to Major. Following a stint as Brigade Major of the 5th Brigade, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and in 1965 given command of the newly-raised 4th Royal New South Wales Regiment. As a Lieutenant Colonel, he visited Vietnam in August 1969 with Headquarters, 1st Communication Zone, Citizens Military Force (attached to 9th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment). ^[4] Appointments as aide de corps (ADC) to two Governors-General and responsibility for assembling and farewelling the Royal Family from Australia in 1974, were followed by the responsibility for establishing the 2nd Training Group, Bardia Barracks, Ingleburn. Also in 1974, Gordon was promoted to Major General and assumed command of the 2nd Division – then shrinking following the end of conscription. Recognising that after fifteen years in which the Army had been focussed on jungle warfare in South East Asia he initiated interest in the continental defence of Australia. His career culminated with appointment as Inspector-General of the Army Reserve (1978-79), and subsequently as Chief of the Army Reserve (1979-82); during which time he set about shaping the modern Army Reserve. He retired from the Army in 1982. ^[1]

Gordon felt he had no banner to march behind, and no mates with whom to reunite, and it would be more than fifty years before, at the urging of the RSL, he would march on Anzac Day. He then continued to lead the 7th Division contingent on Sydney's Anzac Day parades. ^[5]

Commonwealth Bank

Returning to the Commonwealth Bank in 1947, Gordon soon progressed to executive positions. Initially specialising in lending, he was instrumental in expanding the Bank’s lending business, to the point that it became Australia’s major home lender. As Papua New Guinea approached independence in the 1970s, and while relations soured with Indonesia, Gordon was sent to determine the Bank’s future in that country. His report and recommendations were accepted without amendment. When the Commonwealth Bank became concerned that it was being left behind by its competitors, Gordon was appointed as a Chief Manager to transform its image. ^[1]

Royal Agricultural Society

When he retired from the bank in 1981, Gordon was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales. In that capacity he revitalised the Society, restored it to profitability, and laid the foundations for its move to Homebush Bay. ^[1]

Author

In retirement, Gordon became a respected and renowned author and documenter of military history, researching and writing, resulting in the publication of: ^[6]

• The Second World War and its Australian Army Battle Honours'
• The Battle History of the Royal NSW Regiment', two volumes
• Tales of Valour
• Honours and Awards
• The Story of Australia’s Flags

Honours and awards

Gordon Maitland was recognised with numerous appointments and awards, including:

• Officer of the Order of Australia (OA) for his command of the 2nd Division, 1978 ^[7]
• Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his leadership skills with the 4th Royal New South Wales Regiment, 1969 ^[8][9]
• Reserve Force Decoration (RFD)
• Efficiency Decoration (ED)
• 1939-1945 Star
• Defence Medal
• War Medal 1939-1945
• Australia Service Medal 1939-1945
• Australian Service Medal 1945-75
• National Medal ^[10] and Clasp ^[11]
• Centenary Medal ^[12]

Gordon was very proud of his Scottish heritage, and was appointed Chief of Clan Maitland in Australia. ^[6]

Final parade

He passed away, aged 92 years, on 18th October 2018 in New South Wales. ^[13][1] A military funeral was held twelve days later in St James' Church, Sydney, during which reflections were given by Gordon’s daughters, Barbara Hodges and Elizabeth Charman, and his grandchildren.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} eulogy for Major General Gordon Lindsay Maitland ; accessed 25 May 2020
2. ↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: 275649 (NX204427) Lieutenant Gordon Lindsay Maitland; accessed 19 Jun 2018
3. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #24038/1948
4. ↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: 275649 Gordon Lindsay Maitland; accessed 19 Jun 2018
5. ↑ Daily Telegraph
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Sydney Rare Book Auctions; accessed 9 Nov 2020
7. ↑ Australian Honours: Officer of the Order of Australia; accessed 9 Nov 2020
8. ↑ Australian Honours: Officer of the Order of the British Empire; accessed 9 Nov 2020
9. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: Officer of the Order of the British Empire; accessed 9 Nov 2020
10. ↑ Australian Honours: National Medal; accessed 9 Nov 2020
11. ↑ Australian Honours: Clasp to National Medal; accessed 9 Nov 2020
12. ↑ Australian Honours: Centenary Medal; accessed 9 Nov 2020
13. ↑ Australian War Memorial: Gordon Lindsay Maitland; accessed 9 Nov 2020

See also

• Munro, Jim. 'Families and Friends of the First AIF'; accessed 29 May 2022.