George Frederick Wootten KBE CB DSO (1893 - 1970)

Born 1 May 1893 in Marrickville, New South Wales (Australia)

Ancestors

Husband of Muriel Anna Frances (Bisgood) Wootten — married 1920 in Roehampton, London, England

Died 31 Mar 1970 at age 76 in Concord, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

George Wootten KBE CB DSO is Notable.

Major General Sir George Wootten KBE CB DSO ED was an Australian soldier, public servant, right wing political activist and solicitor. He was described by General Douglas MacArthur as "the best soldier in the Australian Army, who had it in him to reach the highest position".

He was born George Frederick Wootten on 1st May 1893 in the working class Sydney suburb of Marrickville, New South Wales (Australia). He was the younger surviving son of English emigrants William Frederick Wootten and Louisa Old.^[1] He attended Fort Street Model School in Sydney. He entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in 1911 and graduated in August 1914 as a Lieutenant.

The Great War

George Wootten KBE CB DSO is an Anzac who served in World War One.

Wootten's graduation coincided with the outbreak of The Great War. On 18th September 1914, he was posted to the 1st Battalion, went ashore at Gallipoli on 25th April 1915, was promoted to Captain in May, and Major by the end of the year. He later served on the Western Front. He was Brigade Major with the 11th Brigade, then with the 9th Brigade.^[2] Wootten was appointed Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in October 1917 for staff work. He was Mentioned in Despatches four times. Following the end of hostilities, Wootten was sent to the Staff College, Camberley, England, in March 1919.

Between the wars

Wootten married Muriel Bisgood, a nurse, on 3rd January 1920 in St Joseph's Catholic Church, Roehampton, London, England.^[3]

Wootten was posted back to Australia that same year. He resigned his commission in 1923 and did various jobs until being admitted as a solicitor in July 1930; by which time he had four children. He still had the military bug though, and could sense the international climate deteriorating. He joined the Citizen Military Forces (CMF) and on 1st July 1937—as a Lieutenant Colonel—and was appointed commander of the 21st Light Horse Regiment.

Second World War

George Wootten KBE CB DSO is a Military Veteran.
Served in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force 1939-1945
18th Brigade; 9th Division

Following the outbreak of a second global war, on 13th October 1939, Wootten was seconded to the 2nd Australian Imperial Force, and was given command of the 2/2nd Infantry Battalion.^[4] Promoted to Brigadier in February 1941, he commanded the 18th Infantry Brigade, 7th Division, on active service in the North African campaign, including the Siege of Tobruk. The 7th Division returned to Australia and the 18th Brigade was part of the historic victory over Japanese forces at Milne Bay. On 15th March 1943, Wootten was promoted to temporary Major General and became General Officer Commanding 9th Australian Infantry Division. The 9th took part in the Borneo campaign, including the amphibious landings at Brunei and Labuan. Following the Japanese surrender in August 1945, Wootten commanded the British Borneo Civil Affairs Unit, overseeing the recuperation and repatriation of Allied prisoners, surrendered Japanese personnel, and the transition back to civilian rule.

Life after War

Wootten returned to Sydney in September 1945 and transferred to the Reserve of Officers. However, with his legal experience, he was appointed to a military court of inquiry into Major General Gordon Bennett's departure from Singapore in 1942. In 1945–58, Wootten chaired the Repatriation Commission in Melbourne. He commanded the 3rd Division (CMF) in 1947–50 and was the CMF member of the Military Board in 1948–50.

Wootten was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB), Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), and Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) with Bar. He was elevated to Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1958.

He passed away on 31st March 1970 in the Concord Repatriation Hospital, Concord, and is buried beside his beloved wife at the Macquarie Park Memorial Park, Lane Cove, New South Wales.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #22018/1893
2. ↑ Australian War Memorial nominal roll: Major George Frederick Wootten
3. ↑ UK FreeBMD Marriage Index Mar qtr 1920, vol 1d, page 1058
4. ↑ Australian War Memorial nominal roll: NX7 Colonel George Frederick Wootten
5. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #13549/1970

See also

• Hill, A J. 'Wootten, Sir George Frederick (1893–1970)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 2002, accessed online 27 February 2019.
• Wikipedia contributors. (2018, June 11). George Wootten. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:54, December 5, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_Wootten&oldid=845347700