Alan Stretton
Encyclopedia
Major General
Alan Bishop Stretton AO
CBE
(born on 30 September 1922) is a former senior Australian Army officer.
Stretton began his military career serving with the 2/9th Battalion
after graduating from the Royal Military College, Duntroon
during the Second World War. Following this he came to public prominence through his work in the cleanup efforts at Darwin
in the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy
. He was jointly named the 1975 Australian of the Year
, with Sir John Cornforth
.
He is a former Deputy Director of the Joint Intelligence Organization and member of the National Intelligence Committee.
In August 2004 he publicly criticised the Australian Government's policy of involvement with the 2003 Invasion of Iraq
, in an open letter in which he stated:
In 1946 and 1947 he played 16 games of Australian rules football
in the Victoran Football League
with St Kilda, after arriving at the club from Scotch College.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Alan Bishop Stretton AO
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born on 30 September 1922) is a former senior Australian Army officer.
Stretton began his military career serving with the 2/9th Battalion
2/9th Battalion (Australia)
The 2/9th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army during World War II. Raised in Queensland as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force shortly after the outbreak of the war, it served as part of the 18th Brigade and over the course of the war it was attached to the 6th, 9th...
after graduating from the Royal Military College, Duntroon
Royal Military College, Duntroon
The Royal Military College, Duntroon is the Australian Army's officer training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory, in 1911 and is situated on picturesque grounds at the foot of Mount Pleasant near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence...
during the Second World War. Following this he came to public prominence through his work in the cleanup efforts at Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
in the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy was a tropical cyclone that devastated the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day, 1974...
. He was jointly named the 1975 Australian of the Year
Australian of the Year
Since 1960 the Australian of the Year Award has been part of the celebrations surrounding Australia Day , during which time the award has grown steadily in significance to become Australia’s pre-eminent award. The Australian of the Year announcement has become a very prominent part of the annual...
, with Sir John Cornforth
John Cornforth
Sir John Warcup 'Kappa' Cornforth, AC, CBE, FRS , is an Australian scientist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1975 for his work on the stereochemistry of enzyme-catalyzed reactions....
.
He is a former Deputy Director of the Joint Intelligence Organization and member of the National Intelligence Committee.
In August 2004 he publicly criticised the Australian Government's policy of involvement with the 2003 Invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, in an open letter in which he stated:
- The alleged connection between Saddam Hussein and al-Qa'ida is ludicrous. http://buffaloreport.com/030208pattison.html
In 1946 and 1947 he played 16 games of Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
in the Victoran Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
with St Kilda, after arriving at the club from Scotch College.
List of Honours
- MBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, Member of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Military Division 1955 - OBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, Officer of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Military Division 1965 - CBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, Commander of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Military Division 1971 - AOOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, Officer of the Order of Australia Military Division 1975 - Centenary MedalCentenary MedalThe Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
, for services to Darwin Post Cyclone Tracy 2001