Allan Boase
Encyclopedia
Major General
Allan Joseph Boase (19 February 1894-1 January 1964), CBE, was a soldier in the Australian Army
, who served in the First World War
and was a general during the Second World War
.
, in August of 1914, he was shipped to Egypt
the following month after the outbreak of the First World War
. He was amongst the troops landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, and together with his platoon, fought his way to Lone Pine
. Wounded the following day, Boase was evacuated, only rejoining his unit in September. Following the withdrawal of the allied forces from Gallipoli, his unit was posted to the Western Front
in June 1916. Promoted to Major at the end of the year, Boase performed staff duties for the remainder of the war.
During the inter-war years, Boase went to Staff College, Camberley, in England. Upon his return to Australia
served in a number of staff positions as well as an military exchange in India
. Shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War
, he was promoted to colonel
. Commandant of the Command and Staff School in Sydney
from November 1939 to April 1940, he was seconded to the Australian Imperial Force (AIF)
as quartermaster general of the 7th Division
. Dispatched with the division to the Middle East
in late 1940, he was promoted to temporary brigadier
and made responsible for the administration of the area around Gaza
, where the AIF had established its base. Boase was made a Commander of the British Empire
in 1942.
After spending around eight months in command of 16th Brigade, Boase was transferred to Ceylon, as General Officer Commanding (GOC), AIF, Ceylon in March 1942. After six months in this role, he returned to Australia as a Major General
to the General Staff, First Army, based at Toowoomba, Queensland. The following year, he was placed in command of 11th Division
, then in New Guinea
. He saw out the final months of the war as GOC, Western Command, in Perth.
and defence representative in London until a temporary promotion to Lieutenant General
in 1949. His final military posting was as GOC, Southern Command, based in Melbourne. He retired in 1951, remaining in Melbourne with his wife, Williamina, whom he married in 1922. He died on 1 January 1964 of a coronary occlusion, survived by his wife and two children.
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...
Allan Joseph Boase (19 February 1894-1 January 1964), CBE, was a soldier in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
, who served in the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and was a general during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early Life
Allan Joseph Boase was born in 1894 at Gympie, in Queensland, to English immigrants Charles and Harriet Boase. Educated at Brisbane Grammar School, he entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon, Federal Capital Territory, from which he graduated in 1914.Military Career
Joining 9th Battalion, Australian Imperial ForceFirst Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
, in August of 1914, he was shipped to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
the following month after the outbreak of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He was amongst the troops landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, and together with his platoon, fought his way to Lone Pine
Battle of Lone Pine
The Battle of Lone Pine was a battle between Australian and Turkish forces that took place during the Gallipoli campaign from 6–10 August 1915. It was part of a diversion to draw attention from the main assaults of 6 August against the Sari Bair peaks of Chunuk Bair and Hill 971, which became...
. Wounded the following day, Boase was evacuated, only rejoining his unit in September. Following the withdrawal of the allied forces from Gallipoli, his unit was posted to the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
in June 1916. Promoted to Major at the end of the year, Boase performed staff duties for the remainder of the war.
During the inter-war years, Boase went to Staff College, Camberley, in England. Upon his return to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
served in a number of staff positions as well as an military exchange in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was promoted to colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. Commandant of the Command and Staff School in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
from November 1939 to April 1940, he was seconded to the Australian Imperial Force (AIF)
Second Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
as quartermaster general of the 7th Division
7th Division
In military terms, 7th Division may refer to:Infantry divisions:* 7th Division * 7th Canadian Infantry Division* Finnish 7th Division * 7th Infantry Division * 7th Division...
. Dispatched with the division to the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
in late 1940, he was promoted to temporary brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
and made responsible for the administration of the area around Gaza
Gaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
, where the AIF had established its base. Boase was made a Commander of the British Empire
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...
in 1942.
After spending around eight months in command of 16th Brigade, Boase was transferred to Ceylon, as General Officer Commanding (GOC), AIF, Ceylon in March 1942. After six months in this role, he returned to Australia as a Major General
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...
to the General Staff, First Army, based at Toowoomba, Queensland. The following year, he was placed in command of 11th Division
11th Division (Australia)
The 11th Division was an Australian Army unit formed during World War II by the redesignation of Milne Force on 1 October 1942. The division saw action in New Britain...
, then in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. He saw out the final months of the war as GOC, Western Command, in Perth.
Later Life
After the war, Boase was the Australian ArmyAustralian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
and defence representative in London until a temporary promotion to Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
in 1949. His final military posting was as GOC, Southern Command, based in Melbourne. He retired in 1951, remaining in Melbourne with his wife, Williamina, whom he married in 1922. He died on 1 January 1964 of a coronary occlusion, survived by his wife and two children.