John Raymond Broadbent (Major General)

Major General John Raymond Broadbent, CBE, DSO, ED (24 June 1914 – 27 October 2006) was an Australian Army officer and lawyer.[1]

Not to be confused with John Raymond Broadbent (Quartermaster).

John Raymond Broadbent
Born(1914-06-24)24 June 1914
Manly, New South Wales
Died27 October 2006(2006-10-27) (aged 92)
North Sydney, New South Wales
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branchAustralian Army
Years of service1935–1966
RankMajor General
Service number
  • NX12225
  • 261506
Commands held2nd Division (1965–66)
5th Brigade (1955–58)
17th/18th Battalion (1948–51)
2/17th Battalion (1944–46)
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsCommander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order
Efficiency Decoration
Mentioned in Despatches

Early life and career

Broadbent studied at the University of Sydney, gaining the degrees of Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in 1938.[2]

Military career

Broadbent joined the Sydney University Regiment in 1935 and was commissioned in 1937. He served in the 17th Battalion (The North Sydney Regiment) during the interwar period, enlisted in Second Australian Imperial Force on 7 May 1940, and arrived in the Middle East in November. He was appointed captain in 1941. Broadbent returned to Sydney in February 1943 and was posted to New Guinea from August 1943 to February 1944. He was promoted temporary lieutenant colonel in February 1944 and awarded the Distinguished Service Order in April for "energy and determined leadership at Lae and Finschhafen" as a major.[3][4] Broadbent was posted to Borneo from April to December 1945 and discharged on 15 March 1946 with the rank of lieutenant colonel while Commanding Officer of the 2/17th Battalion.

Broadbent was appointed the first commanding officer of the 17/18th Battalion (The North Shore Regiment) on the raising of the Citizen Military Forces (CMF) in 1948. He was placed on the Reserve of Officers in 1951 and was appointed commander 5th Brigade as a brigadier in 1955. In 1958 he joined Eastern Command Officers Staff Group (ACMF) and was promoted to major general in 1963 to command Headquarters Communications Zone. From August 1965 to November 1966 Broadbent was General Officer Commanding the 2nd Division; and from December 1966 was appointed to the Unattached List of Eastern Command. On 10 June 1967, Broadbent was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.[5]

References
  1. "Obituary". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 November 2006. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  2. "John Raymond Broadbent (LLB '38, BA '38): Proud Soldier and Legal Innovator". Alumni and Friends. The University of Sydney. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  3. "Recommendation: Distinguished Service Order". Australian War Memorial.
  4. "DSO". Honours and Awards – John Raymond Broadbent. Australian War Memorial.
  5. "CBE". Honours and Awards – John Raymond Broadbent. Australian War Memorial.
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