‘The Making of a General: Lost Years, Forgotten Battles’ Lieutenant General Frank Berryman 1894-1941 by Peter J Dean B.A. (Hons), Grad Dip Ed. Major-General Frank H Berryman, 1942 A thesis submitted to the University of New South Wales in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History Sydney, Australia, 2007 COPYRIGHT STATEMENT ‘I hereby grant the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all proprietary rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstract International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). I have either used no substantial portions of copyright material in my thesis or I have obtained permission to use copyright material; where permission has not been granted I have applied/will apply for a partial restriction of the digital copy of my thesis or dissertation.' Signed ……………………………………………........................... Date ……………………………………………........................... AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT ‘I certify that the Library deposit digital copy is a direct equivalent of the final officially approved version of my thesis. No emendation of content has occurred and if there are any minor variations in formatting, they are the result of the conversion to digital format.’ Signed ……………………………………………........................... Date ……………………………………………........................... PLEASE TYPE THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname or Family name: Dean First name: Peter Other name/s: John Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: PhD School: History Faculty: Arts & Social Sciences Title: ‘The Making of a General: Lost Years, Forgotten Battles’ Lieutenant General Frank Berryman 1894-1941 Abstract 350 words maximum: (PLEASE TYPE) This thesis examines the early military career and life of Lieutenant General Sir Frank Berryman from 1894 through to the end of his involvement in the Middle East campaigns. It begins with his family background and education on the outskirts of Melbourne before tracing, in detail, his personal life and military career until the end of 1941. The specific focus of this investigation is not just his military education and his role in the Cyrenaica and Syrian campaigns, but also the development of his personality and character. Personality and character provides a window of insight that not only helps to illuminate Berryman’s performance as an officer and his professional relationships but it also allows for a deeper understanding of this complex individual. This thesis argues that these, the ‘lost years’ and ‘forgotten battles’, are integral to developing an understanding of this exceptional officer. In Berryman we see an important staff officer and commander whose place in Australia’s military history has been largely overlooked. One of the central themes of this work is that Berryman has been misunderstood and misrepresented within the existing historiography. He was one of the most important figures in the Australian Army during the Second World War and it was during the period covered in this thesis that he established his reputation as a commander and staff officer. Key to this investigation, therefore, is the themes of Berryman’s developing leadership and culture of command. This work seeks to reveal the nature and experience of a highly successful officer who is also, to a great extent, representative of a generation of permeant Staff Corps officers who have largely been ignored within the genre of Australian military biography. Ultimately this thesis concludes that Berryman was a central figure in the Australian Army’s success in Cyrenaica and Syria. He demonstrated all of the qualities essential for a successful commander and senior officer and it was in these battles and his earlier military and life experiences that set the stage for his exceptional performance and contribution to the success of the Australian Army, not only in the Middle East but also later in the South West Pacific Campaigns. Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). …………………………………………… ……………………………………..…………… ……….……………………...… Signature Witness Date The University recognises that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for restriction for a period of up to 2 years must be made in writing. Requests for a longer period of restriction may be considered in exceptional circumstances and require the approval of the Dean of Graduate Research. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date of completion of requirements for Award: THIS SHEET IS TO BE GLUED TO THE INSIDE FRONT COVER OF THE THESIS ORIGINALITY STATEMENT ‘I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no materials previously published or written by another person, or substantial proportions of material which have been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at UNSW or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged in the thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project's design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged.’ Signed Date: 22 January 2007 For all of the soldiers of my family who have fought in Australia’s wars and in particular for: NX 1662 Lance Corporal Patrick Goggin MM, b. 1894 – Died of Wounds, Sydney 7 January 1937. & NX 5026 Sargent John Carnel Goggin, b. 1890 – Killed in Action, Hangard Wood, 7 April 1918. They knew first hand the deprivations and sacrifice of a soldier’s life. CONTENTS Page Contents v Acknowledgements vii Maps x Figures xi Abbreviations xii Introduction 1 The Formative Years _____________________________________________________ Chapter One ‘The Foundations of a Military Career’ 24 From Geelong to Duntroon Chapter Two ‘A Military Education’ 48 The Royal Military College Duntroon, 1913-1915 Chapter Three ‘A Gunners War’ 65 War & the Western Front, 1915-1918 Chapter Four ‘The Bitter-Sweet Years’ 102 The Staff Corps, Romance, and Camberley, 1919-1929 Chapter Five ‘Hard Work and Friends in High Places’ 132 Depression, Rearmament, and Resentment, 1929-1939 v The Architect of Victory _____________________________________________________ Chapter Six ‘Friends, Colleagues and Conflict’ 153 Colonel F.H. Berryman and the Preparations for War, September 1939 – December 1940 Chapter Seven ‘Planning for Victory’ 179 Colonel F.H. Berryman and the Battle for Bardia, December 1940 - January 1941 Chapter Eight ‘The Perfect Battle’ 217 Tobruk, January 1941 A Fighting Leader _______________________________________________________ Chapter Nine ‘Commanding from the Front’ 239 Operation Exporter & the Battle for Merdjayoun, January 1941-June 1941 Chapter Ten ‘Artillery Commander’ 283 The Battle for Damour, July – December 1941 Conclusion ‘In Reflection 1894-1941’ 311 Appendices Appendix A Berryman Family Tree 333 Appendix B 6th Australian Division Operational Order No.6 334 For the Capture of Bardia 1 January 1941. Appendix C Career details and appointments: 341 Lieutenant-General F.H. Berryman 1913-1946 Bibliography 348 vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS While ultimately a thesis is an individual journey there is inevitably going to be a vast community of supporters who have contributed to the project and helped it to reach it goals. Firstly I would like to acknowledge the support of the Berryman family, especially Sir Frank’s son Richard and daughter Ann. They have been most supportive of the project and have provided me with interviews, open access to the family’s private papers and most importantly their trust in me to provide an accurately and fair assessment of their father’s life. Any good historical work must be grounded in archival research. This thesis would not have been possible without the help of the staff at a number of Australian and overseas archives, libraries and institutions. I would like to especially thank; David Jolliffe and the staff at the Australian War Memorial whose efficiency, friendly disposition and knowledge were of immense value. This thanks must also extend to James Zobel of the Douglas MacArthur Memorial Archives in Norfolk Va, Luke Savage – archivist at Melbourne High School, Dr John Bourne (University of Birmingham), Associate Professor Andrew Moore (University of Western Sydney),