Harry Finn
Harry Finn | |
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![]() Major General Harry Finn c. 1906 | |
Born | (1852-12-06)6 December 1852 Tenterden, England |
Died | 24 June 1924(1924-06-24) (aged 71) Sydney, Australia |
Buried | South Head Cemetery, Sydney |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army |
Years of service | 1871–1907 |
Rank | Major General |
Commands | Australian Military Forces (1904–05) New South Wales Military District (1902–05) Queensland Defence Force (1899–01) |
Battles/wars | Second Anglo-Afghan War Mahdist War
|
Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Conduct Medal Mentioned in Despatches (2) |
Major General Henry Finn, CB, DCM (6 December 1852 – 24 June 1924) was a senior officer in the British Army who served as General Officer Commanding Australian Military Forces from 1904 to 1905.
Military career
Finn joined the British Army as a private in the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers in 1871.[1] He served in the Second Anglo-Afghan War of 1878 for which he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and mentioned in despatches.[1] He was commissioned into the 21st Lancers in 1881 becoming Inspector of Musketry for that Regiment in 1882 and Adjutant of the Regiment in 1884.[1]
In 1887 he was transferred to India and in 1898 he went to Sudan, fought in the Battle of Omdurman and was mentioned in despatches.[1]
Finn was placed on half-pay from his regiment, and was promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel on 2 March 1900.[2] Selected for the appointment in Australia as Commandant of the Queensland Defence Force,[3] he was granted the local rank of colonel whilst so employed from 2 March 1900.[2] He became Commandant of the New South Wales military area in 1902.[1] In 1904 he became General Officer Commanding Australian Military Forces and in 1905 he was made Inspector-General of the Australian Military Forces.[1] He was a keen horseman and rode to and from his residence at Dawes Point Battery every day.[4]
An inkwell made from the hoof of the horse Finn used in 1898 can still be seen at Victoria Barracks in Sydney.[5]
Family
In 1886, he married Catherine Scott and they went on to have two daughters and one son.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Harry Finn at Australian Dictionary of Biography
- ^ a b "No. 27170". The London Gazette. 2 March 1900. p. 1436.
- ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36080. London. 3 March 1900. p. 9.
- ^ The Barracks Guard Sydney Morning Herald, 24 December 1946
- ^ A Look at the History of Officers Mess Victoria Barracks 1848 – 2001 by John Kreckler
Military offices | ||
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Preceded by Major General Sir Edward Hutton | General Officer Commanding Australian Military Forces 1904–1905 | Succeeded by Major General William Bridges as Chief of the General Staff in 1909 |
- v
- t
- e
- Edward Hutton
- Harry Finn
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b9/Flag_of_Australia.svg/75px-Flag_of_Australia.svg.png)
- William Bridges
- John Hoad
- Francis Wilson
- Joseph Gordon
- James Legge
- Godfrey Irving
- Hubert Foster
- James Legge
- Brudenell White
- Harry Chauvel
- Walter Coxon
- Julius Bruche
- John Lavarack
- Ernest Squires
- John Northcott
- Brudenell White
- Vernon Sturdee
- John Northcott
- Vernon Sturdee
- Sydney Rowell
- Henry Wells
- Ragnar Garrett
- Reg Pollard
- John Wilton
- Thomas Daly
- Mervyn Brogan
- Francis Hassett
- Arthur MacDonald
- Donald Dunstan
- Phillip Bennett
- Peter Gration
- Lawrence O'Donnell
- John Coates
- John Grey
- John Sanderson
- John Sanderson
- Frank Hickling
- Peter Cosgrove
- Peter Leahy
- Ken Gillespie
- David Morrison
- Angus Campbell
- Richard Burr
- Simon Stuart