Thomas Griffiths (general)

Infobox Military Person
name= Thomas Griffiths
lived= 29 September 1865 – Death date and age|1947|11|16|1865|9|29|df=yes
placeofbirth= Presteigne, Wales
placeofdeath=


caption=
nickname=
allegiance= Australian Army
serviceyears= 1886-1927
rank= Brigadier General
commands=
unit=
battles= World War I
awards= Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order
laterwork=

Thomas Griffiths CMG, CBE, DSO (29 September 1865 – 16 November 1947) was an Australian Army colonel and temporary Brigadier General in World War I.

Early life and career

Thomas Griffiths was born on 29 September 1865 in the town of Presteigne, Radnor, Wales, the son a builder. He was educated at the Old Vicarage, Wrexham, Denbighshire, and migrated to Australia as a young man.

Griffiths enlisted in the Victorian Permanent Artillery as a gunner on 22 July 1886. In 1890 he became a military staff clerk at headquarters in Melbourne. He was promoted to regimental quartermaster sergeant in 1894 and became chief clerk of the Victorian Military Forces with the rank of warrant officer in 1895. After Federation he became a clerk in the Adjutant General's office at Army Headquarters in Melbourne. In September 1908 he was appointed secretary to the Military Board with the honorary rank of lieutenant in the Administrative and Instructional Staff. He became an honorary captain on 30 August 1909.

World War I

Griffiths was appointed the First Australian Imperial Force on 15 August 1914 as a captain on the 1st Division staff. In January 1915, Major General Bridges appointed Griffiths as his military secretary. On 28 March 1915 he became Deputy Assistant Adjutant General (DAAG) of the 1st Division. Griffith landed at Anzac with the 1st Division Headquarters at around 7:30 am on 25 April 1915. As DAAG, he was responsible for personnel. Most nights he could be found on the beach and the landing places, checking and sorting reinforcements, often under fire. On 12 May 1915, Griffiths became acting Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General (DAA & QMG). As such he was deputy to Lieutenant Colonel Foott, who was responsible for all administration and logistics in the 1st Division area at Anzac. In June Griffiths, who had served at Anzac throughout the campaign, was promoted to major.

When Lieutenant General Sir Birdwood informally became General Officer Commanding AIF in October 1915, Griffiths was transferred to his staff, as his military secretary, and given responsibility for all matters concerning promotion. In effect, Griffiths became adjutant general of the AIF, and it would be through Griffiths that Birdwood administered the AIF. For his work at Gallipoli and in the reorganisation of the AIF in Egypt, Griffiths was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order. In May he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and formally became Assistant Adjutant General of the AIF. Griffiths relocated to France with Birdwood's I Anzac Corps Headquarters.

On 8 April 1917, and against his wish, Griffiths became acting Commandant of the AIF Headquarters in London. He was promoted to full colonel and confirmed in the post on 12 May 1917. As such he was responsible for the entire administration of the AIF, the handling of pay and promotions, the recording of deaths and casualties, the postal services and record keeping. Griffiths was the representative of the Department of the Defence in dealings with the War Office. On 1 January 1918 he became a temporary brigadier general. For his work, Griffiths was mentioned in dispatches in 1916, appointed Companion of St Michael and St George (CMG) in January 1917 and Companion of the British Empire (CBE) in January 1919.

In September 1918, Prime Minister William Hughes granted six months leave in Australia to all members of the AIF who had served continuously since 1914. Griffiths elected to take leave, and returned to Australia with the AIF's Director of Medical Services, Major General Sir Howse, arriving in Sydney on 11 November 1918, the day the war ended. Accordingly, he returned to London in December and resumed duty at AIF Headquarters, finally returning to Melbourne on 4 September 1918.

Post war

In March 1920, Griffiths became Inspector General of Administration at the Department of Defence. Then he served as Administrator of New Guinea from April 1920 until March 1921. Later that year he became Administrator of Nauru, a post he held until 1927, when he retired. His retirement was short lived; in 1929 he became head of the Commonwealth War Pensions Entitlement Appeal Tribunal. He returned to New Guinea as Administrator from 1932 to 1934. During World War II he served for a time in the Department of Defence Co-ordination.

He died on 16 November 1947 and was buried with military honours in Melbourne General Cemetery.

ee also

List of Australian Generals

References

[http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/%7Ermallett/Generals/index.html Thomas Griffiths Biography at General Officers of the First AIF]