General Sir John Monash - Gold Signet Ring

Dublin Core

Title

General Sir John Monash - Gold Signet Ring

Subject

Sir John Monash, knighthood, First World War, World War I, World War, WW1, personal jewellery, Orders of Knighthood, knight, knighthood, ring, rings, jewellery, insignia, heraldry, latin motto, 'marte et arte', lion rampant, compass, seal ring, privy seal

Description

Signet ring made from 18 carat gold. The face of the ring is impressed with a lion rampant holding a compass. In a scroll below is the latin motto 'MARTE ET ARTE' [By war and arts]. These words are impressed in the reverse to enable the ring to be used as a seal. The inner band of the ring is stamped with a maker's mark and the carat.

John Monash GCMG, KCB (1865-1931) was born in West Melbourne and died in 1931 in Melbourne.
Of Prussian Jewish heritage, he participated in the landing at Anzac Cover Gallipoli and assumed command of the Australian Corps in May 1918. He was a key strategist in the campaigns in France and served and commanded troops in Gallipoli.

Entry on Australian War Memorial website:
'
John Monash was born in Melbourne on 27 June 1865. He was dux of Scotch College and studied arts and engineering at Melbourne University, where he was also involved in debating and student politics. Outside of university he dabbled in acting. In 1884 he joined the university company of the 4th Battalion, Victorian Rifles.

Monash worked on the construction of the Princes Bridge in Melbourne and in 1888 was placed in charge of constructing a new railway even though he had yet to complete his degree. Monash married Hannah Moss in April 1891. He finished his studies in 1895 and, having decided to combine engineering with a military career, was promoted to captain in the Garrison Artillery that year. In 1897 Monash was promoted to major in the North Melbourne Battery and served there for 11 years.

Meanwhile, he and a friend had established a private engineering practice in 1894. The business grew steadily but a series of setbacks left him with large debts in 1902. Starting again, Monash recovered and became wealthy. He also gained promotion to lieutenant colonel in the Australian Intelligence Corps in 1908. Now prospering in business and the Army, in 1913 Colonel Monash took command of the 13th Infantry Brigade.

After the outbreak of war, Monash took command of the AIF's 4th Infantry Brigade, landing at Gallipoli on 26 April 1915. In July he was promoted to brigadier. Monash took his brigade to France in June 1916. He became a major general in July and took command of the 3rd Division. The division's first major battle, Messines, was hailed as a great success. Further success followed and in May 1918, Monash was promoted to lieutenant general and given command of the Australian Corps. His first battle in this role, Hamel, came to be considered the 'perfect battle'. Monash remained in command through the victorious battles in the last months of the war.

After spending eight months in London overseeing the repatriation of the AIF, Monash was welcomed home in Melbourne by an enthusiastic public on Boxing Day 1919. He returned to business and in 1920 became manager of Victoria's State Electricity Commission. An advocate for returned soldiers, Monash also held a range of high-level positions. His opinions were widely sought and he became a leading figure in Melbourne's Jewish community.

Monash was promoted to general in November 1929. He died of heart disease in Melbourne on 8 October 1931 and was given a state funeral attended by some 250,000 mourners. '
 

Creator

Anon.

Source

Australian War Memorial REL/12508.023

Date

c. 1918

Rights

Australian War Memorial REL/12508.023

Format

Hyperlink; Digital image of object

Hyperlink Item Type Metadata