Gordon Bennett (general)

Henry Gordon Bennett
Bennett in 1962
Born	15 April 1887 (1887-04-15) Balwyn, Melbourne
Died	1 August 1962 (1962-09) (aged 75) Dural, Sydney
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Australian Army
Years of service	1908–1944
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	III Corps (1942–1944) 8th Division (1940–1942) 2nd Division (1926–1932) 9th Infantry Brigade (1921–1926) 3rd Infantry Brigade (1916–1918) 6th Battalion (1915–1916)
Battles/wars	World War I Gallipoli campaign Western Front World War II Malayan campaign Fall of Singapore
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Volunteer Decoration Mentioned in Despatches (8) Knight Commander of the Order of Prince Danilo I (Montenegro)[1]
Spouse(s)	Bess Buchanan ​ (m. 1916⁠–⁠1962)​
Children	1 daughter
Other work	Orchardist; company director; board chairman

Lieutenant General Henry Gordon Bennett, CB, CMG, DSO, VD^[2] (15 April 1887 – 1 August 1962) was a senior Australian Army officer who served in both World War I and World War II. Despite highly decorated achievements during World War I, during which he commanded at both battalion and brigade level and became the youngest general in the Australian Army, Bennett is best remembered for his role during the fall of Singapore in February 1942. As commander of the 8th Australian Division, he escaped while his men became prisoners of the Imperial Japanese Army. After this, Bennett's military career waned and, although he rose to command a corps, he never again commanded troops in battle. In 1945, his escape caused controversy and resulted in a Royal Commission and military enquiry. Both found that he had been unjustified in relinquishing his command.

A citizen soldier, before World War I Bennett had worked in the insurance industry and at the conclusion of hostilities pursued his commercial interests while continuing to serve in the military in a part-time capacity, commanding at brigade and divisional level. He retired from the Army after World War II and turned to farming in the Hills District northwest of Sydney. He remained active in the world of business and as a military commentator, before dying in 1962 at the age of 75