Lawrence O'Donnell (general)
Lieutenant General Lawrence George O'Donnell AC (born 17 January 1933) was a senior officer in the Australian Army who served as Chief of the General Staff (1987–1990).
Lawrence George O'Donnell | |
---|---|
Born | Quairading, Western Australia | 17 January 1933
Allegiance | Australia |
Service/ | Australian Army |
Years of service | 1952–1990 |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Commands held | Chief of the General Staff (1987–90) Land Commander Australia (1986–87) Field Force Command (1985–86) Deputy Chief of the General Staff (1984–85) |
Battles/wars | Malayan Emergency Vietnam War |
Awards | Companion of the Order of Australia Mentioned in Despatches |
Other work | President, National Rifle Association of Australia (1990–06)[1] |
Military career
As an exchange troop leader O'Donnell served with 1st King's Dragoon Guards and was dispatched as part of the British Army response to the Malayan Emergency in 1957.[2]
He was posted to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment and, as a major, was deployed to Vietnam where he was Mentioned in Despatches.[3]
He was appointed Chief of the General Staff in 1987 and made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1989 for service to the Australian Army in this role.[4]
In retirement he became Chairman of a campaign to build a permanent monument in Canberra to commemorate the contributions of migrants to Australia.[5] In 2000 he shot for Australia at Bisley, captaining the Kolapore Team.[6]
References
- "The NRAA President". NRAA History. National Rifle Association of Australia. 24 May 2022. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- Interview by Colonel David Chinn MBE (Rtd) Archived 5 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine Australian War Memorial
- Lawrence George O'DONNELL Nominal Roll of Vietnam Veterans, www.vietnamroll.gov.au
- Companion of the Order of Australia, 12 June 1989, It's an Honour
- Immigration Bridge Australia
- "Kolapore Results - 2000-Present" (PDF). National Rifle Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2023.