Monash

by Grantlee Kieza

Stunning trade paperback edition of Grantlee Kieza's bestselling biography of Australia's greatest general.

It's December 1918 and the world war is over. General Sir John Monash attends a glittering banquet to dine with the King of England and the likes of Woodrow Wilson, Winston Churchill and Rudyard Kipling. Just four months earlier, the commander of the Australian Corps had been knighted in a battlefield, a long way from the streets of Melbourne where this son of a long line of Polish rabbis had grown up. Field Marshal Montgomery would declare decades later that Monash was the best general to serve on the Western Front. How had this notorious ladies' man, who harboured private thoughts about the futility of war and had never fired a shot in anger, come to be feted by the British establishment as well as his countrymen back home? In this essential biography of a most unlikely folk hero, Grantlee Kieza paints a lively portrait of an outsider who shaped modern Australia through his energy, drive and ambition, his military brilliance and his vision.

Genres: Biography, History, Australia, War, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Military History

718 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2015

Reviews

[Jeremy Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a surprising book written in a very accessible way. Starting with the revealing diaries of Monash as a young man - and then relying more on the accounts of others it paints a very honest picture of this substantial man and giant of Australia's modern history. The quote from Montgomery at the front of the book says a lot: 'I would name Sir John Monash as the best general on the Western Front in Europe; he possessed real creative originality, and the war might well have been won sooner, and certainly with fewer casualties, had Haig been relieved of his command and Monash appointed to command the British armies in his place'.

For me what humanises this story is the early account of this young man, German-speaking, immigrant family, Jewish within a storied and struggling community. Ambitious to a fault - ruthless but determinedly loyal to family and patriotic in a clear-eyed way and so very proud of the democratic traditions he joined. Close to retirement 'having never seen a shot fired in anger, 'he was sitting behind his desk at his engineering firm in Melbourne' - four years later 'lauded as the greatest living Australian, and one of history's most astute tacticians.'

The other aspect is the great detail about life in Victoria in the late 19th and early 20th Century and his part as an engineer in creating enduring structures based on modern method whilst pursuing a parallel career as a militia (Army Reserve) officer. So much of interest in this book.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knowing very little about John Monash until recently, it was a revelation to read Grantlee Kieza’s biography of the man.

I can’t say we learned much (if anything) about Monash in my home state of NSW – but in more recent years as a resident of Victoria I’ve at least picked up on the Monash University and Shrine of Remembrance connections. Lately, research for my own book ‘Brothers in Arms’ during 2015 startled me into awareness of some of Monash’s wartime achievements.

His story reminded me all over again of the Governor Arthur Phillip story – Phillip’s 'never' mentioned as the perfect role model for citizenship on Australia Day, as he should be, and Monash is 'never' mentioned as the archetypal good citizen on Anzac Day, as he should be. I love the fact that both men were such independent and clear thinkers with such a constructive approach. I’m very tired of the lauding of rebelliousness in our culture - with Ned Kelly and Peter Lalor (Eureka Stockade) and sporting personalities and selected politicians usually presented as our archetypal national heroes.

As an Australian military history, the book had gigantic holes, because it focused only on Monash and the units in which he served while skimming over the military achievements of others, such as the 1st and 2nd Divisions of the AIF. However the book was an eye-opener to the appalling leadership of the Great War - all those wartime military leaders jockeying for position, so lacking in ideas and so careless of the men they sent to be slaughtered. And I marvelled at Monash’s ability to rise above his Germanic background, an obvious cause for suspicion of him as a loyal soldier during WW1.

It must have been wonderful for Kieza to have so much original source material to work from, plus numerous comments from a diverse range of people who knew Monash well while he was alive, providing plenty of scope for fleshing out a personality. Although the dense layer of detail in the book was sometimes overwhelming and I found myself skimming much of it, unable to keep exact track of so many ‘players’, I found the book interesting from start to finish and couldn’t put it down.

The author’s use of present and future tense was annoying, especially references such as to Bradfield in 1926 as ‘the man who will build the Sydney Harbour Bridge’ (the construction project had been underway since around 1912). However I enjoyed his focus on the societal contribution of an engineer, which took me back decades to the time in my own youth when engineers were ‘king’ in Australia. I recalled my grandfather Engr Lieut Cleon Dennis (a founding officer in the RAN and personally involved in building naval cruisers and the Emden battle) and his engineer brother Spenser Dennis (involved in building the Sydney Harbour Bridge and about 700 other bridges in NSW). Then there was the impressive Snowy River Scheme, constructed during my childhood. My first husband was a telecommunications engineer. I guess I was more than ready to embrace Monash as an engineer.

Monash’s family background as a Prussian Jew, his socioeconomic status as a child in Australia, his Jerilderie and bushwalking life experiences, his wonderful obsession with education in its broadest sense, his own particular brand of womanising – all showed fascinating aspects of his character, providing great insights into why he was so creatively different as a general in WW1.

Although the author tried to make a case that Monash suffered significantly from discrimination against Jews, my 'take' on the book was that his real problem as a soldier and citizen was the prevailing and very patronising English attitude to ‘colonials’, no matter what their religion, combined with the good old Australian habit of cutting down tall poppies, especially egotistical tall poppies. WW1 turned society on its head and, with so many suffering victims afterwards, Australia's tall poppy syndrome flourished post-war, with Monash treated disgracefully by officialdom.

But before, during and after that appalling war he steadfastly continued to make an outstanding contribution as an engineer. I’m very glad I read this book and gained an understanding of a great man.

[Benjamin Fraser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable and educational book. It's a massive read but fast paced. Monash was an incredible Australian hero

[Geoff Wooldridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monash: the Man Who Shaped Australia by Grantlee Kieza is a well-researched, engagingly presented biography of a flawed but brilliant man who may well be Australia's greatest military man.

Of German Jewish extraction (originally Monasch), John is the son of migrants Louis and Bertha who came to Australia to try their luck in gold-crazy Victoria.

John shows early promise academically, and is provided every educational opportunity his father can afford, despite many of his business ventures achieving limited success.

As Monash develops into his teenage years, he alternates between dutiful application and periods of distraction and neglect. He is interested and talented in a wide variety of subjects, but he discovers girls, drinking and other social activities that provide alternative demands on his time.

Monash is particularly attractive to, and attracted by women, a trait that stays with him for all his life. He has many dalliances with eligible women in the Melbourne social set and has a tempestuous affair with a married woman that almost ends disastrously.

Ultimately, he settles and marries Vic (Hannah Victoria Moss), with whom he has a passionate but stormy relationship for much of their marriage. He settles into business, mostly of an engineering nature, mostly successful but with notable spectacular failures. His prosperity and social position in Melbourne grows steadily.

Monash maintains an interest in local military activities in the pre-war period and shows flair and aptitude for planning and strategy.

When the Great War erupts in 1914, Monash is well placed for a leadership position, and he is at Gallipoli for the ANZAC campaign. His reputation continues to rise, although he is not popular with everyone, especially war correspondent Charles Bean.

Eventually Monash finds himself on the front lines in France, where his reputation is enhanced to almost hero status. His planning and execution of the Battle for Hamel is part of Australian military folklore.

Monash's continued attacks on the German lines are mostly decisive and successful, and it is arguable that his actions may have shortened the war by up to one year.

Back in Melbourne, after he organises the demobilisation of Australian troops from London, he is widely feted for his achievements, but is given little formal recognition by the Australian government. Monash's relationship with Prime Minister Billy Hughes was always prickly at best.

Throughout his excellent biography, Kieza maintains a balance in his portrayal of Monash - as a successful, heroic, generous and well-regarded man, as well as a flawed, often arrogant, opinionated and self-promoting man, who was distrusted by some because of his German Jewish heritage and by others for his 'spin' on facts that always portrayed himself in a better light than his colleagues.

I knew something of Monash and his famous WWI exploits before reading this biography, but I now feel I have a much better appreciation of the man in the context of history and the world events of the early 20th century. Monash is undoubtedly a great Australian.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this. Its a very big book but very interesting all the way.

[Thebard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought this was an excellent history.

This is a review from the Australian newspaper by former senator Stephen Loosley. He makes some very good points


Few places of honour underline the recurring tragedy of war more graphically than the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux in France. This sacred ground commemorates the sacrifice of Australian and other Allied soldiers in the Great War of 1914-18. But as you climb to the top of the tower that overlooks the memorial and surrounding countryside, scene of a great Australian triumph in 1918, it becomes obvious the immeasurable sacrifice of the fallen did not conclude a ‘‘war to end war’’.

Chunks of masonry are missing. Bullet holes scar the walls. This is the result of German heavy infantry weapons being deployed in 1940 to dislodge the French defenders of the memorial during World War II, as the Wehrmacht advanced in the west. On the fall of Paris in June 1940, a Wehrmacht officer observed that the campaign to take the French capital had lasted 26 years.

But in 1918, Australian infantry had won brilliant battlefield engagements against the Germans, blunting Erich Ludendorff’s final offensive. Villers-Bretonneux was one such victory, still being commemorated in the township today with Australian place names and a schoolhouse sign that says: “Never Forget the Australians”. Le Hamel was another striking success. In both battles, the Australian commander was General John Monash.

Monash is now the fabric of Australian legend. He is acknowledged variously by having public institutions from a freeway to a university named after him. He appears on the $100 note, and he is widely regarded as the personification of Australian leadership and martial skills in battle and dedicated public service in peace.

In Monash: The Soldier who Shaped Australia, Grantlee Kieza pursues the man and in so doing projects the legend.

The Monash family was originally of Prussian Jewish stock. His father, Louis, and mother, Bertha, emigrated to Melbourne and settled in St Kilda in 1864. A son was born on June 27, 1865, and reported in the newspaper as John Monash, the family having decided to anglicise their name.

Life for the newly arrived Monash family was not without pressures, particularly financial. In hopes of bettering the family circumstances, they moved north to Jerilderie in the Riverina where Louis opened a general store. It is at Jerilderie where one of the strangest encounters in Australian history occurs. The young John Monash meets Ned Kelly.

According to Monash’s later accounts, his ­father is in need of a new horse and buys four white ponies from young Kelly; Ned takes them to the Monash home. Louis is said to have boasted that he even managed to trick Kelly out of his money. John Monash will later tell audiences that Kelly gave him a shilling to hold his horse. Kelly and his gang, he says, would have made good soldiers. Pondering this observation, one can only imagine the potential heroism of Ned and his brother Daniel Kelly, Steve Hart and Joe Byrne charging with the 4th Light Horse at Beersheba.

Monash’s mother was the great influence on the young man growing up. While his father struggled with various businesses, Bertha never lost sight of the importance of education and made certain young John attended the best schools, through Scotch College to the University of Melbourne. Monash was ambitious and never left anyone in doubt as to his talents, but his mother constantly reinforced the need to succeed in this new Australian society. Twice over, the Monash family could be considered outsiders, being German and Jewish. Thus the need was always there to work just that much harder to ensure success.

But more than success, Bertha was a civilising influence on her son, introducing him to the arts and seeing him develop as a fine pianist.

At university, Monash was gregarious and popular but he struggled with different subjects from time to time. The university militia, however, was no chore, and he excelled, rising steadily through the ranks.

But the great flaw in the young man who emerged in Melbourne society as both an engineer of note and a militia officer of promise was his relentless womanising. His most passionate and notorious affair was with the wife of one of his subordinates on a construction project, Fred Gabriel. Annie Gabriel may well have been the love of Monash’s life but their tempestuous relationship nearly ruined both of them. Kieza draws attention to one spectacular incident as the lovers meet:

As they canoodled, Fred comes hurtling over a hill above them like a charging cavalryman. Monash is sent tumbling as the two men grapple over Monash’s walking stick. Annie screams in terror but Fred drags her down to the Johnston Street Bridge …. However as Fred, “very violent in his language”, pushes Annie onto a tram, Monash jumps on as well, and the three combatants go at it hammer and tongs in a furious row, startling passengers, until all three jump off at Smith Street.

A fracas like that could be taken from a ­biography of Charlie Sheen.

Kieza is the author of 10 books, including a biography of Australian airman Bert Hinkler. He has written for newspapers including The Australian, Brisbane’s TheCourier Mail and Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph . His style reflects his profession: clear and accessible. It makes for easy reading, notwithstanding the occasional lapse into florid language.

Nonetheless, the great strength of Monash is that Kieza has made the life of Australia’s greatest general open to a broad new audience. It is a decade or more since a major biography of Monash was published, and this well-crafted and extensively documented volume appropriately coincides with the centenary of World War I.

Monash’s success as an innovative civil engineer, introducing new products and processes, brought prosperity, and marriage to Hannah Victoria Moss. A greater degree of stability, though, did not stop his eye from wandering. The outbreak of war, however, changed ­Monash’s life every bit as much as it served to change Australia. As a brigadier, he commanded Australian troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

It is sometimes claimed that Australia had no reason to take part in World War I. Even if one ignores the requirement for imperial defence, this is nonsense. Germany was present in the Pacific in the formidable capabilities of the East Asia Squadron in China, and there were German colonies in New Guinea and at Rabaul. Indeed it was the threat posed by the German cruiser Emden to the Anzac convoys that caused HMAS Sydney to pursue and sink the German raider off the Cocos Islands in November 1914.

Australia had its own national interests to consider in supporting Britain and the empire. But the Gallipoli campaign was, of course, an epic failure. Monash’s performance was not regarded highly by his superiors, but the Australian war correspondent and later historian Charles Bean recognised the essence of Monash’s leadership skills. Bean noted that he would make a better divisional than a brigade commander, and a better corps commander than a divisional one. Bean was one of Monash’s most acerbic critics, partly a reflection of his ­latent anti-Semitism, but there can be no doubt that his assessment of Monash was peculiarly insightful.

Precisely as Bean predicted, Monash shone in command on the Western Front over the years 1917-18. He handled Australian troops with great skill and care, and his reputation grew, including with superiors such as Field Marshal Douglas Haig. In 1918, at the insistence of the Australian government, especially prime minister Billy Hughes, the five Australian divisions were grouped together in a corps and Monash was named commander in May.

At Le Hamel, Monash brought all the skills of generalship to bear. He had predicted a battle lasting 90 minutes (it lasted 93), and the combined arms assault in the pre-dawn hours saw the Germans routed. Monash deployed a creeping artillery barrage, air support and tanks to deliver a knockout blow. More significantly, it was the first time American troops had fought on the Western Front and several companies of “Black Jack” Pershing’s infantry served successfully under Australian command. The battle was fought on Independence Day, July 4, 1918.

British prime minister Lloyd George maintained that if Monash had been in command of all British armies on the Western Front rather than Haig, the war would have ended a year earlier. This assertion has always been open to doubt, given the intensity of the German U-boat campaign in the Atlantic in early 1917; the fact that the French army had not recovered from the bloodletting of the previous three years and would see some units mutiny in 1917; the Americans had not yet mobilised; and Czarist Russia was knocked out of the war at the end of 1917. Nonetheless, Monash’s reputation for meticulous planning and for superb execution of battle plans caused him to be looked on favourably by many, including George V.

Kieza’s biography is nowhere near as adulatory as Roland Perry’s work of 2004, Monash: The Outsider Who Won a War, but it does accept many of Monash’s assessments of his own strengths, as detailed in both of his accounts: The Australian Victories in France in 1918 and War Letters of General Monash.

Kieza might have been more searching of his subject but it is difficult to disagree with his endorsement of Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery’s more nuanced assessment: ‘‘I would name Sir John Monash as the best general on the Western Front in Europe; he possessed real creative originality, and the war might well have been won sooner, and certainly with fewer casualties, had Haig been relieved of his command and Monash appointed to command the British armies in his place.’’

No other Australian general has ever achieved Monash’s standing. On his death in Melbourne in 1931, an estimated 300,000 citizens lined the streets for his funeral procession. ­Monash’s reputation for judgment and capacity has never been seriously challenged, certainly not in Geoffrey Serle’s benchmark 1982 biography, John Monash, which was based on the Monash family papers.

The subtitle of Kieza’s book, The Soldier Who Shaped Australia, is perceptive: Monash continues to reflect the best in the Australian character. In war he cared for his troops, even ensuring hot meals for frontline soldiers. In the peacetime he was visionary, particularly while running the State Electricity Commission of Victoria.

But perhaps Monash’s greatest achievement was to overcome the poisonous influence of anti-Semitism. Certainly, the photograph of George V knighting him on the battlefield ­dispelled any lingering doubts as to Monash’s talents and loyalties. He had often been the victim of whispering campaigns but the knighthood represented accomplishment and acknowledgment.

Monash himself demonstrated an extraordinary generosity of spirit, as Keiza records:

At a dinner given by the Maccabean Society in London’s Oxford Street on 4 March 1919, Monash tells his audience, including [Generals] Birdwood and White, that he finds himself “the object of considerable curiosity, because he belongs to the Jewish race” and because before the war he did not belong to the “profession of arms”. Yet he puts forward the best picture of Australia he can, saying to considerable applause that in his native country such a thing as religious discrimination is unknown. In his recollection there has never been an obstacle of any kind placed in the way of any Australian Jew in regard to career.

This is a remarkable statement and emphasised the significance of tolerance in the infant Australian Commonwealth. If we are largely free of the anti-Semitism which has disfigured so many other societies, then Monash must be said to have made a primary contribution.

Monash deserves to stand alone. Kieza has produced a sympathetic but honest portrait of Australia’s greatest and most influential ­general.

Stephen Loosley is chairman of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Canberra and author of Machine Rules: A Political Primer.

Monash: The Soldier Who Shaped Australia

By Grantlee Kieza

ABC Books, 714pp, $39.99 (HB)

[Bill Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous

[Harold · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding look at the life of a great Australian - warts and all. Fully endorse Tim Fischer's plan to have him promoted posthumously to Field Marshal.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very engaging bio on one of Australia's greatest leaders. From his formative years as a somewhat promiscuous teen, his often frustrating time as a militia officer in the Victorian Garrison Artillery, his trials and tribulations as an Engineer and entrepreneur to field command in WW1, subsequnet snubbing by the Australian Government and his role in Victoria's State Electricity Commission, this book paints a thorough picture of the man warts and all and is a balanced and objective work.
The only draw back is a result of the proof reading by people who should have known better, Churchill was not sacked from the Admiralty after Gallipoli, he resigned, Waterloo was not a battle between Nelson and Wellington (later on the topic comes up again and it was Nelson v Napoleon!) and the .303 Lee Enfield can hold 10 rounds. Whilst these glaring errors riled me at the time they did not detract from the narrative of the man himself much at all, and as the book progressed it was evident that the author was gaining more confidence on writing from a military aspect.
But for those annoying errors this would have been 5 stars.

[Patrick Turnbull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grant-Lee Kieza presents a thorough and very readable account of one of modern Australia’s most important people, John Monash. Careful not to disregard the many criticisms Monash received over the years, Kieza manages to present a well balanced and objective story, which is both captivating and inspiring. There are plenty of wisdoms and experiences to learn from throughout the text and important history which is essential in understanding the Australia that we live in today - specifically for those from Melbourne and Victoria. I challenge somebody to read this book and not gain a greater insight into their own self or nation.

[Vincent Messi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very long but excellent biography. Monash had an elastic brain and knew how to use it.

[Peter Fazackerley · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

[Carol Gaston · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extraordinary biography of an extraordinary Australian

[Craig Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoo hooo!, this is my 500th book on goodreads, now halfway to my lifetime goal of 1000 books. :)

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, Monash was a normal person in so many ways he had the same faults and frailties as most of us, except his capacity for work, learning and success in all that he did was astounding.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memorable book, not only for its biographical account of Monash but also for its description of the Australian involvement in the Gallipoli campaign and in France and Belgium in WWI.

[Craig Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about a great man that changed the direction of World War strategies and helped shape a nation Australia. Highly recommended.

[Ross McLaughlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps one of the most relevant & insightful reads for any Australian citizen - or history buff.

Widely known for the University bearing his namesake, as well as the M1 Freeway and of course, the City of Monash encompassing over 200,000 Melbourne residents, Sir John Monash's feats remain largely unknown.

Grantlee Kieza scripts a monumental tribute to Monash, carrying an abundance of references worthy of such a figure. His achievements and contribution to both peace-keeping and civilian life are simply staggering.

It's also Kieza's honesty which really rings true in reading this masterpiece. Monash, while he was Dux of Scotch, pioneer of Victorian & interstate engineering, allied war hero and generous contributor to Australian society, he was not immune to pride or lust.

John Monash ought to be remembered for ensuring the liberty of our privileged world today - no doubt aided by his methodical strategy. History, on the other hand, ought not to be tweaked to omit events or behaviours that don't align with the values of today - History just is.

[Adam Windsor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid biography of Sir john Monash, an Australian engineer and militiaman who rose to command the largest Corps on WW1's western front, despite being an "amateur soldier", of German-born parents, and a Jew: all qualities that saw many determined to prevent his ascension. It seems he was pretty good at the job, once they finally let him do it!

[Cody · Rating 1 out of 5]

A bit ordinary. Written and researched fairly well; however, this was certainly not a balanced, factual historical treatment and seems to twist and distort evidence in a frankly appalling manner. Not recommended unless you make an effort to recognise the numerous unsubstantiated and unwarranted suggestions and claims in this book.

[cameron ross paton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvellous book about a great man. Well written, with details about his military campaigns and his personal and business life .
Well worth the read for every Australian and anyone interested in the history of the Great War.

[Tyler Hayden · Rating 3 out of 5]

See TH Book List for review. But overall, this is a great autobiography but some of it can be such a drag; however, all the parts and exposition make the end and his character more easily understood.

[Tflinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dense, but brought out well the brilliance of a great Aussie and their epic heroism in WW1. Good history of late 19th century Melbourne too.

[Barry Richardson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tedious, over-long, far more detail than I needed or wanted, this was a considerable disappointment.

[Dallas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about a great Australian. Very well researched and though 700 pages long very readable, highlighting Monash's extraordinary brain and talents but never shying away from his flaws.

[Scott Houston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelent

[Richard Dickmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readable and thorough account of this truly great Australian.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading this, having read much about John Monash in other WW1 books. And in many ways it was a good read. The life of John Monash—widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever military commander—is undoubtedly fascinating and in many ways admirable. And Kieza has done a good job of organising, re-telling, and analysing the life of such an influential and complex figure. Yet in some ways I found it to be slightly disappointing. Perhaps it was my own high expectations, but for me it felt 100 pages longer than it needed to be with some sections bogged down by too much unnecessary detail. Moreover—and I know this is unrelated to the actual book itself—but I didn't expect Monash to be so, well, unlikeable. His vanity and self-promotion beggar belief. Though Charles Bean was far from innocent, I'm really not surprised he didn't like him. Monash was good and he knew it. And he wanted everyone else to know it. Still, Monash does not occupy the place he does in history for no reason, and there is no doubting his amazing ability as a businessman, leader, and military commander.

[Avid Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5 - not a 4 - mostly just his diaries