Alan Bishop Stretton | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1922-09-30)30 September 1922 Melbourne, Victoria |
| Died | 26 October 2012(2012-10-26) (aged 90) Batemans Bay, New South Wales |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service | Australian Army |
| Years of service | 1940–1978 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands | 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1961–63) |
| Battles / wars | Second World War Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Officer of the Order of Australia Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order (Vietnam) Bronze Star Medal (United States) |
| Alan Stretton | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Position(s) | fullback & ruck | ||
| Playing career | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1946-1947 | St Kilda (VFL) | 16 (10) | |
| 1948 | Brighton (VFA) | (unknown) | |
| 1955-57 | Sorrento (MPFL) | 26 (unknown) | |
| Career highlights | |||
1948 Premiers (Brighton) | |||
| Sources:AFL Tables,AustralianFootball.com | |||
Major GeneralAlan Bishop Stretton,AO, CBE (30 September 1922 – 26 October 2012) was a seniorAustralian Army officer. He came to public prominence through his work in charge of cleanup efforts atDarwin in the aftermath ofCyclone Tracy on Christmas Day 1974.[1] As head of theNational Disasters Organisation he managed the evacuation of 35,000 people in six days, including loading a jumbo jet with 673 passengers,[2] mostly children, then a record for the most people aloft in the one aircraft.
Stretton was born on 30 September 1922 inMelbourne, Victoria.[3] He was educated at Caulfield Grammar School[4] andScotch College, Melbourne.[5] After graduating from theRoyal Military College, Duntroon, he began his military career serving with the2/9th Battalion during the Second World War.[6][7]
In 1946 and 1947 Stretton played 16 games ofAustralian rules football in theVictorian Football League withSt Kilda, after arriving at the club from Duntroon.[8]
Stretton served in the army from 1940 to 1978. In the Second World War he served as a platoon commander in the 2/9th Battalion.[5]
In theKorean War he served in the1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment from 1954 to 1955. He was appointed aMember of the Order of the British Empire on 13 December 1955.[9] In Malaya he served as the commanding officer of the2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1961–63). On 12 June 1965 he was appointed anOfficer of the Order of the British Empire.[10] He served three tours during theVietnam War, in 1962, 1966 and 1967. He was Director of administrative planning at headquarters (1966–69), and from 1969 to 1970 was chief of staff of the Australian forces. On 8 January 1971 he was advanced toCommander of the Order of the British Empire for his service in Vietnam.[11] In 1970 the South Vietnamese government awarded him theDistinguished Service Order and in 1973 the US awarded him theBronze Star Medal.[5][12]
During his time in Malaya and Vietnam, without attending a lecture, he studied by correspondence from the jungle and graduated with aBachelor of Laws from theUniversity of Queensland in 1966. He was admitted as a barrister in the New South Wales and High Courts in 1969.[5][12]
Stretton was promoted tobrigadier in 1971 and from 1972 to 1974 was deputy director (military) of theJoint Intelligence Organisation and member of the National Intelligence Committee.[5][12]
Stretton was jointly named the 1975Australian of the Year,[13] withSir John Cornforth.
He wroteThe Furious Days: The Relief of Darwin (1976) andSoldier in the Storm (1978), retiring from public life in 1978. He practiced law in Canberra into his 70s.[5]
In 1999, in only his second visit to the city of Darwin since Cyclone Tracy, he presented his insignia as Officer of the Order of Australia, and his award as Australian of the Year, to the people of Darwin.
In 2003 he publicly criticised the Australian Government's policy of involvement with the2003 Invasion of Iraq, in an open letter in which he stated: "The alleged connection between Saddam Hussein and al-Qa'ida is ludicrous."[14]
He died on 26 October 2012 at Batemans Bay Hospital in New South Wales, aged 90.[1][15]
_BAR.svg) | Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) | 9 June 1975[16][17] |
_Ribbon.png) | Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) | 8 January 1971[5][12][11][17] |
| Officer of the order of the British Empire (OBE) | 12 June 1965[5][12][10] | |
| Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) | 13 December 1955[5][12][9] | |
 | Pacific Star | [17] |
_ribbon.png) | War Medal 1939–1945 | [17] |
 | Australia Service Medal 1939–45 | [17] |
 | United Nations Korea Medal | [17] |
 | Vietnam Medal | [5][12][17] |
 | Centenary Medal | 1 January 2001[18] |
 | Defence Force Service Medal with four clasps | For 35–39 years service[17] |
 | National Medal with 2 Rosettes | For a total of 35 years service[19][20][21][17] |
_ribbon.png) | Australian Defence Medal | 2006 |
 | Vietnam Campaign Medal | (South Vietnam)[5][12][17] |
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Australian of the Year Award 1975 Served alongside:Sir John Cornforth | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
