John Coates | |
|---|---|
 Major General John Coates in 1985 | |
| Born | (1932-12-28)28 December 1932 Adelaide, South Australia |
| Died | 11 June 2018(2018-06-11) (aged 85) Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Branch | Australian Army |
| Years of service | 1953–1992 |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Service number | 17023 |
| Commands | Chief of the General Staff (1990–92) Royal Military College, Duntroon (1983–84) 3rd Cavalry Regiment (1971) |
| Battles / wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of Australia Member of the Order of the British Empire |
Lieutenant GeneralHenry John Coates,AC, MBE (28 December 1932 – 11 June 2018) was a senior officer in theAustralian Army who served asChief of the General Staff from 1990 to 1992. After retiring from the army, he became an author and a visiting fellow at theAustralian Defence Force Academy branch of theUniversity of New South Wales, pursuing aspects of Australia's military history.
Coates was born inAdelaide, South Australia, on 28 December 1932 to George Coates and his wife Gwenyth (née Begg).[1] Educated atIpswich Grammar School inQueensland, Coates graduated from theRoyal Military College, Duntroon into theRoyal Australian Armoured Corps in 1955.[2]
Coates was granted his first regimental posting in 1956 to the1st Armoured Regiment. He served with the unit until 1958, when he was promoted tocaptain and reassigned asadjutant of the10th Light Horse Regiment for a period of two years.[1] He graduated with aBachelor of Arts from theUniversity of Western Australia in 1962, before completing Honours at theAustralian National University in 1965.[2]
He was posted to the3rd Cavalry Regiment and, as amajor, was deployed toVietnam.[3] He was appointed aMember of the Order of the British Empire in 1971.[4] He graduated with aMaster of Arts from theAustralian National University in 1975.[2] He subsequently becamecommanding officer of his regiment.[5]
Coates was appointedcommandant of theRoyal Military College, Duntroon in 1983[2] and head of the Defence Staff inWashington, D.C., in 1984;[2] he was appointed anOfficer of the Order of Australia in 1987 in recognition of his service there.[6]
He was appointed Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Policy) in 1987[2] and appointedChief of the General Staff in 1990; he was appointed aCompanion of the Order of Australia in 1992 in recognition of his service to the Australian Army, particularly in that role.[7]
In retirement he wrote a number of books about the Australian Army and Australian military history. These include:
Coates was a visiting fellow in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences atAustralian Defence Force Academy campus of theUniversity of New South Wales (UNSW@ADFA).[10]
Aged 85, Coates died at hisCanberra home on 11 June 2018.[11]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Major General J. D. Kelly | Commandant of the Royal Military College, Duntroon 1983–1984 | Succeeded by Major General B. H. Hockney |
| Preceded by Lieutenant GeneralLawrence O'Donnell | Chief of the General Staff 1990–1992 | Succeeded by Lieutenant GeneralJohn Grey |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| Other | |
