Colin Darryl Bassett

Does the Leadership Style and Command Method of General Sir John Monash Remain Relevant to the Contemporary Commander? Colin Darryl Bassett

Leadership is an art and many leadership attributes remain timeless; this study of a successful leader is significant because it provides an insight to a leader that has led and commanded before us and identifies how he mastered the art of leadership. General Sir John Monash remains one of the most highly regarded officers to have emerged from the First World War. While his achievements are extraordinary, this study will provide greater detail on how a forty-nine year old, newly promoted militia Colonel would, within the next five years, attain the highest operational command available to an Australian on the Western Front, command of the Australian Corps. General Monash was appointed command of the Australian Corps, yet he was not a product of the Australian or Imperial military education system, as were his professional military colleagues. He could be considered a Civil Engineer with a military hobby. This study will identify the sources of General Monash's leadership style and method of command, assess if in fact he did accelerate the conclusion of the First World War through his new tactics, and does his leadership style and method of command provide a relevant example to contemporary commanders?