Peter Cosgrove

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General the Honourable
Sir Peter Cosgrove
AK, CVO, MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
File:Peter Cosgrove 2017 (1).jpg
26th Governor-General of Australia
In office
28 March 2014 – 1 July 2019
Monarch Elizabeth II
Prime Minister Tony Abbott
Malcolm Turnbull
Scott Morrison
Preceded by Dame Quentin Bryce
Succeeded by David Hurley
Personal details
Born Peter John Cosgrove
(1947-07-28) 28 July 1947 (age 76)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Spouse(s) Lynne, Lady Cosgrove
Children 3
Alma mater Royal Military College, Duntroon
Military service
Allegiance Australia
Service/branch Australian Army
Years of service 1965–2005
Rank General
Commands Chief of the Defence Force (2002–05)
Chief of Army (2000–02)
International Force for East Timor (1999–00)
1st Division (1998–99)
6th Brigade (1992–93)
1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1983–84)
Battles/wars Vietnam War
International Force for East Timor
Awards Knight of the Order of Australia
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Military Cross
Complete list

General Sir Peter John Cosgrove, AK, CVO, MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (born 28 July 1947) is a retired senior Australian Army officer who served as the 26th Governor-General of Australia, in office from 2014 to 2019.

A graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, Cosgrove fought in the Vietnam War, receiving the Military Cross in 1971. From 1983 to 1984, he was commander of the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and he later served as commander of the 6th Brigade and the 1st Division. Cosgrove rose to prominence in 1999, when he served as commander of the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET), which oversaw the peacekeeping mission in East Timor during its transition to independence.

Cosgrove was Australia's Chief of Army from 2000 to 2002, and then Chief of the Defence Force from 2002 to 2005, receiving corresponding promotions to lieutenant general and general. Cosgrove retired from active service following the end of his term as Chief of the Defence Force, and subsequently served as leader of a taskforce helping to rebuild communities in Queensland after Cyclone Larry in 2006. In January 2014, Cosgrove was named to succeed Dame Quentin Bryce as Governor-General of Australia. He was sworn in on 28 March 2014, and made a Knight of the Order of Australia on the same date. Cosgrove retired as governor-general on 1 July 2019, and was succeeded by General David Hurley.

Early life and education

Viceregal styles of
Sir Peter Cosgrove
(2014–2019)
Badge of the Governor-General of Australia.svg
Reference style His Excellency the Honourable
Spoken style Your Excellency
Alternative style Sir

Cosgrove was born in Sydney, New South Wales, on 28 July 1947. He was educated at Waverley College in Sydney, then followed his father, a warrant officer, into the Australian Army by attending the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1965. Cosgrove's uncle, Bill Cosgrove, was a professional Australian rules football player, but was killed in action while serving with the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II.[1]

Military service

Cosgrove at the Centenary of the Kangaroo March launch in 2013.

Cosgrove was appointed a probationary second lieutenant in August 1968 while attached to a regular army unit,[2] and was commissioned a lieutenant on 11 December 1968.[3] He was allotted to the Royal Australian Infantry. He arrived in Vietnam on 3 August 1969 and was posted to 9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment on 20 August 1969. On 10 October 1969, Lieutenant Cosgrove was commanding 5 Platoon, B Company. The platoon located an occupied bunker system in an area where, because of the proximity of allied troops, indirect fire support was difficult to obtain. In spite of this, he led his platoon in an assault on the bunkers without indirect fire support, capturing the system and killing and wounding at least four enemy without sustaining any casualties. On 16 October 1969, 5 Platoon located another bunker system occupied by about a platoon of enemy. Lieutenant Cosgrove silently deployed his own platoon for an attack. His assault completely surprised the enemy causing them to flee, abandoning large quantities of food, stores and documents. The following day in the same bunker system a party of enemy approached his right forward section and was engaged by the sentry. Knowing that the remainder of the section was elsewhere on other tasks, Lieutenant Cosgrove ran to the contact area and personally conducted the fight against the enemy. As a result of his actions, two enemy were killed and three weapons and four packs containing rice were captured. He was awarded the Military Cross for these actions.[4][5]

Cosgrove was promoted to the temporary rank of captain on 21 September 1970,[6] and was appointed an aide-de-camp to the then-Governor-General Paul Hasluck on 20 December 1971.[7] He was promoted to substantive captain on 31 October 1974 (seniority from 13 July),[8] to temporary major on 2 January 1976 and to substantive major on 11 December 1978.[9][10] In 1980 he was awarded the National Medal,[11] and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 7 December 1981.[12] In the mid-1980s he commanded the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.[13]

Cosgrove came to national fame in 1999 when, as a major general, he led the international forces (INTERFET) in a peacekeeping mission to East Timor. The mission's success made him one of Australia's most respected and popular military leaders.[14] He was promoted in 2000 to lieutenant general as Chief of the Army and in 2002 to general as Chief of the Defence Force.[15]

In 2004, the Foreign Minister Alexander Downer queried the judgement of Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty.[16] Following a joint interview with the then Defence Minister Robert Hill, Cosgrove was accused of "playing politics" when he said that, on this occasion, he disagreed with Keelty's point of view. However, Cosgrove expressed strong support for the Police Commissioner in his Australian best selling autobiography, My Story, published in 2006.[17] On 3 July 2005, Cosgrove's three-year appointment as Chief of the Defence Force was completed, and he was succeeded by then-Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Angus Houston.

Post-military career

Cyclone Larry Taskforce

On 23 March 2006, Cosgrove was selected to lead the Queensland Government taskforce of rebuilding communities damaged by Cyclone Larry, a Category 5 tropical cyclone that devastated the Innisfail region of northern Queensland.[18] "In recognition of the important contribution General Cosgrove made to the community of North Queensland following Cyclone Larry", on 11 October 2008, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh announced that a new residential suburb in the Bohle Plains area of Townsville would be named Cosgrove, formerly the site of an Abattoir for the cattle sale yards next to it.[19][20][21]

Corporate leadership and community organisations

Cosgrove served on the board of Australia's main airline Qantas between July 2005[22] and January 2014[23] and is on numerous other boards as chairman or member.[citation needed] He served as Chancellor of the Australian Catholic University between November 2010[24] and January 2014;[25] and is Honorary Patron in Chief of the ACT Veterans Rugby Club[26] and the Rosies Youth Mission.[27] Peter Cosgrove was appointed as Patron to the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association in 2015.

Governor-General

Prince George with his parents and Sir Peter Cosgrove at Admiralty House, Sydney, April 2014

On 28 January 2014, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that the Queen had accepted his advice to appoint Peter Cosgrove as the next Governor-General of Australia, to succeed Quentin Bryce in late March.[28] On 25 March, Abbott announced that the Queen had also approved the reinstatement of the grade of Knight or Dame in the Order of Australia (she had abolished it in 1986 on the advice of Bob Hawke), and that governors-general would be ex officio the Principal Knight or Dame of the Order.[29] The incumbent, Quentin Bryce, was immediately made the first new Dame of the Order. On 28 March Cosgrove succeeded Dame Quentin and was sworn in as Governor-General by Chief Justice Robert French,[30] becoming Sir Peter Cosgrove.[31]

Swearing in as Governor-General

On 16 December 2018 Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that The Queen had approved the appointment of retired General David Hurley, the current Governor of New South Wales as the next Governor-General of Australia commencing in July 2019, and that Cosgrove's term would be extended until that time to ensure smooth transitions following the New South Wales election in March and federal election expected in May 2019.[32]

On 12 August 2019, during a post appointment call upon the Queen, Her Majesty appointed Cosgrove a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.[33]

Personal life

File:Lady Lynne Cosgrove.jpg
Lady Cosgrove in 2017

Cosgrove married Lynne Payne in 1976;[34] they have three sons (Stephen, Philip and David)[35] and one grandson,[34] and lived in Sydney[citation needed] before taking up residence in Government House, Canberra. Cosgrove is a Roman Catholic and frequently attends Mass in the St Christopher's Cathedral parish in Canberra.[citation needed]

Cosgrove is a strong supporter and member of the Sydney Roosters. He is also a keen follower of cricket and rugby union.

Titles, styles and honours

Titles

28 July 1947 – 1965: Mr Peter Cosgrove
1965 – 11 December 1968: Staff Cadet Peter Cosgrove
11 December 1968 – 21 September 1970: Lieutenant Peter Cosgrove[3]
21 September 1970 – 12 February 1971: Lieutenant (Temp. Captain) Peter Cosgrove[6]
12 February – 20 December 1971: Lieutenant (Temp. Captain) Peter Cosgrove MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
20 December 1971 – December 1972: Lieutenant (Temp. Captain) Peter Cosgrove MC, ADC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , [7]
December 1972 – 31 October 1974: Lieutenant (Temp. Captain) Peter Cosgrove MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
31 October 1974 - 2 January 1976: Captain Peter Cosgrove MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , [8]
2 January 1976 – 11 December 1978: Captain (Temp. Major) Peter Cosgrove MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , [9]
11 December 1978 - 7 December 1981: Major Peter Cosgrove MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , [10]
7 December 1981 – 26 January 1985: Lieutenant Colonel Peter Cosgrove MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , [12]
26 January 1985 – July 1988: Lieutenant Colonel Peter Cosgrove AM, MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , [13]
July 1988 – July 1989: Colonel Peter Cosgrove AM, MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
July 1989 – March 1998: Brigadier Peter Cosgrove AM, MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
25 March 1998 – 25 March 2000: Major General Peter Cosgrove AM, MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
25 March 2000 – 16 July 2000: Major General Peter Cosgrove AC, MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
16 July 2000 – 4 July 2002: Lieutenant General Peter Cosgrove AC, MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , [14]
4 July 2002 – 3 July 2005: General Peter Cosgrove AC, MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
3 July 2005 – 28 March 2014: General Peter Cosgrove AC, MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (Ret'd)
28 March 2014 – 1 July 2019: His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK, MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (Ret'd), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia[36]
1 July 2019 – 12 August 2019: General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK, MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (Ret'd)[36]
12 August 2019 – present: General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK, CVO, MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (Ret'd)

Honours and awards

OrderAustraliaRibbon.png Order of Australia (Military) ribbon.png

UK Royal Victorian Order ribbon.svg Military Cross ribbon.png Order of St John (UK) ribbon.png Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 ribbon.png

Vietnam Medal ribbon.png Australian Active Service Medal ribbon.png INTERFET Medal ribbon.png Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 ribbon.png

Centenary Medal (Australia) ribbon.png DFSM with Fed Star.png 100px Australian Defence Medal (Australia) ribbon.png

Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg New Zealand Order of Merit ribbon.png US Legion of Merit Commander ribbon.png Tong-il Medal (South Korea) ribbon.png

Legion Honneur Officier ribbon.svg PRT Order of Prince Henry - Grand Cross BAR.png Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) ribbon.png Order of Timor-Leste.png

GC.OrdineS.GregorioMagno.png Order of the Crown of Tonga - ribbon bar.gif ARG Order of the Liberator San Martin - Grand Cross BAR.png PRT Order of Liberty - Grand Cross BAR.png

OrderAustraliaRibbon.png Knight of the Order of Australia (AK) 28 March 2014 [37][36]
Order of Australia (Military) ribbon.png Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) 25 March 2000
(Military division)
For eminent service to the Australian Defence Force as the Commander of the International Force East Timor[14]
Member of the Order of Australia (AM) 26 January 1985
(Military division)
In recognition of service as Commanding Officer 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment[13]
UK Royal Victorian Order ribbon.svg Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) 12 August 2019 [33]
Military Cross ribbon.png Military Cross (MC) 12 February 1971 Infantry – 9 RAR – Vietnam[38][39]
Order of St John (UK) ribbon.png Knight of the Order of St John 28 March 2014 [37][40]
Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 ribbon.png Australian Active Service Medal 1945–1975 with Vietnam clasp
Vietnam Medal ribbon.png Vietnam Medal [41]
Australian Active Service Medal ribbon.png Australian Active Service Medal with East Timor clasp[41]
INTERFET Medal ribbon.png International Force East Timor Medal (INTERFET)[41]
Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 ribbon.png Australian Service Medal 1945–1975 [41]
Centenary Medal (Australia) ribbon.png Centenary Medal 1 January 2001 For service to Australian society as Chief of the Defence Force[15]
DFSM with Fed Star.png Defence Force Service Medal with Federation Star 40–44 years service[41]
50px National Medal 16 October 1980 For diligent long service to the community in hazardous circumstances, including in times of emergency and national disaster, in direct protection of life and property[41]
Australian Defence Medal (Australia) ribbon.png Australian Defence Medal [41]
Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg Vietnam Campaign Medal Republic of Vietnam[41]
New Zealand Order of Merit ribbon.png Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit 5 June 2000 New Zealand[42]
US Legion of Merit Commander ribbon.png Commander of the Legion of Merit United States[41]
Tong-il Medal (South Korea) ribbon.png Tong-il Medal of the Order of National Security Merit South Korea[41]
Legion Honneur Officier ribbon.svg Officer of the Legion of Honour France[41]
PRT Order of Prince Henry - Grand Cross BAR.png Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry 28 May 2002 Portugal[43]
Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) ribbon.png Distinguished Service Order 7 September 2004 Singapore[44]
Order of Timor-Leste.png Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste 30 August 2009 Timor-Leste[45]
GC.OrdineS.GregorioMagno.png Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great 7 February 2013 Holy See[46]
Order of the Crown of Tonga - ribbon bar.gif Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Tonga 3 July 2015 Tonga[47]
ARG Order of the Liberator San Martin - Grand Cross BAR.png Collar of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín 9 August 2016 Argentina[48]
PRT Order of Liberty - Grand Cross BAR.png Grand Cross of the Order of Liberty 6 July 2018 Portugal[49]
Infantry Combat Badge
Other awards
Australian of the Year 26 January 2001 He accepted his Australian of the Year award on behalf of all those Australians who served in East Timor: "I did a lot of the talking, they did all the working."[50]

Honorary appointments

Honorary degrees

Victoria:

Named in his honour

See also

References

  1. Governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove’s mischievous ‘uncle Bill’ a beloved World War II hero
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  5. The London Gazette: no. 45302. p. . 12 February 1971.
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  28. Governor-General-designate to be sworn in Archived 27 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine – Office of the Prime Minister of Australia, 24 February 2014.
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  37. 37.0 37.1 37.2 Automatic upon taking office as Governor-General
  38. The London Gazette: no. 45302. p. . 12 February 1971.
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  43. Annual Portuguese Honorary Orders, Foreign citizens 1910–2006, 2006, retrieved 19 April 2008, p111. (Portuguese) Archived 14 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  44. MINDEF Singapore, President Nathan Confers Top Military Award on Chief of the Australian Defence Force, 7 September 2004. Retrieved 19 April 2008.
  45. Retired General Peter Cosgrove is presented with the collar of the Order of East Timor by East Timor President, His Excellency, Dr Jose Ramos Horta at the 10th Anniversary of Popular Consultation Awards Ceremony held at the New Presidential Palace in Dili Archived 13 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Defence image gallery – Order of East Timor medal presentations, 4 September 2009
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External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Admiral Chris Barrie
Chief of the Defence Force
2002–2005
Succeeded by
Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston
Preceded by
Lieutenant General Frank Hickling
Chief of Army
2000–2002
Succeeded by
Lieutenant General Peter Leahy
Preceded by
Major General Tim Ford
Commander 1st Division
1998–1999
Succeeded by
Major General Jim Molan
Preceded by
Lieutenant Colonel Barry Caligari
Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
1983–1984
Succeeded by
Lieutenant Colonel John McAloney
Awards
Preceded by Australian of the Year Award
2001
Succeeded by
Patrick Rafter
Academic offices
Preceded by
Brother Julian McDonald
Chancellor of the Australian Catholic University
2005–2014
Succeeded by
Ted Exell
Acting
Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by
Major General Adrian Clunies-Ross
Chairman of the Australian War Memorial Council
2007–2012
Succeeded by
Rear Admiral Ken Doolan
Government offices
Preceded by Governor-General of Australia
2014–2019
Succeeded by
David Hurley