Ronald Lawrence Hughes
Encyclopedia
Major General
Ronald Lawrence Hughes CBE
, DSO
(17 September 1920 – 2 February 2003) was a senior infantry officer in the Australian Army
, seeing service during the Second World War, the Korean War
and the Vietnam War
. Joining the Australian Army in 1937, after graduating from the Royal Military College, Duntroon
in 1939 he served in New Guinea and Borneo during the Second World War. He commanded the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
(3 RAR) during the static phase of the war in Korea in 1952–1953. Later, he commanded the 1st Australian Task Force
(1 ATF) in South Vietnam in 1967–1968, during some of the heaviest fighting of the war experienced by the Australians. He subsequently filled a number of senior command and staff positions before retiring in 1977.
in 1937 and graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon
as a lieutenant in the infantry
in 1939. Following the outbreak of war, in 1940 he was posted to the Darwin Mobile Force
as a platoon commander as the threat of Japanese aggression in the Pacific grew. As a regular
officer in the Permanent Military Force Hughes subsequently undertook a variety of regimental, staff and training positions in 1942, including postings to Headquarters 2nd Australian Corps, the Australian Staff College and Advanced Land Headquarters, Brisbane. In 1943 Hughes was posted to Headquarters 1st Australian Corps and was involved in the amphibious landing at Nassau Bay
, as a liaison officer with the American forces during the New Guinea campaign
. By 1944 he was a company commander in the 2/3rd Battalion fighting the Japanese at Wewak
in New Guinea, and was later involved in the amphibious landing on Tarakan
in Borneo in 1945 while attached to 26th Brigade. Hughes finished the war as a major serving with the Australian Military Mission in Tokyo
, in 1945–1946.
Hughes was married in 1947 and he and his wife Joan later had three sons, Alan, David and Geoffrey. In 1951 he assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
at Puckapunyal, Victoria, which was heavily involved in training officers and soldiers as reinforcements for Australian forces fighting in Korea
. In July the following year Hughes took over command of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
(3 RAR) in Korea, a position he filled until March 1953. His younger brother, Jim, had previously served in the battalion as a platoon commander, and had been awarded the Military Cross
for his actions during the Battle of Maryang San. He too would later also reach the rank of major general. Commanding 3 RAR during the static phase of the war he believed in active patrolling, but was doubtful of the value of operations to capture Chinese prisioners and the casualties that were incurred during these missions. For his leadership which he was later awarded the Distinguished Service Order
(DSO). In 1956, Hughes was posted as a student to the Joint Services Staff College
in the United Kingdom
, and later instructed there. In 1964 he went to Indonesia as Military Attaché during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. Returning to Australia in 1966, Hughes was promoted to brigadier
, taking over command of the Queensland-based 6th Task Force
.
During 1967–1968 Hughes commanded the 1st Australian Task Force
(1 ATF) based in Phuoc Tuy Province
, South Vietnam, which was involved in counter-insurgency
operations against the Viet Cong. Hughes took over command from Brigadier Stuart Graham
on 20 October 1967. By the second half of 1967 the Viet Cong seemed to have melted away in Phuoc Tuy Province, abandoning many of their bunker systems and avoiding the main roads and towns, causing Graham to speculate that the Viet Cong may have fled to the border, perhaps leaving the province altogether. Meanwhile, 1 ATF was reinforced, with 3 RAR arriving in December 1967 to bring the task force up to full strength with three infantry battalions supported by armour, artillery, aviation and engineers. Throughout 1968 1 ATF spent much of its time deployed away from Phuoc Tuy Province, assisting US forces countering a number of major offensives. Hughes' period in command witnessed heavy fighting during Operation Coburg
(24 January − 1 March 1968), which was mounted in response to the communist Tet Offensive, and the Battle of Coral-Balmoral (12 May – 6 June 1968). For this he was subsequently made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). Hughes returned to Australia in October 1968.
Hughes subsequently filled the position of Director Military Operations and Plans, Army Headquarters (1970–1974). In 1974 he was posted as General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1st Division
, a position he held until 1976. During his career he commanded a platoon
, a company, a battalion
, a brigade
and a division
. Finally, he was posted as Chief of the Reserve, Army Headquarters, before retiring in 1977. In his later life Hughes was actively involved in the Returned and Services League of Australia
(RSL), the United Services Institution and the Military History Society of Australia. During his retirment he was a keen gardener and tennis player and he and Joan later travelled around Australia for six months in a caravan. Hughes died in Canberra
on 2 February 2003, aged eighty-two.
Major General (Australia)
Major General is a senior rank of the Australian Army, and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of Major General. It is the third-highest active rank of the Australian Army, and is considered to be equivalent to a two-star rank...
Ronald Lawrence Hughes CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(17 September 1920 – 2 February 2003) was a senior infantry officer in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
, seeing service during the Second World War, the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Joining the Australian Army in 1937, after graduating from the Royal Military College, Duntroon
Royal Military College, Duntroon
The Royal Military College, Duntroon is the Australian Army's officer training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory, in 1911 and is situated on picturesque grounds at the foot of Mount Pleasant near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence...
in 1939 he served in New Guinea and Borneo during the Second World War. He commanded the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment is a parachute infantry battalion of the Australian Army, based in Sydney. 3 RAR was initially formed in 1945 as the 67th Battalion and has seen active service in Japan, Korea, Malaya, South Vietnam, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan and Iraq...
(3 RAR) during the static phase of the war in Korea in 1952–1953. Later, he commanded the 1st Australian Task Force
1st Australian Task Force
The 1st Australian Task Force commanded the Australian and New Zealand Army units deployed to South Vietnam between 1966 and 1972. 1 ATF was based at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province...
(1 ATF) in South Vietnam in 1967–1968, during some of the heaviest fighting of the war experienced by the Australians. He subsequently filled a number of senior command and staff positions before retiring in 1977.
Biography
Hughes was born in Adelaide, South Australia, on 17 September 1920. The son of a light horseman who served in the Gallipoli and Palestine campaigns during the First World War, Hughes joined the Australian ArmyAustralian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
in 1937 and graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon
Royal Military College, Duntroon
The Royal Military College, Duntroon is the Australian Army's officer training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory, in 1911 and is situated on picturesque grounds at the foot of Mount Pleasant near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence...
as a lieutenant in the infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
in 1939. Following the outbreak of war, in 1940 he was posted to the Darwin Mobile Force
Darwin Mobile Force
The Darwin Mobile Force was a mixed force of infantry and artillery raised by the Australian Army prior to the Second World War. It was the first regular infantry field force in the Australian military, although due to legislative restrictions that existed at the time it was established as part of...
as a platoon commander as the threat of Japanese aggression in the Pacific grew. As a regular
Regular army
A regular army consists of the permanent force of a country's army that is maintained under arms during peacetime.Countries that use the term include:*Australian Army*British Army*Canadian Forces, specifically "Regular Force"*Egyptian army*Indian Army...
officer in the Permanent Military Force Hughes subsequently undertook a variety of regimental, staff and training positions in 1942, including postings to Headquarters 2nd Australian Corps, the Australian Staff College and Advanced Land Headquarters, Brisbane. In 1943 Hughes was posted to Headquarters 1st Australian Corps and was involved in the amphibious landing at Nassau Bay
Landing at Nassau Bay
The Landing at Nassau Bay was an amphibious landing at Nassau Bay in the New Guinea campaign of World War II between June 30 - July 6, 1943. United States forces sought to capture a beachhead for a supply point to shorten the supply line for the proposed attack on Salamaua as part of the...
, as a liaison officer with the American forces during the New Guinea campaign
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II.Before the war, the island of New Guinea was split between:...
. By 1944 he was a company commander in the 2/3rd Battalion fighting the Japanese at Wewak
Wewak
Wewak is the capital of the East Sepik province of Papua New Guinea. It is located on the northern coast of the island of New Guinea. It is the largest town between Madang and Jayapura. It is the see city of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wewak....
in New Guinea, and was later involved in the amphibious landing on Tarakan
Battle of Tarakan (1945)
The Battle of Tarakan was the first stage in the Borneo campaign of 1945. It began with an amphibious landing by Australian forces on 1 May, code-named Operation Oboe One...
in Borneo in 1945 while attached to 26th Brigade. Hughes finished the war as a major serving with the Australian Military Mission in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, in 1945–1946.
Hughes was married in 1947 and he and his wife Joan later had three sons, Alan, David and Geoffrey. In 1951 he assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment is a regular light infantry battalion of the Australian Army. 2 RAR was first formed as the Australian 66th Battalion in 1945 and since then it has seen active service during the Korean War, Malayan Emergency and Vietnam War...
at Puckapunyal, Victoria, which was heavily involved in training officers and soldiers as reinforcements for Australian forces fighting in Korea
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. In July the following year Hughes took over command of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment is a parachute infantry battalion of the Australian Army, based in Sydney. 3 RAR was initially formed in 1945 as the 67th Battalion and has seen active service in Japan, Korea, Malaya, South Vietnam, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan and Iraq...
(3 RAR) in Korea, a position he filled until March 1953. His younger brother, Jim, had previously served in the battalion as a platoon commander, and had been awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for his actions during the Battle of Maryang San. He too would later also reach the rank of major general. Commanding 3 RAR during the static phase of the war he believed in active patrolling, but was doubtful of the value of operations to capture Chinese prisioners and the casualties that were incurred during these missions. For his leadership which he was later awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(DSO). In 1956, Hughes was posted as a student to the Joint Services Staff College
Joint Services Staff College
Joint Services Staff College may refer to:* Joint Services Staff College , the former name of the "Joint Service Defence College"* Joint Services Staff College , the former name of the "Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies"...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and later instructed there. In 1964 he went to Indonesia as Military Attaché during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. Returning to Australia in 1966, Hughes was promoted to brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
, taking over command of the Queensland-based 6th Task Force
6th Brigade (Australia)
The 6th Brigade is an Australian Army brigade. First formed during the First World War as an infantry unit of the Australian Imperial Force, the brigade served at Gallipoli and in France and Belgium on the Western Front...
.
During 1967–1968 Hughes commanded the 1st Australian Task Force
1st Australian Task Force
The 1st Australian Task Force commanded the Australian and New Zealand Army units deployed to South Vietnam between 1966 and 1972. 1 ATF was based at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province...
(1 ATF) based in Phuoc Tuy Province
Phuoc Tuy Province
Phước Tuy Province was a province of South Vietnam. It now mostly corresponds to Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, just southeast of Ho Chi Minh City....
, South Vietnam, which was involved in counter-insurgency
Counter-insurgency
A counter-insurgency or counterinsurgency involves actions taken by the recognized government of a nation to contain or quell an insurgency taken up against it...
operations against the Viet Cong. Hughes took over command from Brigadier Stuart Graham
Stuart Clarence Graham
Major General Stuart Clarence Graham AO, DSO, OBE, MC was a senior officer in the Australian Army, seeing service during the Second World War, the Occupation of Japan and the Vietnam War...
on 20 October 1967. By the second half of 1967 the Viet Cong seemed to have melted away in Phuoc Tuy Province, abandoning many of their bunker systems and avoiding the main roads and towns, causing Graham to speculate that the Viet Cong may have fled to the border, perhaps leaving the province altogether. Meanwhile, 1 ATF was reinforced, with 3 RAR arriving in December 1967 to bring the task force up to full strength with three infantry battalions supported by armour, artillery, aviation and engineers. Throughout 1968 1 ATF spent much of its time deployed away from Phuoc Tuy Province, assisting US forces countering a number of major offensives. Hughes' period in command witnessed heavy fighting during Operation Coburg
Operation Coburg
Operation Coburg was an Australian military action during the Vietnam War. The operation saw heavy fighting between the 1st Australian Task Force and North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong during the wider fighting around Long Binh and Bien Hoa...
(24 January − 1 March 1968), which was mounted in response to the communist Tet Offensive, and the Battle of Coral-Balmoral (12 May – 6 June 1968). For this he was subsequently made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). Hughes returned to Australia in October 1968.
Hughes subsequently filled the position of Director Military Operations and Plans, Army Headquarters (1970–1974). In 1974 he was posted as General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1st Division
1st Division (Australia)
The 1st Division is the main formation of the Australian Army and contains the majority of the army's regular forces. Its headquarters is in Enoggera, a suburb of Brisbane...
, a position he held until 1976. During his career he commanded a platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
, a company, a battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
, a brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
and a division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
. Finally, he was posted as Chief of the Reserve, Army Headquarters, before retiring in 1977. In his later life Hughes was actively involved in the Returned and Services League of Australia
Returned and Services League of Australia
The Returned and Services League of Australia is a support organisation for men and women who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force ....
(RSL), the United Services Institution and the Military History Society of Australia. During his retirment he was a keen gardener and tennis player and he and Joan later travelled around Australia for six months in a caravan. Hughes died in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
on 2 February 2003, aged eighty-two.