George Wootten

Major General Sir George Frederick Wootten KBE, CB, DSO (1 May 1893 - 30 March 1970), was an Australian soldier, public servant, right wing political activist and solicitor. He rose to the rank of temporary Major General during World War II.

Wootten was famous, in part, for his heavy build. He put on weight after giving up smoking in 1930, and by 1941 — even though he was 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) tall — he weighed 127 kg (20 st). Nevertheless, he earned the respect of his soldiers and superiors; General Douglas MacArthur described Wootten as "the best soldier in the Australian Army who had it in him to reach the highest position".[1]

Early life

"Rest Gully", Gallipoli. June 1915. Captain George Wootten, Adjutant, 1st Infantry Battalion, shaving at the entrance to his dugout.

Wootten was born in Marrickville, Sydney, the seventh child of English migrant parents, William Frederick Wootten (a carpenter and later a civil engineer) and Louisa Wootten, née Old, both of whom were born in London. George Wootten attended Fort Street Model School in Sydney.

He entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in 1911. He graduated in August 1914 as a Lieutenant.

World War I

Wootten's graduation coincided with the outbreak of World War I. He was posted to the 1st Battalion, and went ashore at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 and was promoted to Captain in May that year. He was a Major by December.

Wootten later served on the Western Front. He was Brigade Major with the 11th Brigade, then with the 9th Brigade (under Brig. Charles Rosenthal). Wootten was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in October 1917 for staff work. He was then appointed to the staff of the 5th Division.

Samer, France. December 16, 1917. Major George Wootten DSO (right) at the time a Staff Officer with the 5th Division.

In October 1918, he was appointed to the staff of Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, commander of British Empire forces in France. He was mentioned in dispatches four times.

Following the end of hostilities, Wootten was sent to the Staff College, Camberley, England, in March 1919.

Civilian life between the wars

He married Muriel Frances Anna Bisgood, a nurse, at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Roehampton, London on January 3, 1920. Wootten was posted back went to Australia that same year.

He resigned his commission in 1923, and moved back to London, where he worked as manager of a clothing factory.

Wootten returned to New South Wales in 1926 and became an articled clerk at West Wyalong. He also joined a secret right wing paramilitary organisation, the Old Guard. Wootten was admitted as a solicitor in July 1930, by which time he had four children. In 1931 he became an organiser for the Old Guard in Sydney.

Wootten joined the Citizen Military Forces (CMF; the army reserve formation) and on July 1, 1937 — as a Lieutenant Colonel — was appointed commander of the 21st Light Horse Regiment.

World War II

Following the outbreak of World War II, On October 13, 1939, Wootten was seconded to the AIF, and from 24 October 1939 until February 9, 1940, he commanded the 2/2nd Infantry Battalion. He then acting commander of the 16th Infantry Brigade until May 20, 1940.

I Corps was attached to the British Middle East Command, and when an AIF Reinforcement Depot was set up in Palestine, in late 1940, Wootten was promoted to temporary brigadier and made its commander.

Wootten was promoted to Brigadier, and from February 1, 1941, he commanded the 18th Infantry Brigade (7th Division), on active service in the North African campaign, including the siege of Tobruk.

Following the oubreak of war with Japan, the 7th Division returned to Australia and the 18th Brigade saw action on the Kokoda Track, and was part of the historic victory over Japanese forces at Milne Bay. This was followed by the fierce and costly fighting at Buna and Sanananda.

On March 15, 1943, Wootten was promoted to temporary Major General and became General Officer Commanding, 9th Australian Infantry Division. Between September that year and January 1944 he led the 9th Division in the Battle of Lae and the Huon Peninsula campaign.

Major-General Wootten (second left) with Australian ex-POWs at Batu Lintang POW/internment camp, Kuching, Sarawak, 12 September 1945.

After a year of leave, consolidation, and re-training in Australia, the 9th took part in the Borneo campaign, including amphibious landings at Brunei and Labuan. Following the Japanese surrender in August, Wootten commanded the British Borneo Civil Affairs Unit, overseeing the recuperation and repatriation of Allied prisoners, surrendered Japanese personnel, and the transition back to civilian rule.

Wootten returned to Sydney on on September 22, and transferred to the Reserve of Officers on October 14. However, he was soon appointed to a military court of inquiry into Maj. Gen. Gordon Bennett's departure from Singapore in 1942.

In 1945-58, Wootten chaired the Repatriation Commission, in Melbourne. He commanded the 3rd Division (CMF), in 1947-50 and was the CMF member of the Military Board in 1948-50. After retiring from the commission in 1958, he returned to Sydney.

Wootten died at the Repatriation General Hospital, Concord in 1970.

Honours

In recognition of his wartime service, Wootten was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and Companion of the Distinguished Service Order and bar. He was also awarded the US Distinguished Service Cross. He was elevated to a Knight Commander of the British Empire in 1958.

A 1956 portrait of Wootten by Sir William Dargie is held at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

References/external links

• Australian Dictionary of Biography (online edition), “Wootten, Sir George Frederick (1893 - 1970)” Access date: 19 April 2007.

• Australian War Memorial, "Honours and awards (gazetted) George Frederick Wootten" Access date: 19 April 2007.

• generals.dk " Wootten, Sir George Frederick, Major-General (1893 – 1970)" Access date: 19 April 2007.

• Australian World War Two Nominal Roll, "WOOTTEN, GEORGE FREDERICK" Access date: 19 April 2007.

• ordersofbattle.com, "George Frederick Wootten" Access date: 19 April 2007.