| General | |
| Country: | Australia |
| Service Branch: | Australia |
| Abbreviation: | GEN |
| Rank: | Four-star |
| Nato Rank: | OF-9 |
| Non-Nato Rank: | O-10 |
| Formation: | 1917 |
| Higher Rank: | Field marshal |
| Lower Rank: | Lieutenant general |
| Equivalents: | |
General (abbreviated GEN) is the second-highest rank, and the highest active rank, of the Australian Army and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of general; it is also considered a four-star rank.
Prior to 1958, Australian generals (and field marshals) were only appointed in exceptional circumstances. In 1958, the position which is currently called Chief of the Defence Force was created, and since 1966, the rank of general has been held when an army officer is appointed to that position.
General is a higher rank than lieutenant general, but is lower than field marshal. General is the equivalent of admiral in the Royal Australian Navy and air chief marshal in the Royal Australian Air Force.
A general's insignia is St Edward's Crown above a star of the Order of the Bath (or 'pip') above a crossed sword and baton, with the word 'Australia' at the bottom.[1]
The following have held the rank of general in the Australian Army:
| Name | Date promoted | Senior command(s) or appointment(s) in rank | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Officer Commanding Australian Imperial Force (1915–20) | [2] | |||
| Inspector-in-Chief Volunteer Defence Corps (1940–45), Chief of the General Staff (1923–30) | [3] | |||
| Chief of the General Staff (1920–23, 1940) | [4] | |||
| Commander of Allied Land Forces, South West Pacific Area (1942–45), General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Australian Military Forces (1942–45), Deputy Commander-in-Chief Middle East Command (1941–1942) | [5] | |||
| Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (1966–70) | [6] | |||
| Chief of the Defence Force Staff (1976–77), Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (1975–76) | [7] | |||
| Chief of the Defence Force Staff (1977–79) | ||||
| Chief of the Defence Force (1984–87) | ||||
| 1987 | Chief of the Defence Force (1987–93) | |||
| 1995 | Chief of the Defence Force (1995–98) | |||
| 2002 | Chief of the Defence Force (2002–05) | |||
| 2011 | Chief of the Defence Force (2011–14) | |||
| 2018 | Chief of the Defence Force (2018–24) |
In addition, Sir John Northcott held the honorary rank of general while acting as Governor-General of Australia in 1951 and 1956. The Australian-born Sir John Hackett also attained the rank of general in the British Army.