John Coates (general) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Coates
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Major General John Coates in 1985
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| Born | 28 December 1932 Adelaide, South Australia |
| Died | 11 June 2018 (aged 85) Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |
| Allegiance | Australia |
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Australian Army |
| Years of service | 1953–1992 |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Service number | 17023 |
| Commands held | Chief of the General Staff (1990–92) Royal Military College, Duntroon (1983–84) 3rd Cavalry Regiment (1971) |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of Australia Member of the Order of the British Empire |
Henry John Coates (born 28 December 1932 – died 11 June 2018) was an important leader in the Australian Army. He became the Chief of the General Staff (the top army job) from 1990 to 1992. After leaving the army, he wrote many books about Australia's military history. He also taught at the Australian Defence Force Academy.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Coates was born in Adelaide, South Australia, on 28 December 1932. He went to Ipswich Grammar School in Queensland. After school, he joined the Royal Military College, Duntroon. He finished his training there in 1955. He then joined the Royal Australian Armoured Corps, which uses tanks and other armoured vehicles.
Becoming a Leader
John Coates kept learning throughout his career. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Australia in 1962. Later, he completed more studies at the Australian National University in 1965. He also earned a Master of Arts degree from the same university in 1975.
Military Career Highlights
Coates started his army career in 1956 with the 1st Armoured Regiment. He worked there for two years. In 1958, he was promoted to captain. He then served as an adjutant (a helpful officer) for the 10th Light Horse Regiment.
Serving in Vietnam
As a major, Coates was sent to Vietnam with the 3rd Cavalry Regiment. This was an important part of his military service. For his efforts, he was given the award of Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1971. Later, he became the commanding officer of his regiment, meaning he was in charge.
Rising Through the Ranks
John Coates continued to take on bigger roles. In 1983, he became the commandant (the leader) of the Royal Military College, Duntroon. This is where new army officers are trained. In 1984, he moved to Washington, D.C., to lead the Defence Staff there. He received the Officer of the Order of Australia award in 1987 for his excellent work.
In 1987, he became the Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Policy). This meant he helped make important decisions for Australia's defence. His biggest role came in 1990 when he was appointed Chief of the General Staff. This made him the top leader of the Australian Army. In 1992, he received the highest award, Companion of the Order of Australia, for his great service to the army.
Life After the Army
After retiring from the army in 1992, John Coates became a respected author. He wrote several books about Australian military history. These books helped people understand past wars and the army's role.
Some of his books include:
- Suppressing insurgency: an analysis of the Malayan Emergency, 1948–1954 (1992)
- Bravery above blunder: the 9th Division at Finschhafen, Sattelberg and Sio (1999)
- An atlas of Australia's wars, which was part of a larger history project (2001, 2nd edition 2006)
He also worked as a visiting fellow at the Australian Defence Force Academy. This meant he shared his knowledge and experience with students and researchers.
John Coates passed away at his home in Canberra on 11 June 2018, at the age of 85.
