Sir John Monash, portrait, circa 1918. Picture via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Monash_portrait_1918.jpg), public domain.
Research for a documentation on Sir John Monash
On Tuesday 24 April 2018, the first part of the documentation “Monash & Me. Peter Greste on Australia’s Great Commander” on Sir John Monash is aired on ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Beyond History had the pleasure to help with the research.
Sir John Monash was born on 27 June 1865 in Australia, but was of Prussian Jewish ancestry. This made him an unlikely candidate for high promotion within the armed forces during World War I. However, he commandeered the 4th brigade that took part in the battle of Gallipoli and finally became commander of the entire Australian Army Corps in 1918 as the first Australian. After the war, Monash became an eminent figure in Australia and probably the most famous commander in Australian history. He also was a key figure in the developing Anzac Day ceremonies.
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that goes back to the battle of Gallipoli, the first joint military campaign of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) during World War I in 1915. It is celebrated on 25 April every year. Please find here our blog on Anzac Day.
The documentation was shot in Australia, France, Germany and the UK. We researched the German an Austrian ancestors of John Monash and were looking for relatives that might have fought during World War I on the other side of the war. It was a very interesting research and we are very much looking forward to see what became of it.
The first Episode is aired on Tuesday 24 April 2018, 8:30 p.m. on ABC.
The second Episode will be aired on Tuesday 01 May, 8:30 p.m. on ABC.