Wikipedia:WikiProject Military history/Peer review/Frank Hassett

Francis Hassett

I created this article some time ago, and have recently re-built it adding additional information and references. I would like to seek any ideas for improvement. Any and all ideas and comments welcome. Thanks, Abraham, B.S. (talk) 05:31, 2 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Cam

Overall a high-quality article. Just a few comments based on my read-through:

There's a heavy reliance on government or Australian Army sources. For a guy this high up, there's gotta be an external book or print source on him. I'll snoop around a bit to see if I can find anything (although you likely have better access to that stuff than I do;)

Strangely enough, for a man this distinguished there is very little information available on him, and the majority of what there is available only came out after his death. There was a biography published on Hassett only a few years ago, but it was only small circulation and I think it is now out of print; so I have so far been unable to obtain a copy. I'd really appreciate it if you were to find any further information. Thanks mate, Abraham, B.S. (talk) 05:28, 3 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The "retirement" section is quite skimpy. Would it be possible to expand this at all? (i.e. did he receive any honorary awards after his retirement? Did he teach at a military college in Australia? All that standard "retired-general-stuff"). Given that he retired 30 years before he died, he likely didn't just sit around the entire time (granted, the ill health might have led to some unpleasant medical work, if that's the case that could go in here).

There is very little I can find on his retirement; I don't even know what he was sick with before he died! But I'll have a look around and see if I can find anything. Abraham, B.S. (talk) 05:28, 3 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

There's several footnotes lacking retrieval dates

Yes, another editor doubled up on the references I had already provided on his honours and placed ones from the "It's an Honour" website into the article. I'll convert them into the reference template I used for the other references. Abraham, B.S. (talk) 05:28, 3 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

All the best with taking the article forward. Good work! Cam (Chat) 03:23, 3 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks! I really appriciate you having a look, Abraham, B.S. (talk) 05:28, 3 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Nick Dowling

This is a great article and I enjoyed reading it. My only comments are:

If more material is available on Hassett's performance in World War II it would be valuable - do we know why he was appointed a Lt Col at 23 (presumably his staff work impressed his superiors to a great degree) and there's not much on what staff roles he filled between 1942 and 1945.

There isn't really much information available on this area, although I think I may have found a source where I can purchase a copy of his biography from. If I am able to obtain a copy sometime soon then hopefully I can fill in the extra gaps in the article. Abraham, B.S. (talk) 11:55, 4 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

As the Australian Defence Force was established in February 1976 Hassett wasn't the "professional head of the Australian Defence Force" on his appointment in 1975, but rather the chairman of the relatively weak Chiefs of Staff Committee. When the ADF was established he became its first commander (a distinction which should be mentioned in the article) and enjoyed somewhat expanded powers. I can provide references from David Horner's excellent book Making the Australian Defence Force if that would be of assistance. Nick Dowling (talk) 10:27, 4 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It would be great if you would be able to do that. I'm glad you enjoyed the article. Thanks for having a look, Nick. Abraham, B.S. (talk) 11:55, 4 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I've just added that in - I hope that it's clear - let me know if it isn't. Nick Dowling (talk) 10:53, 9 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Perfect! Thank you very much! Abraham, B.S. (talk) 10:46, 10 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Hawkeye7

No comments of my own, just comments on comments.

A biography of was published in 2005.
- Essex-Clark, John (2005). Hassett: Australian Leader. Australian Military History Publications. ISBN 1 876439 65 3.

I have a copy. If you want to spring for one too, you can still get it from Australian Military History Publications

I came across that the other day, and fully intend to purchase a copy when I am able. Abraham, B.S. (talk) 22:27, 4 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Hassett didn't do much in retirement. He wrote some articles on military subjects. His only honour received in retirement was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Australian Regiment, which he relinquished some years ago. He was also Life Governor of the Royal Australian Regiment Foundation, a charitable body associated with the regiment. He used to be a regular attendee at Maryang San Day at Holsworthy and he unveiled the battle honour "Maryang San" on the 3RAR colour at a parade at the Australian War Memorial in 1995. His portrait is in the Australian War Memorial and actually on display.
Hassett was hospitalised for stomach ulcers in 1942 and again in 1946. In 1952 a serious bleed led to a gastrectomy operation. He suffered another bleed in 1967. An undetected blocked bile duct led to pain and bouts of nausea for several years. He also had cardiovascular problems. (Essex, p. 247) What he died from I don't know either.
Hassett became GSO2 (Ops) at II Corps on 6 June 1942, when he was also promoted to lieutenant colonel. In October he was posted to the LHQ Staff School at Duntroon. In 1943 he became GSO1 (Ops) at LHQ in Melbourne. He was posted as GSO1 (Liaison) at II Corps in December 1943 and as such served in New Guinea in the Huon Peninsula campaign, where he contracted dysentery and dengue fever. II Corps became I Corps in April 1944. He was posted to 3rd Division as GSO1 in February 1945. (Essex, pp. 143-151) I can get you the exact dates if you want.

Thank you for all the information! I'll see if I can work it into the article. Thanks, Abraham, B.S. (talk) 22:27, 4 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Roger Davies

Very good piece, Bryce. However, it doesn't really answer the question – which I suppose is implicit in all biographical articles – "What was he like?" Some background on his interests would be good. You mention sport earlier on but that's about it. Did he ever take on an honorary sports roles in retirement? Any good anecdotes? Was he funny, dry? What did his men think of him? What was he like as a commander? What characterises his command style (boldness, reticence)? If you can bring this man to life in this article, you'll turn it from a very good article into an outstanding one. --ROGER DAVIES ^talk 12:47, 13 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

That is the very annoying and irritating factor with Hassett - there is very little information out there to find on him, and even less on his personal life. It was a struggle to find out that he had four children with his wife! I am very grateful to Hawkeye7 for supplying some very good information above, but the reason I have not yet included it in the article is because I fully intend to purchase a copy of Hassett's biography myself, and hopefully it will prove me with some very valuable information to include in the article. The only question that you have asked that I can really answer is that his men adored him, and considered him to be an inspirational leader. Thanks for having a look, Roger; I'll get onto purchasing a copy of the biography soon so I can expand and improve this article further and hopefully address the issues you have raised. Abraham, B.S. (talk) 13:14, 13 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Obituaries can often yield some background stuff:

Hope this helps. --ROGER DAVIES ^talk 13:56, 13 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you very much, Roger! Two of the items I have already used as sources in the article, but I have had a quick look at the other two and there seems to be some good additional sections of interest included in these. I will add the additional information to the article over the comming days. Thanks again, Abraham, B.S. (talk) 10:24, 16 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry, mate, I should have looked more closely first [blush]. --ROGER DAVIES ^talk 12:00, 16 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Lol, don't be sorry; it shows that you actually took the time to search for additional information to help me, and I really appreciate that. Thanks Roger, Abraham, B.S. (talk) 06:06, 17 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

References [finally] used, and additional facts and information added. Thanks again, Roger. Abraham, B.S. (talk) 09:27, 27 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]