Donald Dunstan (Australian Governor)

Not be confused with the South Australian Premier Don Dunstan.

Lieutenant General Sir Donald Dunstan AC, KBE, CB
30th Governor of South Australia
In office 23 April 1982 – 5 February 1991
Monarch	Queen Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Sir Keith Seaman
Succeeded by	Dame Roma Mitchell
Personal details
Born	Donald Beaumont Dunstan 18 February 1923(1923-02-18) Murray Bridge, South Australia
Died	15 October 2011(2011-10-15) (aged 88) Adelaide, South Australia
Nationality	Australian
Alma mater	Royal Military College, Duntroon
Profession	Soldier
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Australian Army
Years of service	1942–1982
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands	Chief of the General Staff 1st Australian Task Force 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Companion of the Order of Australia Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Mentioned in Despatches

Lieutenant General Sir Donald Beaumont Dunstan, AC, KBE, CB (18 February 1923 – 15 October 2011)^[1][2] was an Australian Army officer who was Governor of South Australia from 23 April 1982 until 5 February 1991.

Military career

He was a career officer in the Australian Army, served in the Pacific in World War II and was a staff officer in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan following the war. Dunstan saw service in Korea including as Military Assistant to the Commander in Chief of the British Commonwealth Forces Korea. He took over from Brigadier Ron Hughes as Commander of the 1st Australian Task Force on 21 May 1968 during the battle for Firebases Coral and Balmoral during the Vietnam War.^[3] Commander of Australian Forces in Vietnam 1971 and 1972, Chief of Materiel in Army Headquarters (1972–74), General Officer Commanding Field Forces (1974–77) and Chief of the General Staff (1977–82).

Honours and awards

Lieutenant General Sir Donald Dunstan has been decorated with the following honours:

	Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)	(1991)
	Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)	(1979)
	Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)	(1969)
	Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)	(1954)
	Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)	(1972)
	1939-1945 Star
	Pacific Star
	Defence Medal
	War Medal, 1939–45 with Bronze Oakleaf for Mentioned in Dispatches
	Australia Service Medal 1939-45
	Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975
	Korea Medal
	United Nations Korea Medal
	Vietnam Medal
	Australian Service Medal 1945-1975
	Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal	(1977)
	Centenary Medal	(2001)
	Defence Force Service Medal (with Federation Star)	(40–44 years service)
	National Medal with First Clasp	(1977)
	Australian Defence Medal
	Vietnam Campaign Medal

References

1. ^ "Ex-SA governor dies". ninemsn. 16 October 2011. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8360914. 
2. ^ "Former SA governor Dunstan dies". ABC News. 17 October 2011. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-16/former-sa-governor-dunstan-dies/3574098. 
3. ^ McAulay, p. 197

• McAulay, Lex. The Battle of Coral: Vietnam Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral, May 1968. 1988; Arrow Book (Random House Australia Pty Ltd). ISBN 978-0-09169-091-5.

External links

• Australian Honours list
• Order of Australia Association

Military offices
Preceded by Lieutenant General Arthur MacDonald	Chief of the General Staff 1977–1982	Succeeded by Lieutenant General Sir Phillip Bennett
Government offices
Preceded by Sir Keith Seaman	Governor of South Australia 1982–1991	Succeeded by Dame Roma Mitchell

Persondata
Name	Dunstan, Donald Beaumont
Alternative names	Dunstan, Sir Donald Beaumont
Short description	Senior Australian Army officer and Governor of South Australia
Date of birth	18 February 1923
Place of birth	Murray Bridge, South Australia
Date of death	15 October 2011
Place of death	Adelaide, South Australia