Military Board
12 January 1905 – 9 February 1976
Board of senior Army officers, sitting with the Minister and a civilian finance member, that commanded and administered the Commonwealth Military Forces, later the Australian Military Forces and the Australian Army, for more than seventy years.
How it came into existence
Constituted on 12 January 1905 under the Defence Act 1903, as amended in 1904, when the post of General Officer Commanding the Commonwealth Military Forces was abolished. It took over command and administration of the military forces within the Department of Defence, alongside the new Naval Board and Council of Defence.
- Command and administration of the Commonwealth Military Forces
Took over the role of the General Officer Commanding the Commonwealth Military Forces, an office within the Department of Defence.
Legislation: Defence Act 1903
Changes during its life
- 21 December 1921Continued under the reconstituted Department of Defence.
- 13 November 1939Moved to the new Department of the Army.
- March 1942Suspended when General Sir Thomas Blamey was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Military Forces, who exercised its powers for the rest of the Second World War; the Board was re-formed after the war.
- 30 November 1973Returned to the Department of Defence when the Department of the Army was abolished in the amalgamation of the service departments.
- Control of military aviation (the Army's Australian Air Corps)
Military aviation had been under Army control; the Air Corps gave way to the Australian Air Force on 31 March 1921.
How it ended
Abolished on 9 February 1976 by the Defence Force Re-organization Act 1975. Command of the Army passed to the Chief of the General Staff, under the Chief of Defence Force Staff, and its administration to the Department of Defence.
- Administration of the Army
Abolished under the Defence Force Re-organization Act 1975; command passed to the Chief of the General Staff and administration to the department.
Main functions
- Command and administration of the Army
- Military policy, organisation and training
- Army personnel, equipment and works
- Advice to the Minister on military matters
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Department of Defence.
Lineage
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Sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.