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a few dollars to help with the running costs of
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very much appreciated.
Thank you from
Gravesites of Tasmania. |
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COLONEL JOHN ERNEST CECIL LORD
“FATHER
OF THE 40TH BATTALION” AND
TASMANIA
’S
LONGEST SERVING POLICE COMMISSIONER
 Born
8th May 1870 at Brighton Tasmania to
Richard David Lord (1848-1926) and Louise
Augusta Packer (1843-1914)., John Lord was to
marry his cousin Hannah May Smith, daughter of
William Henry Smith (1840-1894) and Elizabeth
Campbell Lord (1844-1928)
He spent the early
years of his life in the Midlands and came to
Hobart at the age of 15
to enter the Public Service as a Cadet and it
was in July 1886 he assumed the position of
clerk to the Commissioner of Police. Promotion
to chief clerk and secretary to the Commissioner
followed.
His military
service began in 1898 when he became a private
in the Sandy Bay Company. In December 1899 he
was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He was
adjutant of the 93rd Infantry
Regiment for four years, later becoming its
commanding officer, a position he held at the
declaration of war in 1914
He was appointed
Police Commissioner on 1st January
1906 when the then Commissioner was transferred
to another Public Service Department. His
appointment to permanent head of the Department
was confirmed 1st July 1906.
Because of his
involvement as President of the
St. John’s Ambulance
Association, it was he that was responsible for
insisting that all members of the Police Force
pass an examination in first aid.
In August 1914 he
was made Commanding Officer of Hobart Defences.
He was in command of the
40th Battalion A.I.F from its
formation in March 1916 until demobilization in
1918. He volunteered for overseas service on 10th
February 1916.
At this stage the
Police Department was reluctant to grant leave
to any officer but rather than have them resign,
permission was granted to 26 Tasmanian officers
including Colonel Lord for overseas service.
At the time of his
enlistment he was 44 years old and he and his
family were living at “Derwent Water”
Sandy
Bay . He was
given command of the Fortieth Battalion of the
Third Division AIF with the rank of Lieutenant
Colonel and with a complement of soldiers
gathered from all parts of
Tasmania who departed
on the troopship “Berrima” on the 1st.
July 1916. He saw service in
France and
Belgium and
between July 1918 and February 1919 where he
held commands of the Fifth, Ninth, Tenth and
Fifteenth Australian Infantry Brigades.
Whilst serving
overseas he received the following awards
Mention in
Despatches
Awarded, and
promulated, 'London Gazette', second Supplement,
No. 30107, 1 June 1917; 'Commonwealth Gazette'
No. 169, 4 October 1917
Mention in
Despatches
 Awarded,
and promulgated, 'London Gazette' No. 31089, 31
December 1918; 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 61, 23
May 1919.
Recommendation
date: 30 September1918 DSO
Recommendation
date: 4 March 1917 Croix de Guerre (France)
Recommendation
date: 27 September 1918 CMG
Recommendation
date: 7 February 1919 Brevet Colonel
Colonel
Recommendation date: 8 April 1919
Mention in
Despatches
Awarded, and
promulgated, 'London Gazette' No. 31448, 11 July
1919; 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 124, 30 October
1919
He returned to
Australia on the 20th
April 1919 with 280 other soldiers after
spending a week at
Barnes
Bay in quarantine
to a rousing reception. A car especially
decorated with the 40th Battalion
colours and having the inscription “Good old 40th”
on the windscreen was waiting and was pulled by
ropes by men of the 40th to Customs
House where the Acting Commissioner and members
of the Police Force were waiting to welcome him
home.
He was a keen
sportsman with a long association with
Athletics, was a member of the champion Derwent
Rowing Club, played football with Colbrook,
Kingston and Newtown, was Chairman of the
committee of the Royal Hobart Regatta
Association which he had been associated with
for over 50 years and a member of various
committees throughout Hobart. He was also a
foundation member of the Naval and Military
Club.
He retired from
the Police Force at the age of 70 after having
served in that position for nearly 34 years.
 After
his death in October 1949 his funeral was held
at St. David’s Cathedral where thousands paid
tribute to his memory with four members of his
beloved 40th holding the flag over
his casket.
The military
commandant of the day, Brigadier E.M. Dollery
said it all
“All soldiers past
and present, mourn the passing of a grand
veteran and inspiring leader,
He was just,
conscientious, kind and lovable, and the
community is poorer for his passing”
In his will he
bequeathed to the Hobart City Council the small
beach between Wrest Point and
Sandy Bay Road (near
the Wrest Point Jetty) subject to the condition
it was kept for the use of the general public
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