Denzil Macarthur-Onslow

A student at Tudor House and a boarder in Macarthur House, Denzil was a talented runner, and a member of the Senior Athletics Team having won the Mile Championship Cup and the Five Mile Cross Country Cup in his final two years. For the same two years he was also a member of the 1st Shooting Team.

A Lieutenant in the Cadet Corps on leaving School he continued his association with the military and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the militia at the same time joining the Royal Aero Club of NSW. He had diverse business interests from partnering with a company in the manufacture of parachutes to introducing tuberculosis-free milk following a trip abroad to study the latest dairying techniques. He and his brother flew from England to Australia in 1937 at a time when such flights were relatively uncommon.

When war broke out in 1939, Denzil, now a Captain with the 1st Cavalry Division volunteered for the AIF joining the 6th Division Reconnaissance Cavalry Division receiving a further promotion to Major. Mentioned in Despatches in 1941 during attacks on Bardia, for leadership in capturing 2,000 prisoners and holding an enemy post until reinforcements arrived, Denzil later received a Distinguished Service Order. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in charge of the 6th Cavalry Regiment he participated in the Syrian campaign in July 1941. He raised an equestrian unit known as the “Kelly gang” which operated in mountainous country and led two armoured squadrons during the capture of Merdjayoun and was again Mentioned in Despatches.

Returning to Australia in 1942 and promoted to Temporary Brigadier commanding the 1st Armoured Brigade, in January 1943 he took command of the 4th Armoured Brigade. Denzil took leave without pay in July 1943 to contest the seat of Eden Monaro at the Federal Elections but he was unsuccessful and so returned to active duty and undertook parachute training. He was in 1944 reputedly the only Australian Army officer to be a fully qualified parachutist.

In 1946 after leaving the Army he transferred to the Reserve of Officers with the honorary rank of Brigadier. He returned to his property, Mt Gilead, purchased in the 1940’s and became a manufacturer of pastry-cook supplies, retaining his association with the military and in 1947 took command of the CMF 1st Armoured Brigade.

In 1951 he was appointed Commander of the British Empire and in 1953 relinquished command of the 1st Armoured Brigade. The following year he commanded the 2nd Australian Division and in 1954 was promoted to Major General. In December 1958, he became the highest ranking CMF officer to sit on the Military Board.

Denzil was knighted in 1964 and received an Efficiency Decoration. He retained numerous business interests and encouraged leadership by identifying with organisations such as the Boy Scouts and Outward Bounds. Denzil passed away in 1984 aged 80.