Alfred Bessell - Browne Brigadier General Alfred Joseph Bessell - Browne CB , CMG , DSO ( 3 September 1877 – 3 August 1947 ) was an Australian Army colonel and temporary Brigadier - General in World War I . He retired as a Brigadier - General in 1942 . Early life and career . Alfred Bessell - Browne was born in Auckland , New Zealand , on 3 September 1877 , the son of an insurance inspector . The family immigrated to New South Wales where Bessell - Browne attended Camden Grammar . They later moved to Western Australia where he attended Perth High School . Bessell - Browne first job was as a clerk in the patents office in 1896 . Bessell - Browne enlisted in the Perth Artillery Volunteers held the rank of sergeant in 1899 when he volunteered for South Africa , enlisting in the 1st Western Australian ( Mounted Infantry ) Contingent as a private . His unit reached Cape Town in November 1899 and took part in the Kimberley Relief Force and operations at Colesberg , Hoot Neck , Zand River , Klipps River and many other actions . Bessell - Browne was quickly promoted through the non commissioned ranks and was commissioned as a lieutenant on 21 April 1900 . He returned to Australia in March 1901 and immediately joined the 5th Western Australian Contingent as a lieutenant , serving as adjutant and then second in command . Bessell - Browne was promoted to captain in June 1901 and in July was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order ( DSO ) . From March to May 1902 he was attached to the staff of General F . Wing . Bessell - Browne returned to Australia in May 1902 and rejoined the 1st Western Australian Field Battery with the rank of lieutenant and honorary captain . He was promoted to captain in 1908 and the following year took the Diploma of Military Science course at the University of Sydney . He was promoted to major on 28 August 1911 , and took command of his battery , now known as the 37th Field Battery . World War I . On 28 August 1914 , Bessell - Browne was appointed to the AIF with the rank of major and given command of the 8th Field Artillery Battery . He called for volunteers from his battery , the whole parade stepped forward . Bessell - Browne and his battery departed Fremantle for Egypt on 2 November 1914 and arrived there on 12 December 1914 . Bessell - Browne arrived at Anzac on 1 May 1915 , his unit was restricted by a lack of good gun positions . Bessell - Browne and his unit saw repeated action on Anzac both in support of Australian troops and by direst fire on Turkish positions . On 2 August 1915 , Bessell - Browne took over as commander of the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade . He was switched to the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade on 27 August , back to the 3rd again on 8 September and then back to the 2nd on 13 September . During the evacuation of Anzac he commanded the Rear Party Artillery . For his services at Gallipoli , Bessell - Browne was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George ( CMG ) and Mentioned in Despatches . Bessell - Browne was promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel on 15 October 1915 , a promotion made permanent on 1 January 1916 . He was evacuated to Egypt sick on 12 January 1916 . He rejoined the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade in Egypt on 19 February 1916 . It embarked for France on 12 March . Bessell - Browne ' s brigade participated in the attack on the Pozières , which saw first use of a creeping barrage by Australian troops . On 8 September 1916 he was attached to the 1st Division Artillery and took command of the from 28 September 1916 to 18 January 1917 in the absence of Brigadier General Hobbs . On 18 January 1917 , Bessell - Browne became commander of the 5th Division Artillery . Two days later he was promoted to colonel and temporary brigadier general . He commanded the 5th Division Artillery at Bullecourt and Third Ypres , where he employed artillery to cover the flank . In the mobile warfare that followed the German offensive of 1918 , Bessell - Browne showed himself flexible and adaptable and pioneered new tactics to provide close support for infantry . In the attack on Bellecourt , he was able to put down an accurate barrage at 90 degrees from the line of sight to cover the attack at Le Catelet . From 16 to 24 October 1918 , Bessell - Browne commanded the US 30th Division ' s artillery , for which he was awarded the American Distinguished Service Medal . On 8 November 1918 , Bessell - Browne took Anzac leave to return to Australia on furlough . The war ended three days later so he rejoined the 5th Division artillery on 1 December 1918 . He finally returned to Australia in 19 April 1919 and was demobilised in July . For his services on the Western Front , Bessell - Browne was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath ( CB ) and had been mentioned in dispatches no less than nine times . Post war . After the war , he established an indent agents ' firm . During World War II he commanded the Volunteer Defence Corps in Western Australia . He retired as a brigadier general in 1942 . Bessell - Browne died on 3 August 1947 and was cremated with full military honours .