AceHistoryDesk – Lieutenant General Robert Harold Nimmo, CBE (22 November 1893 – 4 January 1966) was a senior Australian Army officer who served in World War I, in World War II, with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan, as general officer commanding (GOC) Northern Command in Australia, and finally as the chief military observer of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan from 1950 until his death in 1966.

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Raised on a sheep station in far north Queensland, Nimmo attended the Southport School in southern Queensland before entering the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in 1912. He was the senior cadet of his class, which graduated early to participate in World War I. He served with the 5th Light Horse Regiment during the Gallipoli and Sinai and Palestine campaigns, reaching the rank of major. He was praised for his leadership as a light horse squadron commander and for his skills as the brigade major of the 1st Light Horse Brigade in the final stages of the war.

At the end of the war, Nimmo transferred to the permanent Australian Staff Corps, and served as a company commander and instructor at Duntroon before a series of staff postings at cavalry formations in Victoria.

He was also a talented sportsman, representing Australia in field hockey, and the state of Victoria in a range of sports. After attending the British Army‘s Senior Officers’ School, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and served as a senior staff officer on the headquarters of two cavalry divisions. At the outbreak of World War II, he was initially retained in Australia to help develop an Australian armoured force, and was subsequently promoted to brigadier and commanded a cavalry and then an armoured brigade in Australia. Following this he was posted as a senior staff officer at corps and then at army headquarters level in Australia. Nimmo administered command of Northern Territory Forcebefore deploying to the island of Bougainville in the Territory of New Guinea to command the 4th Base Sub Area, the logistics organisation supporting the Bougainville campaign. His final posting of the war was as a senior staff officer on First Australian Army headquarters in Lae in New Guinea.

Soon after the Japanese surrender, Nimmo was selected to command the 34th Brigade, and led it from Morotai in the Dutch East Indies to Japan, where it formed part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.

Upon returning from Japan to Australia, he was promoted to major general and posted as GOC Northern Command. He was appointed as a Commander of the British Empire in 1950, and retired from the army at the end of that year. Almost simultaneously he was appointed as the chief military observer of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan(UNMOGIP), responsible for monitoring the 800-kilometre-long (500 mi) ceasefire line between the Indian and Pakistani armed forces, which extended from the Kashmir Valley to the Himalayas. He was promoted by Australia to honorary lieutenant general in 1954, at the suggestion of the United Nations. In 1964, the UN Secretariat described him as “by far the most successful United Nations observer ever”. He died of a heart attackin his sleep on 4 January 1966 at Rawalpindi, Pakistan, and was buried in the Anzac section of Mount Gravatt Cemetery, Brisbane, with full military and United Nations honours and senior representatives of both India and Pakistan were present. Nimmo was the first Australian to command a multinational peacekeeping force, and his command of UNMOGIP remains the longest-ever command of a UN operation.

Early life and education

Robert Harold Nimmo was born on 22 November 1893 at Oak Park Station, a sheep station near the town of Einasleigh in far north Queensland. He was the fifth of nine children of James Russel Nimmo, a Scottish-born grazier, and his wife Mary Ann Eleanor née Lethbridge, who was born in Victoria. Known within his family as Harold, between 1904 and 1911 Nimmo attended the Southport School, an independent Anglican school south of the Queensland capital of Brisbane (now part of the Gold Coast). He achieved excellent results in both academic and sporting pursuits while at school^.

In the year that Nimmo finished at the Southport School, the Royal Military College, Duntroon, opened in the national capital of Canberra, and on 7 March 1912, he joined the second intake of officer trainees for the small Australian Permanent Military Forces. He became known by the nickname “Putt” while at Duntroon. After the outbreak of World War I in August 1914 it was decided to graduate Nimmo’s class fourteen months early in November of that year^.

World War I: Gallipoli campaign

Nimmo was appointed as a lieutenant in the Permanent Military Forces upon graduation on 3 November 1914, having held the position of the senior cadet of his 40-strong class, known as the company sergeant major.^[4] He was commissioned as a lieutenant into the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and joined the 5th Light Horse Regiment,^[3] part of Colonel Granville Ryrie‘s 2nd Light Horse Brigade which was forming from men recruited in Queensland. On 21 December the regiment sailed from Sydney for the Middle East aboard SS Persic, a White Star Lineocean liner that had been converted into a troopship and redesignated HMAT A34. The regiment arrived in Egypt on 1 February 1915. Initially considered unsuitable for the landing at Gallipoli on 25 April, the whole brigade was landed at Anzac Cove on 20 May in a dismounted role to reinforce the severely depleted infantry of the 1st Division that had been fighting the Gallipoli campaign since 25 April.^[5] Nimmo was a troop commander in A Squadron, and although the regiment performed a defensive role for most of the campaign, it was involved in some minor attacks. Nimmo was involved in considerable fighting during the campaign.

In the second week of June the 2nd Light Horse Brigade was deployed onto the southernmost flank of the Australian frontline at Gallipoli.

A competition then ensued by which the Australians and opposing Ottoman Army troops extended their trenches south, with the Australian position terminating at Chatham’s Post at the seaward end of a long spur. The opposing Ottoman trench system at this point was the Echelon Trenches. The 2nd Light Horse Brigade was ordered to conduct a feint attack towards the Echelon Trenches, and to occupy an intermediate position known as the Balkan Pits from which the Ottomans were to be led to believe the attack was to be launched. A Squadron of the 5th Light Horse Regiment was to occupy the Balkan Pits with cover from other elements of the brigade from various positions, along with artillery. Nimmo was in the forefront of this advance, engaging exposed Ottoman troops as they went, causing confusion, but drawing fire and warning the Ottomans of the danger, and they promptly occupied the Echelon Trenches in response.

The half-squadron, now in the Balkan Pits, was engaged by Ottoman artillery, and there was some friendly fire from a British destroyer which also caused casualties.

Despite accompanying heavy rifle fire and Ottoman troops approaching from two directions, the lighthorsemen remained in position. Nimmo’s leadership in steadying the forward troops at this juncture was noted in the Australian official history of the war. With the Ottomans closing in, the lighthorsemen were ordered to withdraw, but they refused to leave any wounded behind, which slowed their eventual return to the Australian line about dusk. During the operation, the 5th Light Horse Regiment lost 24 killed, 79 wounded, and one taken prisoner.

On 16 July Nimmo was appointed as regimental adjutant and twelve days later he was temporarily promoted to captain.

He was evacuated with enteric fever in late August, and because he was no longer performing his adjutant duties he reverted to his substantive rank of lieutenant on 30 August. He was admitted to hospital in Alexandria in Egypt on 6 September then evacuated to the UK on 23 September where he was admitted to hospital in London on 5 October. Due to his absence from his unit, he was placed on the supernumerary list on 13 December.

General Nimmo’s wisdom, judgement and strength of character were complemented by a modesty, kindness and calmness which endeared him to the officers of many nationalities who served under him as military observers, and to all those with whom he worked both in the field and at United Nations Headquarters. The most difficult and dangerous situations did not ruffle his composure or affect at all his objectivity and determination to establish the true facts of a situation.

Footnotes

1. National Archives 2022, p. 3.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y} James & Londey 2006.
3. ^ ^a b c d National Archives 2022, p. 18.
4. Coulthard-Clark 1986, pp. 268 & 329.
5. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Australian War Memorial 2016.
6. Wilson & Wetherell 1926, p. 13.
7. Bean 1944, pp. 294–295.
8. Bean 1944, pp. 295–299.
9. National Archives 2022, pp. 18 & 20.
10. National Archives 2022, pp. 18 & 21.
11. ^ ^{a b c d e f} National Archives 2022, p. 27.
12. Wilson & Wetherell 1926, p. 70.
13. National Archives 2022, p. 21.
14. ^ ^a b c National Archives 2022, p. 22.
15. 2nd ALH Bde War Diary of February 1917.
16. 2nd ALH Bde War Diary of March 1917.
17. Coulthard-Clark 1998, p. 124.
18. Falls & MacMunn 1930, p. 307.
19. Gullett 1941, pp. 302–307.
20. Gullett 1941, p. 328.
21. ^ ^a b National Archives 2022, p. 23.
22. 5th ALHR War Diary of July 1917.
23. 5th ALHR War Diary of August 1917.
24. 5th ALHR War Diary of September 1917.
25. 5th ALHR War Diary of October 1917.
26. Gullett 1941, pp. 388–389.
27. Gullett 1941, p. 408.
28. Gullett 1941, pp. 412, 414, 418–419.
29. Gullett 1941, pp. 435–438.
30. Gullett 1941, pp. 457, 473 & 482.
31. Gullett 1941, pp. 502–504.
32. Gullett 1941, p. 530.
33. Gullett 1941, pp. 549–550.
34. Gullett 1941, p. 557.
35. 5th ALHR War Diary of March 1918.
36. ^ ^a b Gullett 1941, p. 563.
37. 5th ALHR War Diary of April 1918, p. 15.
38. Gullett 1941, pp. 573–580.
39. 5th ALHR War Diary of April 1918.
40. ^ ^a b 5th ALHR War Diary of May 1918.
41. ^ ^a b 5th ALHR War Diary of June 1918.
42. 1st ALH Bde War Diary of September 1918.
43. National Archives 2022, pp. 23 & 65.
44. The London Gazette 21 January 1919.
45. National Archives 2022, p. 58.
46. National Archives 2022, p. 24.
47. National Archives 2022, p. 61.
48. National Archives 2022, p. 49.
49. National Archives 2022, p. 93.
50. ^ ^a b ACT Memorial 2022.
51. The Australian Army 2012.
52. Griffith 1994, p. xiv.
53. The Age 1930.
54. The Sporting Globe 1935.
55. National Archives 2022, pp. 26–27.
56. ^ ^a b National Archives 2022, p. 96.
57. ^ ^a b National Archives 2022, p. 94.
58. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} National Archives 2022, p. 95.
59. Coulthard-Clark 1986, pp. 130–131.
60. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} Londey 2021.
61. AWM Roll of Honour 2022.
62. The Courier-Mail 1949.
63. National Archives 2022, p. 7.
64. Telegraph 1950.
65. Anderson & Dawson 2006.
66. Day 2016.
67. Londey, Crawley & Horner 2019, p. 186.
68. Londey, Crawley & Horner 2019, pp. 179–180.
69. Londey, Crawley & Horner 2019, pp. 191–192.
70. Londey, Crawley & Horner 2019, pp. 194–199.
71. Londey, Crawley & Horner 2019, pp. 200–201.
72. ^ ^a b c Londey, Crawley & Horner 2019, p. 187.
73. Londey, Crawley & Horner 2019, pp. 193–194.
74. Londey, Crawley & Horner 2019, p. 188.
75. Londey, Crawley & Horner 2019, pp. 190–191.
76. ^ ^a b Londey, Crawley & Horner 2019, p. 185.
77. Londey, Crawley & Horner 2019, p. 200.
78. Londey, Crawley & Horner 2019, p. 211.
79. Londey, Crawley & Horner 2019, p. 214.
80. Londey, Crawley & Horner 2019, pp. 214–215.
81. ^ ^a b c Londey, Crawley & Horner 2019, p. 215.
82. ^ ^a b The Courier-Mail 1966.
83. The Morning Bulletin 1966.

References

Books

• Anderson, Grant; Dawson, Daryl (2006). “Dixon, Sir Owen (1886–1972)”. Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 14. Melbourne University Press.none
• Bean, C.E.W. (1944). The Story of Anzac: From 4 May 1915 to the Evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula. Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918. Vol. 2 (13 ed.). Sydney: Angus & Robertson. OCLC 220897812.none
• Coulthard-Clark, Chris (1986). Duntroon. The Royal Military College of Australia, 1911–1986. Sydney: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-0-86861-883-8. OCLC 15053240.none
• Coulthard-Clark, Chris (1998). The Encyclopaedia of Australia’s Battles (1st ed.). Sydney, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-611-2.none
• Falls, Cyril; MacMunn, G. (1930). Military Operations: Egypt & Palestine from the Outbreak of War with Germany to June 1917. Official History of the Great War Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. Vol. 1. London: HM Stationery Office. OCLC 610273484.none
• Griffith, Paddy (1994). Battle Tactics of the Western Front: the British Army’s Art of Attack, 1916–18. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-05910-6.none
• Gullett, Henry S. (1941). The Australian Imperial Force in Sinai and Palestine, 1914–1918. Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918. Vol. VII (11th ed.). Canberra: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 220900153.none
• James, Neil; Londey, Peter (2006). “Nimmo, Robert Harold (1893–1966)”. Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. Supplementary volume. Melbourne University Press.none
• Londey, Peter; Crawley, Rhys; Horner, David (2019). The Long Search for Peace: Observer Missions and Beyond, 1947–2006. Official History of Australian Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Post-Cold War Operations. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-108-48298-1. OCLC 1124679882.none
• Wilson, Lachlan Chisholm; Wetherell, H. (1926). History of the Fifth Light Horse Regiment (Australian Imperial Force) from 1914 to October 1918. Sydney, New South Wales: The Motor Press of Australia. OCLC 221240758.none

News, gazettes and web sources

• “5th Australian Light Horse Regiment”. Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 16 July2022.none
• “A Man of War and Peace”. The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Queensland. 6 January 1966. p. 16. Retrieved 13 September 2022 – via National Archives of Australia.none
• Day, Adam (14 July 2016). “A dead Canadian general, Osama bin Laden, and the world’s worst ally”. Legion Magazine. Canvet Publications. Retrieved 26 October 2022.none
• “His Last Post”. The Courier-Mail. Queensland, Australia. 14 January 1966. p. 19. Retrieved 14 September 2022 – via National Library of Australia.none
• “Hockey”. The Age. No. 23, 494. Victoria, Australia. 28 July 1930. p. 5. Retrieved 10 September 2022 – via National Library of Australia.none
• “Hockey Standard Improves”. The Sporting Globe. No. 1362. Victoria, Australia. 10 August 1935. p. 1 (Edition1). Retrieved 10 September 2022 – via National Library of Australia.none
• Londey, Peter (30 March 2021). “Robert Nimmo”. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 10 September 2022.none
• “Maj.-Gen. Nimmo in Army Eleven”. The Courier-Mail. No. 4059. Queensland, Australia. 29 November 1949. p. 9. Retrieved 10 September 2022 – via National Library of Australia.none
• “Nimmo, Robert Harold (NAA: B2458, 11)”. National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 16 July 2022.none
• “Nimmo is Near Army Age Peak”. Telegraph. Brisbane, Australia. 28 August 1950. p. 4 (City Final). Retrieved 10 September 2022 – via National Library of Australia.none
• “Nimmo, Robert Harold”. ACT Memorial. ACT Government. Retrieved 10 December 2022.none
• “No. 31138”. The London Gazette. 21 January 1919. p. 1164.none
• “RMC Graduation”. Our work: News and media December 2012. Australian Army. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.none
• “Roll of Honour: James Andrew Harold Nimmo”. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 29 October 2022.none

War diaries

• “1st Australian Light Horse Brigade War Diary”. First World War Diaries AWM4, 10/1/50. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. September 1918. Retrieved 24 December 2022.none
• “2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade War Diary”. First World War Diaries AWM4, 10/2/26. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. February 1917. Retrieved 23 December 2022.none
• “2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade War Diary”. First World War Diaries AWM4, 10/2/27. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. March 1917. Retrieved 23 December 2022.none
• “5th Australian Light Horse Regiment War Diary”. First World War Diaries AWM4, 10/10/31. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. July 1917. Retrieved 23 December 2022.none
• “5th Australian Light Horse Regiment War Diary”. First World War Diaries AWM4, 10/10/32. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. August 1917. Retrieved 23 December 2022.none
• “5th Australian Light Horse Regiment War Diary”. First World War Diaries AWM4, 10/10/33. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. September 1917. Retrieved 23 December 2022.none
• “5th Australian Light Horse Regiment War Diary”. First World War Diaries AWM4, 10/10/34. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. October 1917. Retrieved 23 December 2022.none
• “5th Australian Light Horse Regiment War Diary”. First World War Diaries AWM4, 10/10/39. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. March 1918. Retrieved 24 December 2022.none
• “5th Australian Light Horse Regiment War Diary”. First World War Diaries AWM4, 10/10/40. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. April 1918. Retrieved 24 December 2022.none
• “5th Australian Light Horse Regiment War Diary”. First World War Diaries AWM4, 10/10/41. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. May 1918. Retrieved 24 December 2022.none
• “5th Australian Light Horse Regiment War Diary”. First World War Diaries AWM4, 10/10/42. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. June 1918. Retrieved 24 December 2022.none

Further reading

• Dawson, Pauline (1995). The Peacekeepers of Kashmir: The UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan. Mumbai: Popular Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-7154-581-0. OCLC 36281181.none

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