Lieutenant-General Henry John Coates AC, MBE, Ipswich Grammar School, 1943-1951

Continued his education at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, from which he graduated in 1955, returning later as its Commandant. He served on exchange with the United States Army and British Army before commanding a Cavalry (Armoured Personnel Carrier) Squadron in South Vietnam from 1970-71.

He was the Head of the Australian Defence Staff in Washington DC before returning to Australia to become Assistant Chief of Defence Force (Policy). He retired as Chief of the General Staff in 1992. Since retiring from the Army he has written books on military history and is a Visiting Fellow at the Australian Defence Force Academy.