The RUSI of Tasmania, Hobart Branch meets at Legacy Hall, 159 Macquarie Street, Hobart on the third Tuesday of the month between February and October each year. Members meet at 1830 hrs and presentations start at 1915 hrs.
Launceston meets on the third Wednesday of the month except January. The time may vary depending on the speaker's availability.
Either 1200 hrs for lunch followed by the Speaker or 1800 hrs for dinner followed by the speaker.
Meals must be booked before 1200 hrs on the Friday prior to the meeting. For further information contact the Secretary.
TUESDAY 21 November 2023, 1900 hrs
AT HOBART LEGACY
159 Macquarie Street Hobart
(down the driveway at the back of Legacy House)
SPEAKER: Ross McMullin
SUBJECT: Pompey Elliott, 'Australia's most famous fighting general'
Ross' works include his acclaimed biography of Australia's most famous fighting general, Pompey Elliott, which has won multiple awards, and he assembled Pompey's extraordinary letters and diaries in a separate book, Pompey Elliott at War: In His Own Words. Pompey was frank and forthright, charismatic and controversial, an accomplished tactician and "the bravest of the brave", he was an outstanding commander renowned for never sending anyone anywhere he was not prepared to go himself. A leader of unimpeachable integrity and unwavering commitment, "as straight as a ruled line", he was also exuberant and volatile. His tempestuousness generated a host of Pompey anecdotes that amused his men and disconcerted his superiors. Pompey was prominent in iconic battles and numerous controversies. No one was more instrumental in turning looming defeat into stunning victory at both Polygon Wood and Villers-Bretonneux. No Australian general was more revered by those he led or more renowned outside his own command.
We will also be farewelling the outgoing President, Martin Bastick as we close out the year.
It will be a good night for maximum turnout - feel free to invite others who may be interested in this topic or RUSI more generally.
The library will be open from 18:00 hrs with drinks and nibbles available. Raffle if you wish, $5 a ticket for a bottle of wine.
For the RUSI Security Seminar Part 2 in Hobart now delayed till late is 2023 or 2024.
Recent Past events
17 October 2023 - Dr Mark Harrison, China and Taiwan
19 September 2023 - Neale Tomlin, TasRail operations, capital program, links with industry and decarbonisation opportunities
15 August 2023 - Prof Nicholas Farrelly, Australia, ASEAN and the rest: Strategies for a contested region
18 July 2023 - Mark Cooper, Tactical review of the second year of the war in the Ukraine
20 June 2023 - Wing Commander Andrew Johnson, The Defence Strategic Review.
16 May 2023 - Gary McCarthy, TasPorts - Security of Supply in Tasmania.
17 April 2023 - Lieutenant Colonel Neil Grierson - An Operational Journey from Timor to Afghanistan.
21 February 2023 - Biosecurity Tasmania - Security of Supply and Traceabilty in Tasmania.
VIDEO of the ANNUAL SECURITY SEMINAR 2022 - PART ONE "The security challenges of Antarctica" 16 June 2022, is available to view .