Tivey
Brig. General Tivey has commanded the 8th Infantry Brigade since 22nd July 1915. During the period from 28th February 1918 to 16th September 1918 he has commanded the Brigade in a most able and efficient manner. In the minor operations in the Morlancourt Sector of 29th July 1918 his skillful handling of the Brigade contributed in a large measure to the good results achieved. In the operations east of Villers-Bretonneux from the 8th to 11th August, his tactical skill and ability in handling the Brigade was responsible for the excellent results achieved by his command, and contributed in a large measure to the important results achieved by this Division. His Brigade followed up the retiring enemy to the Somme in the last days of August, captured several villages and forced the Germans over the River with considerable loss, and, owing to General Tivey’s skill and judgment with very moderate casualties to the Brigade during the numerous rear guard actions in which it was engaged.” [LG 1/1/1919 p 5]
Major-General Edwin Tivey was born on 19/9/1866. Son of a storekeeper, he was educated at All Saints Grammar, St Kilda and Wesley College, Melbourne. After graduating, he qualified as an accountant, eventually becoming a member of the Melbourne Stock Exchange in 1903.
Tivey began his military career in 1889 when he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Victorian Rangers, later Captain in 1891. Volunteering for service in South Africa in May 1900 he embarked as a Captain in the Victorian 4th Imperial Contingent. During operations in South Africa, Tivey led 40 troops on a march to Phillipstown, forcing 300 Boers to retreat, and occupied the Kopjes nearby and held them until reinforcements could arrive. For this feat, he was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order.
After returning to Australia, Tivey was transferred to the 9th Light Horse Regiment, becoming Brigade Major of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade in 1906, and later commanded that brigade in 1911 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. On 1st January 1915, Tivey was promoted to Colonel and took command of the 5th Light Horse Brigade. Tivey joined the A.I.F. on 22/7/15, and commanded the newly formed 8th Infantry Brigade as Colonel, being sent to defend the Suez Canal (around Ismalia), with the danger of a Turkish attack. Tivey was promoted Temporary Brigadier General on 3/2/16.
Later in February 1916, the 8th Brigade was attached to the new 5th Division and was sent to relieve Moascar from Tel-el-Kebir (gaining ill repute for riding the train while supporting troops were forced to march for three days through the desert, the men of the 8th Brigade were dubbed ‘Chocolate Soldiers’ or ‘Tivey’s Chocos’, a term that still exists today. However, the 8th Brigade’s soon proved it’s worth after being sent to France in June 1916 and engaging in heavy fighting at Fromelles, suffering very heavy casualties. Tivey received a Mention in Dispatches on 13/11/16 for his part and was decorated with the Companion of the Bath. Wounded in action in December 1916 at Flers, Tivey remained on active duty with his men. Tivey was once again Mentioned in Dispatches and made a Companion of the Bath for the capture of Bapaume by the 8th Brigade some three months later. The Brigade then again was engaged in operations around Bullecourt in May 1917 and in Polygon Wood in September 1917, with Tivey again Mentioned in Dispatches for his command. Wounded in action, seriously in the arm, on 22nd October 1917 Tivey was evacuated to England to recuperate until December of that year. On his return Tivey was second in command for the 5th Division, serving as its acting commander in the absence of Major General J.J.T. Hobbs seven times in 1917-18, and on one of these occasions was gassed at Villers-Brettoneux on 23rd May 1918.
In the final year of the war the 8th Brigade fought hard with successful operations resulting in the capture of 800 odd prisoners, 85 machine guns, and the ‘Amiens Gun’, one of the feared German heavy rail guns, (now located on the grounds of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra). For his service and the performance of the men under his command, Tivey was Mentioned in Dispatches twice in 1918, and for the sixth and final time on 16/3/19. Made Temporary-Major General in November 1918, and Honorary Major General in May 1919, was awarded a Companion of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the New Years list of 1919.
Upon returning to Australia in July 1919, Tivey was transferred from the A.I.F to the reserve of officers list in February 1920, a position within the peacetime AMF. Returning to his pre war days on the Melbourne stock exchange, his post war military service continued at home as the Commanding Officer of the 2nd Cavalry Division (Militia) from 1921-26.
Having been promoted to Major General in 1920, he also served as Honorary Colonel of the Victorian Mounted Rifles from 1928. Tivey’s son Edwin Peter Tivey served in the Second World War as an AIF Major in North Africa, but died of illness as an Italian prisoner of war in 1943. Major General Edwin Tivey died in his Toorak home on 19th May 1947 at the age of 80.