General (Australia)
General is the second-highest rank, and the highest active rank, of the Australian Army and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of general; it is also considered a four-star rank.
Prior to 1958, Australian generals were only appointed in exceptional circumstances. In 1958, the position which is currently called Chief of the Defence Force was created, and since 1966, the rank of general has been held when an army officer is appointed to that position.
General is a higher rank than lieutenant general, but is lower than field marshal. General is the equivalent of admiral in the Royal Australian Navy and air chief marshal in the Royal Australian Air Force.
A general's insignia is St Edward's Crown above a star of the Order of the Bath above a crossed sword and baton, with the word 'Australia' at the bottom.
Australian generals
The following have held the rank of general in the Australian Army:| Name | Year promoted | Born | Died | Notes |
| 1917 | 1865 | 1951 | Appointed a general in the Australian Imperial Force in 1917, and made honorary field marshal in the Australian Army in 1925. | |
| Sir | 1929 | 1865 | 1945 | Chief of the General Staff and Inspector-in-Chief Volunteer Defence Corps |
| Sir | 1929 | 1865 | 1931 | Australian Corps |
| 1940 | 1876 | 1940 | Chief of the General Staff | |
| 1941 | 1884 | 1951 | Promoted field marshal in 1951. Deputy Commander-in-Chief Middle East Command, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Australian Military Forces and Commander of Allied Land Forces, South West Pacific Area | |
| Sir | 1968 | 1910 | 1981 | Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee |
| Sir | 1975 | 1918 | 2008 | Chief of the Defence Force Staff |
| 1977 | 1919 | 1995 | Chief of the Defence Force Staff | |
| Sir | 1984 | 1928 | Chief of the Defence Force and Governor of Tasmania | |
| 1987 | 1932 | Chief of the Defence Force | ||
| 1995 | 1936 | 2007 | Chief of the Defence Force | |
| Sir | 2002 | 1947 | Chief of the Defence Force and Governor-General of Australia | |
| 2011 | 1953 | Chief of the Defence Force and Governor of New South Wales and Governor-General of Australia | ||
| 2018 | Chief of the Defence Force |
In addition, John Northcott held the honorary rank of general while acting as Governor-General of Australia in 1951 and 1956.
The following Australians have held the rank of general in the British Army:
| Name | Year promoted | Born | Died | Notes |
| Sir | 1966 | 1910 | 1997 | Deputy Chief of the Imperial General Staff and Commander-in-Chief of the British Army of the Rhine |