General Sir John Monash, widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever military commander, has become the third person to be honoured with a sculpture at the national war memorial.
The statue was unveiled in Canberra on Wednesday, 100 years after the Battle of Hamel where Australian and American troops first fought together.
General Monash planned and directed the successful operation.
"Some people lead from position - generals, chairmen of board, captains of a team," Australian War Memorial director Brendan Nelson told the ceremony.
"Some people eschew position and instead lead from principle. Occasionally we get someone who leads from both. John Monash was such a man."
The sculpture depicts General Monash wearing his civilian suit, medals and Returned and Services League badge.
General Monash joins stretcher bearer John Simpson Kirkpatrick and Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop as heroes honoured by a sculpture at the Canberra monument.
Dr Nelson said after the war General Monash was a pillar of the country's fragile young democracy.
"It is his great work as a proud former citizen-soldier and commander, combined with his passion for our nation, that inspired us to remember him as a nation-building civilian and not just as a military commander," he said.
Australian Associated Press
