Sir Walter Russell Crocker KBE (25 March 1902 – 14 November 2002) was an Australian diplomat, writer and war veteran.
Sir Walter Crocker | |
|---|---|
 Sir Walter Crocker in 1953 | |
| Administrator of South Australia | |
| In office 30 April 1977 – 1 September 1977 | |
| Preceded by | Douglas Nicholls (as Governor) |
| Succeeded by | Keith Seaman (as Governor) |
| Lieutenant-Governor of South Australia | |
| In office 3 September 1973 – 27 June 1982 | |
| Governor | Mark Oliphant (1973–1976) Douglas Nicholls (1976–1977) Keith Seaman (1977–1982) Donald Dunstan (1982) |
| Preceded by | Mellis Napier |
| Succeeded by | Condor Laucke |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Walter Russell Crocker 25 March 1902 Broken Hill, New South Wales |
| Died | 14 November 2002 (aged 100) Henley Beach, South Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Spouse |
Claire Ward (m. 1951) |
| Occupation | Public servant, diplomat |
Life and career edit
Crocker was born in Broken Hill, New South Wales, the eldest son of Robert Crocker and Alma Bray.[1] He served in World War II with the British Army, becoming a lieutenant colonel.[1]
He was ambassador or high commissioner to eleven countries, including India (twice), Indonesia, Canada,[2] Italy, Belgium, Nepal, the Netherlands, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.[3] He headed the Department of International Relations at the Research School of Pacific (and Asian) Studies, Australian National University, 1949–1954.[4]
Crocker was a Lieutenant-Governor of South Australia for more than nine years.[1] He and his wife, Claire, had two sons, Robert and Christopher.[5]
Books edit
Crocker authored a well-received biography of Jawaharlal Nehru titled Nehru: A Contemporary's Estimate (1966).
Awards edit
Crocker was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1955 while Australian Ambassador to Indonesia.[6] He was later promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1977, in recognition of his service to the public.[7]
References edit
- ^ a b c Farquharson, John (2002), "Crocker, Sir Walter Russell (1902–2002)", Obituaries Australia, Australian National University, archived from the original on 11 July 2014
- ^ "New High Commissioner to Canada". The Canberra Times. 23 October 1956. p. 2.
- ^ "Australian Ambassador: Certain fears shape our foreign policy". The Canberra Times. 5 April 1971. p. 2.
- ^ S.G. Foster and Margaret Varghese, The Making of The Australian National University 1946-1996 (ANU Press, 2009), 51-2; 108.
- ^ "Sir Walter Crocker dies, aged 100". The Advertiser. 2002. Archived from the original on 4 July 2012.
- ^ "Search Australian Honours: CROCKER, Walter Russell", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 11 July 2014
- ^ "Search Australian Honours: CROCKER, Walter Russell", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 11 July 2014
Further reading edit
- Nehru: A Contemporary's Estimate by Walter Crocker with a Foreword by Arnold Toynbee (1966). New York: Oxford University Press.
- Crocker, Walter (1971). Australian Ambassador: International Relations at First Hand. Melbourne University Press. ISBN 9780522839937.
- Crocker, Walter (1981). Travelling Back: The Memoirs of Sir Walter Crocker. Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-33721-2.
- Crocker, Walter (1983). Sir Thomas Playford: A Portrait. Melbourne University Press. ISBN 0-522-84250-X.
- Partington, Geoffery (22 March 2002). "Sir Walter Crocker at one hundred". National Observer - Australia and World Affairs. Retrieved 31 January 2007.
- "Sir Walter Crocker Celebrates 100 Years" (Press release). Alexander Downer, MP. 25 March 2002. Retrieved 31 January 2007.
- "Sir Walter Crocker" (Press release). Alexander Downer, MP. 14 November 2002. Retrieved 31 January 2007.
- "In Brief". The Canberra Times (Canberra). 3 September 1973.
- Cockburn, Stewart (26 June 1982). "Inside Today". The Canberra Times (Canberra).
- "Sir Walter Crocker dies, aged 100". The Advertiser (Adelaide). 15 November 2002.
- Riddell, Don (16 November 2002). "Outspoken statesman a man for all seasons". The Advertiser (Adelaide).
- Farquharson, John (27 November 2002). "Waspish diplomat with a sting in his political views". The Age (Melbourne).
- "Obituary of Sir Walter Crocker, Colonial official and Australian ambassador who believed in the virtues of imperial rule". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). 27 November 2002.
- Gate, Richard (29 November 2002). "Stylish reporting marked diplomat's honest manner". The Australian.
External links edit
- The Memoirs of Sir Walter Crocker held at Churchill Archives Centre, Cambridge