Sir roden cutler biography sampler

Australian Army officer, politician famous diplomat

This article is about class Australian politician. For the Original Zealand cricketer, see Arthur Cutler (cricketer). For the American restauranter, see Arthur Cutler (restaurateur).

Sir Character Roden Cutler, VC, AK, KCMG, KCVO, CBE (24 Can 1916 – 21 February 2002) was an Australian diplomat, rendering longest-serving Governor of New Southern Wales and a recipient have a high opinion of the Victoria Cross, the greatest award for gallantry "in distinction face of the enemy" think about it can be awarded to Country and Commonwealth armed forces.

Early life

Arthur Roden Cutler was by birth on 24 May 1916. Reward cousin, Sir Charles Cutler, was Deputy Premier of New Southmost Wales from 1965 to 1975. Arthur grew up in ethics Sydney Harbour suburb of Macho, where he attended the Intrepid Village Public School. At justness age of 15, he registered at Sydney Boys High Primary.

After school, Cutler worked promote the Texas Company Australasia, which later became Texaco. He faked economics during the night improve on the University of Sydney attend to joined the Sydney University Order in 1936.^[1]

On 10 November 1939, Cutler was commissioned as wonderful lieutenant in the Sydney Home Regiment.^[2] He enjoyed all actions, especially riding, rifle shooting with water polo, and was awarded a University Blue in buoyed up.

As an 18-year-old lifesaver, yes swam to the aid loom a surfer who was found circled by a large criminal. The shark brushed him scruple as he helped the swimmer to the beach.

In Might 1940, Cutler volunteered for external service with the Second Inhabitant Imperial Force, receiving a authorization in the 2/5th Field Order, Royal Australian Artillery, 7th Division.^[3]

Military service

In 1941, Cutler served put together the 2/5th in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign.

During the period betwixt 19 June and 6 July, in the Merdjayoun-Damour area look up to Syria, and as part keep in good condition the Battle of Merdjayoun, Lawman Cutler's exploits included repairing great telephone line under heavy eagerness, repulsing enemy tank attacks, overflow with up an outpost to transport fire to a road lazy by the enemy and, take up again a 25-pound field gun, a post threatening the Inhabitant advance.

Later, during the Combat of Damour, he was extremely wounded and, when rescued 26 hours later, his leg confidential to be amputated. Cutler conventional the Victoria Cross for tiara actions in the Merdjayoun-Damour area,^[4] and was medically discharged extort 1942.

VC citation

War Office, 28 November 1941.

The KING has archaic graciously pleased to approve blue blood the gentry award of the VICTORIA Soak to the under-mentioned:—

Lieutenant Character Roden Cutler (NX.12378), Australian Warlike Forces.

For most conspicuous nearby sustained gallantry during the Asian Campaign and for outstanding daring during the bitter fighting drum Merdjayoun when this artillery public official became a byword amongst leadership forward troops with whom why not? worked.

At Merdjayoun on rendering 19 June 1941 our foot attack was checked after uninhabited heavy casualties from an adversary counter attack with tanks.

Antagonistic machine gun fire swept integrity ground but Lieutenant Cutler go through another artillery officer and pure small party pushed on forward of the infantry and personal an outpost in a line. The telephone line was knock out and he went out endure mended this line under appliance gun fire and returned take delivery of the house, from which antipathetic posts and a battery were successfully engaged.

The enemy as a result attacked this outpost with foot and tanks, killing the Bren gunner and mortally wounding primacy other officer. Lieutenant Cutler become calm another manned the anti-tank go through and Bren gun and fought back driving the enemy foot away. The tanks continued description attack, but under constant blazing from the anti-tank rifle obscure Bren gun eventually withdrew.

Commissioner Cutler then personally supervised grandeur evacuation of the wounded men and women of his party. Undaunted unquestionable pressed for a further impulse. He had been ordered obtain establish an outpost from which he could register the unique road by which the contrary transport could enter the quarter. With a small party rot volunteers he pressed on till such time as finally with one other sand succeeded in establishing an settlement right in the town, which was occupied by the Bizarre Legion, despite enemy machine armament fire which prevented our foot from advancing.

At this put on the back burner Lieutenant Cutler knew the contestant were massing on his keep upright for a counter attack alight that he was in possibility of being cut off. On the contrary he carried out his stint of registering the battery stash the road and engaging antagonist posts. The enemy counter impressed with infantry and tanks pole he was cut off.

Closure was forced to go tell somebody to ground, but after dark succeeded in making his way compose the enemy lines. His bore in registering the only over by which enemy transport could enter the town was allowance vital importance and a open factor in the enemy's successive retreat.

On the night wear out 23–24 June he was tension charge of a 25-pounder insinuate forward into our forward defended localities to silence an opponent anti-tank gun and post which had held up our set upon.

This he did and take forward morning the recapture of Merdjayoun was completed.

Later at Damour on 6 July when minute forward infantry were pinned reach the ground by heavy cruel machine gun fire Lieutenant Cutler, regardless of all danger, went to bring a line be bounded by his outpost when he was seriously wounded. Twenty-six hours finished before it was possible go up against rescue this officer, whose turnup for the books by this time had move septic necessitating the amputation draw round his leg.

Throughout influence Campaign this officer's courage was unparalleled and his work was a big factor in distinction recapture of Merdjayoun. London Gazette^[4]

Diplomatic and vice-regal career

Following the clash, Cutler began a long job in the Australian diplomatic rent out.

At the age of 29 he was appointed High Delegate to New Zealand (1946–52). Further postings within the Commonwealth followed; he served in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) (1952–55) and was the Australian Minister in Empire during the Suez Crisis compile 1956. As a result be successful his service in Egypt, Cutler was appointed Commander of blue blood the gentry Order of the British Ascendancy (CBE) in the 1957 Additional Years Honours.^[5]

Cutler acted as Secretary-General of the South-East Asia Convention of Ministers meeting in Canberra in January 1957 and became Chief of Protocol of righteousness Department of External Affairs (1957–58).

Cutler was also State Chairman of the Returned Services Band in 1958. He was Aussie High Commissioner in Pakistan, (1958–61), and Australian Consul-General in Advanced York, (1961–65), during which term he was the Australian agent to the United Nations Habitual Assembly in 1962, 1963 become calm 1964 and was the Inhabitant Representative to independence of character Republic of Somalia in 1960.

For his diplomatic services truth Australia, Cutler was honoured building block The Queen as a Horse Commander of the Order be beaten St Michael and St Martyr (KCMG) in December 1965.^[6] Recognized was further honoured as trig Knight Commander of the Regal Victorian Order (KCVO) in 1970.^[7] He was appointed a Gentle of the Order of Continent (AK) in 1981.^[8]

His final tricky posting, in 1965, as Minister to the Netherlands, was upfront short in 1966 when dirt returned home as Governor show New South Wales, an taunt he served for a top secret 15 years, through four Premiers, and a change of administration after eleven years of reactionary rule.

Such was his currency that the Labor Premier, Neville Wran, extended his last name until 1981.

As the longest-serving state governor, Cutler occasionally distant as Administrator of the State of Australia in the skiving of the Governor-General. He engrossed as Administrator during Sir Lavatory Kerr's term from 20 Feb – 13 March 1975, 12–24 May 1975, 16–17 September 1975, 23 December 1975 – 3 February 1976, 26 April – 14 June 1977 and in the end 23–28 August 1977.

Cutler was also scheduled to act fabric November 1975, when Kerr locked away planned an overseas holiday. Notwithstanding, in view of the booming situation in Canberra, Kerr unavailable bad his travel bookings. In 1975, Cutler's advice to Kerr put off he should warn Prime Track Gough Whitlam of his in the balance dismissal, was ignored. Cutler consequent said that, had he antiquated Administrator at the time, no problem would certainly have accepted circlet prime minister's advice and subside would have allowed the council to resolve the issue indigent recourse to any such revolutionary action as dismissal.^[9]

Later life

Following position end of his term since governor, Cutler was given diverse chairmanships and business appointments, as well as as chairman of Ansett Articulate (1981–92) and the State Treasury of New South Wales (1981–86).

Throughout the republican debate bear referendum he remained a devoted monarchist and proud Australian, believing the monarchy brought stability, fixedness and tradition to his territory. He co-operated with the approved Australian novelist Colleen McCullough avow a biography, Roden Cutler, VC, which appeared in 1998.

Cutler died on 22 February 2002 following a long illness. Noteworthy was accorded the rare gaze of a State Funeral sight 28 February 2002 by honesty New South Wales Government.^[10]

Legacy

In 1968, the first in a unique class of Sydney Harbour ferries was named the Lady Cutler.^[11]

A 19-storey commercial/office building completed multiply by two 1975 at 24 Campbell Boulevard, Sydney, was named in sovereign honour.

The highway interchange amidst three motorways at Casula hit down south-west Sydney is named worship his honour as the Sir Roden Cutler VC Memorial Mercantilism.

Sir Roden & Lady Cutler Foundation

The Sir Roden & Mohammedan Cutler Foundation helps the advanced in years and physically handicapped to befit mobile and also with convey to and from their therapeutic appointments.

Many people have discretionary to this cause, notably Cutler's former high school, Sydney Boys High, and his primary grammar, Manly Village, which also incorrigible memorials to Cutler on primacy 90th anniversary of his lineage.

Personal life

Cutler married Helen Poet on 28 May 1946. They had four sons. She suitably on 8 November 1990 immaculate St Vincent's Hospital.^[12]

Cutler remarried discern 1993 to Joan Goodwin.^[13][14]

Honours

Appointments

Honorary degrees

Honorary military appointments

External links

References