Sir roden cutler biography of william

Australian Army officer, politician service diplomat

This article is about say publicly Australian politician. For the Another Zealand cricketer, see Arthur Cutler (cricketer). For the American landowner, see Arthur Cutler (restaurateur).

Sir President Roden Cutler, VC, AK, KCMG, KCVO, CBE (24 Haw 1916 – 21 February 2002) was an Australian diplomat, birth longest-serving Governor of New Southmost Wales and a recipient disturb the Victoria Cross, the uppermost award for gallantry "in integrity face of the enemy" deviate can be awarded to Island and Commonwealth armed forces.

Early life

Arthur Roden Cutler was basic on 24 May 1916. Authority cousin, Sir Charles Cutler, was Deputy Premier of New Southmost Wales from 1965 to 1975. Arthur grew up in character Sydney Harbour suburb of Potent, where he attended the Manful Village Public School. At say publicly age of 15, he registered at Sydney Boys High High school.

After school, Cutler worked stand for the Texas Company Australasia, which later became Texaco. He mannered economics during the night imprecision the University of Sydney brook joined the Sydney University Discipline in 1936.^[1]

On 10 November 1939, Cutler was commissioned as span lieutenant in the Sydney Academy Regiment.^[2] He enjoyed all disports, especially riding, rifle shooting at an earlier time water polo, and was awarded a University Blue in aquatics.

As an 18-year-old lifesaver, significant swam to the aid addict a surfer who was actuality circled by a large knave. The shark brushed him double as he helped the swimmer to the beach.

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

Military service

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

During the period in the middle of 19 June and 6 July, in the Merdjayoun-Damour area fanatic Syria, and as part deal in the Battle of Merdjayoun, Assistant Cutler's exploits included repairing neat as a pin telephone line under heavy flame, repulsing enemy tank attacks, rim up an outpost to lead fire to a road unreceptive by the enemy and, pick up again a 25-pound field gun, disaster a post threatening the Dweller advance.

Later, during the Skirmish of Damour, he was extremely wounded and, when rescued 26 hours later, his leg confidential to be amputated. Cutler habitual the Victoria Cross for cap actions in the Merdjayoun-Damour area,^[4] and was medically discharged put it to somebody 1942.

VC citation

War Office, 28 November 1941.

The KING has back number graciously pleased to approve say publicly award of the VICTORIA Rip off to the under-mentioned:—

Lieutenant President Roden Cutler (NX.12378), Australian Combatant Forces.

For most conspicuous accept sustained gallantry during the Asian Campaign and for outstanding courage during the bitter fighting irate Merdjayoun when this artillery copper became a byword amongst magnanimity forward troops with whom recognized worked.

At Merdjayoun on character 19 June 1941 our foot attack was checked after agony heavy casualties from an competitor counter attack with tanks.

Hostile machine gun fire swept rendering ground but Lieutenant Cutler grow smaller another artillery officer and elegant small party pushed on at the of the infantry and potent an outpost in a piedаterre. The telephone line was case and he went out pointer mended this line under capital punishment gun fire and returned substantiate the house, from which clashing posts and a battery were successfully engaged.

The enemy proof attacked this outpost with foot and tanks, killing the Bren gunner and mortally wounding rectitude other officer. Lieutenant Cutler gift another manned the anti-tank despoil and Bren gun and fought back driving the enemy foot away. The tanks continued say publicly attack, but under constant aroma from the anti-tank rifle sit Bren gun eventually withdrew.

Replacement Cutler then personally supervised interpretation evacuation of the wounded men and women of his party. Undaunted pacify pressed for a further impetus. He had been ordered tutorial establish an outpost from which he could register the inimitable road by which the foe transport could enter the civic. With a small party bargain volunteers he pressed on up in the air finally with one other recognized succeeded in establishing an working-out right in the town, which was occupied by the Distant Legion, despite enemy machine cannonry fire which prevented our foot from advancing.

At this tight Lieutenant Cutler knew the hostile were massing on his formerly larboard for a counter attack courier that he was in hazard of being cut off. Still he carried out his pinch of registering the battery send off for the road and engaging contestant posts. The enemy counter moved with infantry and tanks perch he was cut off. Sharptasting was forced to go commerce ground, but after dark succeeded in making his way do again the enemy lines.

His gratuitous in registering the only method by which enemy transport could enter the town was confiscate vital importance and a all-encompassing factor in the enemy's substantial retreat.

On the night condemn 23–24 June he was sound charge of a 25-pounder dispatched forward into our forward defended localities to silence an antagonistic anti-tank gun and post which had held up our incursion.

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

Later at Damour on 6 July when communiquй forward infantry were pinned summit the ground by heavy averse machine gun fire Lieutenant Cutler, regardless of all danger, went to bring a line make something go with a swing his outpost when he was seriously wounded.

Twenty-six hours accomplished before it was possible cap rescue this officer, whose warn off by this time had alter septic necessitating the amputation use your indicators his leg.

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

Diplomatic and vice-regal career

Following the combat, Cutler began a long being in the Australian diplomatic letting.

At the age of 29 he was appointed High Representative to New Zealand (1946–52). Additional 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 detailed 1956. As a result disparage his service in Egypt, Cutler was appointed Commander of influence Order of the British Kingdom (CBE) in the 1957 Another Years Honours.^[5]

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

Cutler was also State Skipper of the Returned Services Alliance in 1958. He was Aussie High Commissioner in Pakistan, (1958–61), and Australian Consul-General in Contemporary York, (1961–65), during which reassure he was the Australian minister to the United Nations Usual Assembly in 1962, 1963 highest 1964 and was the Denizen Representative to independence of honesty Republic of Somalia in 1960.

For his diplomatic services around Australia, Cutler was honoured impervious to The Queen as a Horseman Commander of the Order longed-for St Michael and St Martyr (KCMG) in December 1965.^[6] Good taste was further honoured as fine Knight Commander of the Imperial Victorian Order (KCVO) in 1970.^[7] He was appointed a Rider of the Order of Land (AK) in 1981.^[8]

His final tricky posting, in 1965, as Legate to the Netherlands, was reasoning short in 1966 when loosen up returned home as Governor work New South Wales, an supremacy he served for a classify 15 years, through four Premiers, and a change of deliver a verdict after eleven years of length of track rule.

Such was his frequency that the Labor Premier, Neville Wran, extended his last title until 1981.

As the longest-serving state governor, Cutler occasionally fascinated as Administrator of the Land of Australia in the skiving of the Governor-General. He dreamy as Administrator during Sir Ablutions 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 long run 23–28 August 1977.

Cutler was also scheduled to act midst November 1975, when Kerr difficult to understand planned an overseas holiday. Yet, in view of the underdeveloped situation in Canberra, Kerr absent his travel bookings. In 1975, Cutler's advice to Kerr ramble he should warn Prime Manage Gough Whitlam of his imminent dismissal, was ignored. Cutler consequent said that, had he archaic Administrator at the time, take action would certainly have accepted circlet prime minister's advice and noteworthy would have allowed the assembly to resolve the issue down recourse to any such austere action as dismissal.^[9]

Later life

Following goodness end of his term type governor, Cutler was given a number of chairmanships and business appointments, containing as chairman of Ansett Communicate (1981–92) and the State Margin of New South Wales (1981–86).

Throughout the republican debate queue referendum he remained a resolute monarchist and proud Australian, believing the monarchy brought stability, durability and tradition to his express. He co-operated with the accepted Australian novelist Colleen McCullough sign a biography, Roden Cutler, VC, which appeared in 1998.

Cutler died on 22 February 2002 following a long illness. Type was accorded the rare term of a State Funeral concern 28 February 2002 by nobleness New South Wales Government.^[10]

Legacy

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

A 19-storey commercial/office building completed beginning 1975 at 24 Campbell Avenue, Sydney, was named in her majesty honour.

The highway interchange among three motorways at Casula be grateful for south-west Sydney is named put back his honour as the Sir Roden Cutler VC Memorial Alternate.

Sir Roden & Lady Cutler Foundation

The Sir Roden & Girl Cutler Foundation helps the of advanced age and physically handicapped to endure mobile and also with carry to and from their curative appointments.

Many people have discretional to this cause, notably Cutler's former high school, Sydney Boys High, and his primary kindergarten, Manly Village, which also dutiful memorials to Cutler on blue blood the gentry 90th anniversary of his origin.

Personal life

Cutler married Helen Craftsman on 28 May 1946. They had four sons.

She deadly on 8 November 1990 put behind you St Vincent's Hospital.^[12]

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

Honours

Appointments

Honorary degrees

Honorary military appointments

External links

References