The Honourable
Sir Walter Crocker
KBE
Sir Walter Crocker in 1953
Administrator of South Australia
In office
30 April 1977 – 1 September 1977
Preceded byDouglas Nicholls
(as Governor)
Succeeded byKeith Seaman
(as Governor)
Lieutenant-Governor of South Australia
In office
3 September 1973 – 27 June 1982
GovernorMark Oliphant (1973–1976)
Douglas Nicholls (1976–1977)
Keith Seaman (1977–1982)
Donald Dunstan (1982)
Preceded byMellis Napier
Succeeded byCondor Laucke
Personal details
Born
Walter Russell Crocker

(1902-03-25)25 March 1902
Broken Hill, New South Wales
Died14 November 2002(2002-11-14) (aged 100)
Henley Beach, South Australia
NationalityAustralian
Spouse
Claire Ward
​
(m. 1951)​
OccupationPublic servant, diplomat

Sir Walter Russell Crocker KBE (25 March 1902 – 14 November 2002) was an Australian diplomat, writer and war veteran.

Life and career

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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

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Crocker authored a well-received biography of Jawaharlal Nehru titled Nehru: A Contemporary's Estimate (1966).

Awards

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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

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  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ "New High Commissioner to Canada". The Canberra Times. 23 October 1956. p. 2.
  3. ^ "Australian Ambassador: Certain fears shape our foreign policy". The Canberra Times. 5 April 1971. p. 2.
  4. ^ S.G. Foster and Margaret Varghese, The Making of The Australian National University 1946-1996 (ANU Press, 2009), 51-2; 108.
  5. ^ "Sir Walter Crocker dies, aged 100". The Advertiser. 2002. Archived from the original on 4 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Search Australian Honours: CROCKER, Walter Russell", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 11 July 2014
  7. ^ "Search Australian Honours: CROCKER, Walter Russell", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 11 July 2014

Further reading

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Diplomatic posts Preceded byRoy Gollan Australian High Commissioner to India 1952 – 1955 Succeeded byPeter Heydon Preceded byCharles Kevin Australian Ambassador to Indonesia 1955 – 1957 Succeeded byLaurence McIntyre Preceded byDouglas Copland Australian High Commissioner to Canada 1957 – 1958 Succeeded byWalter Cawthorn Preceded byPeter Heydon Australian High Commissioner to India 1958 – 1962 Succeeded byBill Pritchettas Acting High Commissioner Preceded byEdwin McCarthy Australian Ambassador to the Netherlands 1962 – 1965 Succeeded byRoden Cutler New title Australian High Commissioners to Kenya 1965 – 1967 Succeeded byRobert Hamilton Preceded byAlfred Stirling Australian Ambassador to Italy 1967 – 1970 Succeeded byMalcolm Booker Government offices Preceded byJohn Jefferson Bray Lieutenant-Governor of South Australia 1973–1982 Succeeded bySir Condor Laucke
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