Robert George (RAF officer)
KStJ | |
---|---|
24th Governor of South Australia | |
In office 23 February 1953 – 7 March 1960 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Premier | Sir Thomas Playford |
Preceded by | Sir Willoughby Norrie |
Succeeded by | Sir Edric Bastyan |
Personal details | |
Born | (Greece) | 27 July 1896
Military career
When the First World War began in 1914, George enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders and was sent to France.[1] He was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and was awarded the Military Cross for his night bombing.[1] In 1919 he was appointed to a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force.[1] He was appointed Officer Commanding No. 100 Squadron in 1930 and Officer Commanding No. 33 Squadron in 1932.[1]
George later served as Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters RAF Far East in Singapore from 1934 and as Station Commander at RAF Hawkinge from 1937.[1] At the outbreak of the Second World War he was Air Attaché in Ankara.[1] He went on to be Air Officer Commanding AHQ Iraq and Persia in 1944.[1] After the War he served as Air Attaché in Paris until he retired in 1952.[1]
He was appointed a
Governor of South Australia
Sir Robert was appointed Governor of South Australia in August 1952. He and Lady George arrived in Adelaide early the following year. The Premier, Sir Thomas Playford, noted in his welcome address to Sir Robert that governors were expected to be "an inspiration in times of danger."
Playford's words turned out to be portentous – South Australia would suffer through earthquake, fire and flood in consecutive years during Sir Robert's tenure. In March 1954, the worst earthquake in Adelaide's history damaged
Sir Robert was a colourful governor, once demanding a personal helicopter from Premier Playford. Although admired for his bravery, Sir Robert was considered old-fashioned by the masses, particularly due to his impatience,
Despite their frequent clashes, Playford supported George and the dignity of the Vice-Regal post in a 1956 court case regarding the cook's wages. The prosecuting lawyer was future Labor premier
Freemasonry
George was appointed Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of South Australia in 1956.[4]
Retirement and death
George and his family retired to England in 1959 after which he held no further government appointments. He died in a London Hospital on 13 September 1967, after being hit by a motorist and not regaining consciousness.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Air Vice-Marshal Sir Robert George Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation
- ^ a b c d Australian Dictionary of Biography Online – George, Sir Robert Allingham
- ^ "GOVERNOR FLIES OVER FLOODS". The Canberra Times. 20 August 1956. p. 1. Retrieved 14 April 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "VICE REGAL GRAND MASTERS - WHO AND WHY?". Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2012.