Roden Cutler
Sir Roden Cutler Lieutenant | Sir Kenneth Street (1966–72) Sir Leslie Herron (1972–73) Sir John Kerr (1972–74) Sir Laurence Street (1974–81) | |
---|---|---|
Preceded by | Sir Eric Woodward | |
Succeeded by | Sir James Rowland | |
Personal details | ||
Born | 2/5th Field Regiment (1940–42) | 24 May 1916|
Battles/wars | Second World War
| |
Awards | Victoria Cross | |
Sir Arthur Roden Cutler,
Early life
Arthur Roden Cutler was born on 24 May 1916. His cousin,
After school, Cutler worked for the Texas Company Australasia, which later became Texaco. He studied economics during the night at the University of Sydney and joined the Sydney University Regiment in 1936.[1]
On 10 November 1939, Cutler was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Sydney University Regiment.[2] He enjoyed all sports, especially riding, rifle shooting and water polo, and was awarded a University Blue in swimming. As an 18-year-old lifesaver, he swam to the aid of a surfer who was being circled by a large shark. The shark brushed him twice as he helped the surfer to the beach.
In May 1940, Cutler volunteered for overseas service with the
Military service
In 1941, Cutler served with the 2/5th in the
VC citation
War Office, 28 November 1941.
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to the under-mentioned:—
Lieutenant Arthur Roden Cutler (NX.12378), Australian Military Forces.
For most conspicuous and sustained gallantry during the Syrian Campaign and for outstanding bravery during the bitter fighting at Merdjayoun when this artillery officer became a byword amongst the forward troops with whom he worked.
At Merdjayoun on the 19 June 1941 our infantry attack was checked after suffering heavy casualties from an enemy counter attack with tanks. Enemy machine gun fire swept the ground but Lieutenant Cutler with another artillery officer and a small party pushed on ahead of the infantry and established an outpost in a house. The telephone line was cut and he went out and mended this line under machine gun fire and returned to the house, from which enemy posts and a battery were successfully engaged.
The enemy then attacked this outpost with infantry and tanks, killing the Bren gunner and mortally wounding the other officer. Lieutenant Cutler and another manned the anti-tank rifle and Bren gun and fought back driving the enemy infantry away. The tanks continued the attack, but under constant fire from the anti-tank rifle and Bren gun eventually withdrew. Lieutenant Cutler then personally supervised the evacuation of the wounded members of his party. Undaunted he pressed for a further advance. He had been ordered to establish an outpost from which he could register the only road by which the enemy transport could enter the town. With a small party of volunteers he pressed on until finally with one other he succeeded in establishing an outpost right in the town, which was occupied by the Foreign Legion, despite enemy machine gun fire which prevented our infantry from advancing.
At this time Lieutenant Cutler knew the enemy were massing on his left for a counter attack and that he was in danger of being cut off. Nevertheless he carried out his task of registering the battery on the road and engaging enemy posts. The enemy counter attacked with infantry and tanks and he was cut off. He was forced to go to ground, but after dark succeeded in making his way through the enemy lines. His work in registering the only road by which enemy transport could enter the town was of vital importance and a big factor in the enemy's subsequent retreat.
On the night of 23–24 June he was in charge of a 25-pounder sent forward into our forward defended localities to silence an enemy anti-tank gun and post which had held up our attack. This he did and next morning the recapture of Merdjayoun was completed.
Later at Damour on 6 July when our forward infantry were pinned to the ground by heavy hostile machine gun fire Lieutenant Cutler, regardless of all danger, went to bring a line to his outpost when he was seriously wounded. Twenty-six hours elapsed before it was possible to rescue this officer, whose wound by this time had become septic necessitating the amputation of his leg.
Throughout the Campaign this officer's courage was unparalleled and his work was a big factor in the recapture of Merdjayoun.
London Gazette[4]
Diplomatic and vice-regal career
Following the war, Cutler began a long career in the Australian
Cutler acted as Secretary-General of the South-East Asia Council of Ministers meeting in
For his diplomatic services to Australia, Cutler was honoured by
His final diplomatic posting, in 1965, as
As the longest-serving state governor, Cutler occasionally acted as Administrator of the Commonwealth of Australia in the absence of the Governor-General. He acted as Administrator during Sir John Kerr's term from 20 February – 13 March 1975, 12–24 May 1975, 16–17 September 1975, 23 December 1975 – 3 February 1976, 26 April – 14 June 1977 and finally 23–28 August 1977. Cutler was also scheduled to act during November 1975, when Kerr had planned an overseas holiday. However, in view of the developing situation in Canberra, Kerr cancelled his travel bookings. In 1975, Cutler's advice to Kerr that he should warn Prime Minister Gough Whitlam of his impending dismissal, was ignored. Cutler later said that, had he been Administrator at the time, he would certainly have accepted his prime minister's advice and he would have allowed the parliament to resolve the issue without recourse to any such drastic action as dismissal.[9]
Later life
Following the end of his term as governor, Cutler was given various chairmanships and business appointments, including as chairman of Ansett Express (1981–92) and the
Cutler died on 22 February 2002 following a long illness. He was accorded the rare honour of a State Funeral on 28 February 2002 by the
Legacy
In 1968, the first in a
A 19-storey commercial/office building completed in 1975 at 24 Campbell Street, Sydney, was named in his honour.
The highway interchange between three motorways at Casula in south-west Sydney is named in his honour as the Sir Roden Cutler VC Memorial Interchange.
Sir Roden & Lady Cutler Foundation
The Sir Roden & Lady Cutler Foundation helps the elderly and physically handicapped to be mobile and also with transport to and from their medical appointments. Many people have contributed to this cause, notably Cutler's former high school, Sydney Boys High, and his primary school, Manly Village, which also dedicated memorials to Cutler on the 90th anniversary of his birth.
Personal life
Cutler married Helen Morris on 28 May 1946. They had four sons. She died on 8 November 1990 at St Vincent's Hospital.[12]
Cutler remarried in 1993 to Joan Goodwin.[13][14]
Honours
Victoria Cross (VC) | (1941)[4] | |
Knight of the Order of Australia (AK) |
(1981)[8] | |
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) |
(1965)[6] | |
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) |
(1970)[7] | |
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) |
(1957)[5] | |
Knight of Justice of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem (KStJ) |
(1965)[15] | |
1939–45 Star |
[15] | |
Africa Star | [15] | |
Defence Medal | [15] | |
War Medal 1939–1945 | [15] | |
Australia Service Medal 1939–45 |
[15] | |
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal | (1953)[15] | |
Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal | (1977)[15] | |
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal | (2002)[15] |
- Appointments
- Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia(Hon.FCA).
- Honorary degrees
- Doctor of Laws (Hon.LLD), University of Sydney.[16]
- Newcastle (NSW).[17]
- 19 June 1981: Honorary Doctor of Letters (Hon.DLitt), University of New England.[18]
- 1985: Honorary Doctor of Letters (Hon.DLitt), University of Wollongong.[19]
- Honorary military appointments
- 12 September 1966 – 12 March 1985: Honorary Colonel of the Sydney University Regiment.[20][22]
External links
References
- ^ Australian War Memorial Biography
- ^ "AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. 4. Australia. 11 January 1940. p. 66. Retrieved 13 March 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ World War II Nominal Roll: CUTLER, ARTHUR RODEN
- ^ a b c "No. 35360". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 November 1941. p. 6825. (VC)
- ^ a b Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Civil), CBE(C), 1 January 1957, itsanhonour.gov.au
Citation: Envoy and Minister to Egypt. - ^ a b "No. 43846". The London Gazette. 21 December 1965. p. 11993. (KCMG)
KCMG, itsanhonour.gov.au
Citation: Governor designate of New South Wales. - ^ a b "No. 45110". The London Gazette. 29 May 1970. p. 6040. (KCVO)
KCVO, itsanhonour.gov.au
Citation: Governor of New South Wales 1966–81. - ^ a b Knight of the Order of Australia, AK, 7 April 1981, itsanhonour.gov.au
Citation: In recognition of service to the Crown. By His Excellency's Command, David I. Smith, Official Secretary to the Governor General. Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. S62A 7 April 1981. - ^ McCullough, Roden Cutler, V.C.: The Biography, p. 384
- ^ "Sir (Arthur) Roden Cutler". Register of War Memorials in NSW. Archived from the original on 20 February 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
- ^ "History". Melbourne Showboat. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ Heywood, Anne (12 December 2002). "Cutler, Helen Gray Annetta". The Australian Women's Register. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
- ^ "Adlib Internet Server 5 | Details". archival.sl.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Cutler VC". Archived from the original on 11 January 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
- ^ "Doctor of Laws (honoris causa)". University of Sydney. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
- ^ "Honorary Degrees Awarded by the University" (PDF). University of New South Wales. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
- ^ "UNE Records". University of New England. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
- ^ "Honorary Graduates" (PDF). University of Wollongong. Retrieved 23 March 2010. [dead link]
- ^ a b "AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. 86. Australia. 13 October 1966. p. 5103. Retrieved 13 March 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "AUSTRALIAN MILITARY REGULATIONS ACCEPTANCE OF RESIGNATION OF HONORARY COLONELS". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. General. No. G42. Australia. 22 October 1985. p. 3925. Retrieved 13 March 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "AUSTRALIAN MILITARY REGULATIONS ACCEPTANCE OF RESIGNATION OF HONORARY COLONELS". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. General. No. G49. Australia. 10 December 1985. p. 4971. Retrieved 13 March 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. 69. Australia. 4 August 1966. p. 4022. Retrieved 13 March 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Government Gazette Appointments and Employment". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. General. No. G39. Australia. 29 September 1981. p. 109. Retrieved 13 March 2018 – via National Library of Australia.