Walter Crocker

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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[edit]

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[edit]

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

Awards[edit]

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[edit]

  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[edit]

  • Nehru: A Contemporary's Estimate by Walter Crocker with a Foreword by Arnold Toynbee (1966). New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Crocker, Walter (1971). Australian Ambassador: International Relations at First Hand. Melbourne University Press. ISBN 9780522839937.
  • Crocker, Walter (1981). Travelling Back: The Memoirs of Sir Walter Crocker. Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-33721-2.
  • Crocker, Walter (1983). Sir Thomas Playford: A Portrait. Melbourne University Press. ISBN 0-522-84250-X.
  • Partington, Geoffery (22 March 2002). "Sir Walter Crocker at one hundred". National Observer - Australia and World Affairs. Retrieved 31 January 2007.
  • "Sir Walter Crocker Celebrates 100 Years" (Press release). Alexander Downer, MP. 25 March 2002. Retrieved 31 January 2007.
  • "Sir Walter Crocker" (Press release). Alexander Downer, MP. 14 November 2002. Retrieved 31 January 2007.
  • "In Brief". The Canberra Times (Canberra). 3 September 1973.
  • Cockburn, Stewart (26 June 1982). "Inside Today". The Canberra Times (Canberra).
  • "Sir Walter Crocker dies, aged 100". The Advertiser (Adelaide). 15 November 2002.
  • Riddell, Don (16 November 2002). "Outspoken statesman a man for all seasons". The Advertiser (Adelaide).
  • Farquharson, John (27 November 2002). "Waspish diplomat with a sting in his political views". The Age (Melbourne).
  • "Obituary of Sir Walter Crocker, Colonial official and Australian ambassador who believed in the virtues of imperial rule". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). 27 November 2002.
  • Gate, Richard (29 November 2002). "Stylish reporting marked diplomat's honest manner". The Australian.

External links[edit]

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Australian High Commissioner to India
1952 – 1955 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Australian Ambassador to Indonesia
1955 – 1957 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Australian High Commissioner to Canada
1957 – 1958 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Australian High Commissioner to India
1958 – 1962 		Succeeded byas Acting High Commissioner
Preceded by Australian Ambassador to the Netherlands
1962 – 1965 		Succeeded by
New title Australian High Commissioners to Kenya
1965 – 1967 		Succeeded by
Robert Hamilton
Preceded by Australian Ambassador to Italy
1967 – 1970 		Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Lieutenant-Governor of South Australia
1973–1982 		Succeeded by
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