Arthur Roden Cutler
From Freepedia
Sir (Arthur) Roden Cutler (VC, AK, KCMG, KCVO, CBE) (May 24, 1916 - February 22, 2002) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Following his military service he served in a number of Australian diplomatic missions and became the longest serving Governor of New South Wales.
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Early life
Arthur Roden Cutler was born on May 24, 1916. He grew up in the Sydney Harbour suburb of Manly. He attended Sydney Boys High School and later read for an Economics Degree at the University of Sydney, joining the Sydney University Regiment in 1936.
In April 1940, he transferred from the citizen's militia to the Second Australian Imperial Force, receiving a commission in the 2/5 Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, Australian 7th Division of the Australian Imperial Force.
Military service
Cutler was 25 years old, and a Lieutenant in the 2 /5 Field Artillery, in the Second Australian Imperial Force during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
During the period between 19 June - 6 July 1941 in the Merdjayoun-Damour area, Syria, Lieutenant Cutler's exploits included repairing a telephone line under heavy fire, repulsing enemy tank attacks, setting up an outpost to bring under fire a road used by the enemy and, with a 25-pound field gun, demolishing a post threatening the Australian advance. Later, at Damour, he was seriously wounded and when rescued 26 hours later his leg had to be amputated.
Later life
Following the war, Cutler began a long career in the Australian diplomatic service. At the age of 29 he was appointed High Commissioner to New Zealand (1946-1952). Other postings within the Commonwealth followed, he served in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) (1952-1955) and was the Australian Minister in Egypt during the Suez Crisis in 1956.
Cutler was appointed Commander of Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1957 and acted as Secretary-General of the South-East Asia Council of Ministers meeting in Canberra in January 1957. He was Australian High Commissioner in Pakistan, (1958-1961), and Australian Consul-General in New York, (1961-1965), during which period he was the Australian delegate to the United Nations General Assembly in 1962, 1963 and 1964.
His final diplomatic posting, in 1965, as Ambassador to The Netherlands, was cut short in 1966 when he returned home as Governor of New South Wales, an office that he served for a record 15 years, through four Premiers, and a change of Government, after decades of conservative rule. Such was his popularity that the Labor Premier, Neville Wran, extended his last term until 1981.
For his diplomatic services to Australia, he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG) in December 1965. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in 1970, a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1980 and advanced to Knight of the Order of Australia (AK) in 1981. Throughout the republican debate and referendum he remained a staunch royalist, believing the monarchy brought stability, continuity and tradition to his country. In recent years he co-operated with the popular Australian novelist Colleen McCullough on a biography, Roden Cutler, VC, which appeared in 1998. Cutler died on February 22, 2002 following a long illness. He was accorded a State Funeral on Thursday February 28, 2002 by the New South Wales state government.
References and sources
- The Times, 2002, Obituary: Sir Roden Cutler, VC.
- Register of War Memorials in New South Wales, 2002, Sir (Arthur) Roden Cutler
- This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.
| Preceded by: Sir Eric Woodward | Governor of New South Wales 1966–1981 | Succeeded by: Sir James Rowland |
Categories: 1916 births | 2002 deaths | Australian World War II Victoria Cross recipients | Governors of New South Wales
