LEST WE FORGET
The Honourable Sir Henry Somer GULLETT KCMG
Vice President of the Executive Council, Minister in Charge of Scientific and Industrial Research and Minister assisting the Minister for Information
Awarded the Order of St Michael and St George – Knights Commander (KCMG), 2 January 1933 (Citation Title: Minister of Trade and Customs)
Born: Harston VIC, 26 March 1878
1st AIF: Gunner AFA and official war correspondent, Palestine
Member of the House of Representatives 1925-40
Minister for Trade and Customs 1928-29, 1932-33, for Trade Treaties 1934-37
Minister for External Affairs 1939-40, for Information 1939-40
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 2 Squadron Hudson aircraft Hudson A16-97), Canberra ACT, 13 August 1940
His biography is given in the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
At 1050 hours on 13 August 1940, No. 2 Squadron Hudson A16-97 spun and crashed 3 kms east of Canberra aerodrome. Everyone on board was killed. This accident had profound affects on the highest level of Australia’s Government and Defence hierarchy during a critical period early in World War II. On board A16-97 were:
Crew:
Aircraftman Charles Joseph Crosdale (6673)
Flight Lieutenant Robert Edward Hitchcock (115) (Pilot)
Corporal John Frederick Palmer (2130)
Pilot Officer Richard Frederick Wiesener (607) (Navigator)
Passengers:
Mr. Richard Elford (Secretary to the Minister for Air)
The Honourable James Valentine Fairbairn (Minister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation)
The Honourable Sir Henry Somer Gullett KCMG (Vice President of the Executive Council, Minister in Charge of Scientific and Industrial Research and Minister assisting the Minister for Information)
Brigadier the Honourable Geoffrey Austin Street MC (Minister for the Army and Minister for Repatriation)
Lieutenant Colonel Francis Thornthwaite DSO MC (V159753) (Army Headquarters)
Lieutenant General Sir Cyril Brudenell Bingham White KCB KCMG KCVO DSO (Chief of the General Staff)
References:
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 318; A9845, 319
Bibliography:
Bennett, J. (John William) Highest Traditions: the history of No. 2 Squadron RAAF, Australian Government Publishing Service, 1995
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992