Walter Crocker

Sir Walter Crocker KBE
Sir Walter Crocker in 1953
Born	Walter Russell Crocker 25 March 1902 Broken Hill, New South Wales
Died	14 November 2002 (aged 100)
Nationality	Australian
Occupation	Public servant, diplomat
Spouse(s)	Claire Ward (m. 1951)

Sir Walter Russell Crocker KBE (25 March 1902 – 14 November 2002) was an Australian diplomat, writer and war veteran.

Life and career

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]

Crocker was a Lieutenant-Governor of South Australia for more than nine years.^[1] He had two sons, Robert and Christopher.^[4]

Books

Crocker has authored a well received biography of Nehru titled Nehru:A Contemporary's Estimate.

Awards

Crocker was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1955 while Australian Ambassador to Indonesia.^[5] He was later promoted to become a Knight Commander of the Order in December 1977, in recognition of his service to the public.^[6]

References

1. 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. "Sir Walter Crocker dies, aged 100". The Advertiser. 2002. Archived from the original on 4 July 2012.
5. "Search Australian Honours: CROCKER, Walter Russell", itsanhonour.gov.au (Australian Government), archived from the original on 11 July 2014
6. "Search Australian Honours: CROCKER, Walter Russell", itsanhonour.gov.au (Australian Government), archived from the original on 11 July 2014

Further reading

• 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 (2002-03-22). "Sir Walter Crocker at one hundred.". National Observer - Australia and World Affairs. Retrieved 2007-01-31.
• "Sir Walter Crocker Celebrates 100 Years" (Press release). Alexander Downer, MP. 2002-03-25. Retrieved 2007-01-31.
• "Sir Walter Crocker" (Press release). Alexander Downer, MP. 2002-11-14. Retrieved 2007-01-31.
• "Sir Walter Crocker dies, aged 100". The Advertiser (Adelaide). 2002-11-15.
• Riddell, Don (2002-11-16). "Outspoken statesman a man for all seasons". The Advertiser (Adelaide).
• Farquharson, John (2002-11-27). "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). 2002-11-27.
• Gate, Richard (2002-11-29). "Stylish reporting marked diplomat's honest manner". The Australian.