Richard Kingsland
Sir Richard Kingsland | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Julius Allan Cohen |
| Born | 19 October 1916 Moree, New South Wales |
| Died | 27 August 2012 (aged 95) Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1935–1948 |
| Rank | Group Captain |
| Commands | RAAF Base Rathmines No. 11 Squadron RAAF |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Knight Bachelor Officer of the Order of Australia Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Flying Cross |
Sir Richard Kingsland, AO, CBE, DFC (19 October 1916 – 27 August 2012) was an Australian RAAF pilot known for being the youngest Australian group captain at age 29. He later became a senior public servant, heading the Departments of the Interior, Repatriation, and Veterans' Affairs.
Biography
[edit]Julius Allan Cohen was born in 1916. He later changed his name to Richard Kingsland, to avoid anti-semitism.[citation needed]
Kingsland flew a Short Sunderland to Morocco in 1940 with two of Britain's senior WWII leaders, Duff Cooper and John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort, who were attempting to make a diplomatic agreement with French leaders in North Africa. When negotiations failed, Kingsland evacuated the VIPs with pistol drawn. He then managed a difficult take off from a river estuary, while being harassed by a French police boat.[1][2] For his invaluable service, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in September 1940.[3] Later in the war he served in the Pacific, flying the PBY Catalina to bomb a major Japanese headquarters in Rabaul, New Guinea.[4]
In June 2010, he published his autobiography, Into the Midst of Things.[5]
Public service
[edit]During his public service career, rising to become Secretary of the Departments of Interior, Repatriation, and Veterans' Affairs, Kingsland served 12 ministers and built a reputation as a trusted and experienced departmental head.
Awards and honours
[edit]Richard Kingsland was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1967.[6] He was knighted in 1978,[7] and appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1989.[8]
In 2013, a street in the Canberra suburb of Casey was named Kingsland Parade in Richard Kingsland's honour.[9]
Death
[edit]Richard Kingsland died in August 2012, aged 95. He was survived by his wife of 68 years, Kathleen Kingsland, two daughters and a son.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ Evans, Bryn - Airmen's Incredible Escapes 2020 ISBN 9781526761729
- ^ Ellery, David (28 August 2012). "Sir Richard Kingsland dies in Canberra". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 17 January 2014.
- ^ "It's an Honour – Honours – Search Australian Honours". Itsanhonour.gov.au. 13 September 1940. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ^ "Boys Own adventures in wartime and sterling public service". The age.com. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
- ^ "Kingsland's Into the Midst of Things book". Royal Australian Airforce. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
- ^ "It's an Honour – Honours – Search Australian Honours". Itsanhonour.gov.au. 19 June 1967. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ^ "It's an Honour – Honours – Search Australian Honours". Itsanhonour.gov.au. 3 June 1978. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ^ "It's an Honour – Honours – Search Australian Honours". Itsanhonour.gov.au. 12 June 1989. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ^ Kingsland Parade, ACT Government Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate, archived from the original on 27 February 2014
- ^ Farquharson, John (2012), Kingsland, Sir Richard (1916–2012), Australian National University, archived from the original on 17 January 2014
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
- 1916 births
- 2012 deaths
- Australian Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Australian Jews
- Australian Knights Bachelor
- Australian World War II bomber pilots
- Australian World War II pilots
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Officers of the Order of Australia
- Australian recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
- Royal Australian Air Force officers
- Royal Australian Air Force personnel of World War II
- Secretaries of the Australian Government Veterans' Affairs Department