Jo Gullett
Encyclopedia
Henry Baynton Somer 'Jo' Gullett AM
MC
, (16 December 1914 - 24 August 1999) was an Australian soldier, politician, diplomat and journalist. He served with distinction in the Australian Army
during World War II
, was a controversial Liberal
member of the Australian House of Representatives
for the Division of Henty
from 1946 to 1955, and served as Ambassador to Greece during 'the time of the Colonels' from 1965 to 1968.
He was the son of former Cabinet Minister Sir Henry Somer Gullett, the grandson of author Barbara Baynton
and an uncle of actor Penne Hackforth-Jones
.
He is the author of two memoirs, one of which, Not as a Duty Only: an Infantryman's War is widely considered to be a classic in Australian war writing.
, at Hill Station (now an upmarket restaurant) in what is now the industrial suburb of Hume. The plains of the Tuggeranong Valley allowed him to develop a passion for horseriding, and he became a very keen horseman.
In his later youth he spent a year at the Sorbonne
and then at Oxford, where took a BA
degree. In 1935 he commenced work as a journalist at Melbourne's Herald
newspaper, where he stayed for the next four years.
of the 6th Division
of the Australian Imperial Force
. As a Sergeant, he was seriously wounded in the Battle of Bardia
on 3 January 1941. He is the central character in an Ivor Hele
painting of the battle which has hung in the Australian War Memorial
since the 1960s.
Upon recovery from his wounds, he returned to his Battalion as a Lieutenant for the disastrous Greek campaign
, and then travelled with the Battalion to New Guinea
. He was awarded the Military Cross
in 1943, for his “disregard of danger and [for] leadership” as a Captain and Company
commander at Wau
".
For a time thereafter he was attached to Australian Headquarters in London. As a supernumerary officer with the 8th Battalion Royal Scots, he became the first Australian born soldier to land on the beach during the Invasion of Normandy on D-Day
. Due to the very high Officer casualty rate, he was soon appointed as a Company commander with the Royal Scots, and served in this role until he was further wounded in July 1944.
After recovery from his latest wounds, he returned to Australia and attempted to rejoin the 2/6th in New Guinea, but was thwarted by higher command, who ordered that he be restrained - by force if necessary - from embarking. Accordingly, he saw no further action and was demobilised from the Army with the rank of Major at the end of the war.
Over 30 years later he wrote a personal account of his war experiences entitled Not As a Duty Only. which has been on the reading lists of several Australian military higher training institutions for many years.
for his father's of old seat of Henty, and was elected on 30 March 1946. After the Liberal-led coalition gained power at the 1949 general election
, he was appointed Chief Government Whip
.
He was a fierce anti-communist, and in the early 1950s was a spearhead of Parliamentary moves against Communists and Communist sympathisers within the Public Service and the wider community. His attacks are considered by some to have descended to the level of smear. For example, he described the contribution to foreign relations of Dr John Burton, the former Permanent Secretary
of the Department of External Affairs
as being 'almost wholly evil'. As a further example, in 1952 he attacked certain academics at the Australian National University
on the floor of Parliament
and claimed that the University was 'more famous for its left wing politics than for its research'.
He also held a strong anti-immigration stance and made public comments, in the press and on the floor of Parliament, that would now be considered as extreme anti-semitism. In the Melbourne Argus of 12 February 1947, he wrote:
Further, at a press conference in the same month, he said of Jews:
He retired from the Parliament on 4 November 1955 and returned to journalism. In 1965 he was appointed Australian Ambassador to Greece, and served there until 1968.
rural property which had earlier been home to William Farrer
during the time when he developed an important strain of rust-resistant wheat.
In the 1970s, he was a member of the Australian War Memorial
Council, and served as its chairman between April and August 1974. He is featured in the Memorial's Fifty Australians exhibition.
Gullett was the author of two sets of memoirs, Not As a Duty Only, which covered his war service, and Good Company: Horseman, Soldier, Politician, which was a more complete autobiography.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, (16 December 1914 - 24 August 1999) was an Australian soldier, politician, diplomat and journalist. He served with distinction in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, was a controversial Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member of the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
for the Division of Henty
Division of Henty
The Division of Henty was an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1913 and abolished in 1990. It was named for the Henty family of Portland, the first European settlers in Victoria. It was located in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, including at various times...
from 1946 to 1955, and served as Ambassador to Greece during 'the time of the Colonels' from 1965 to 1968.
He was the son of former Cabinet Minister Sir Henry Somer Gullett, the grandson of author Barbara Baynton
Barbara Baynton
Barbara Janet Ainsleigh Baynton, Lady Headley was an Australian writer, made famous for Bush Studies which was written in retaliation to Henry Lawson's works.- Life :...
and an uncle of actor Penne Hackforth-Jones
Penne Hackforth-Jones
Penne Hackforth-Jones is an American-born Australian actress and writer.She has a number of television credits such as Bellbird, Homicide, Matlock Police, Division 4, Tandarra, Cash and Company, Young Ramsay, Punishment, Bellamy, A Country Practice, Mother and Son, Tanamera - Lion of Singapore,...
.
He is the author of two memoirs, one of which, Not as a Duty Only: an Infantryman's War is widely considered to be a classic in Australian war writing.
Early life
Gullett spent much of his early childhood in CanberraCanberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, at Hill Station (now an upmarket restaurant) in what is now the industrial suburb of Hume. The plains of the Tuggeranong Valley allowed him to develop a passion for horseriding, and he became a very keen horseman.
In his later youth he spent a year at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
and then at Oxford, where took a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree. In 1935 he commenced work as a journalist at Melbourne's Herald
The Herald (Melbourne)
The Herald was a broadsheet newspaper published in Melbourne, Australia from 1840 to 1990.The Port Phillip Herald was first published as a semi-weekly newspaper on 3 January 1840 from a weatherboard shack in Collins Street. It was the fourth newspaper to start in Melbourne.The paper took its name...
newspaper, where he stayed for the next four years.
War service
He enlisted in the Army upon the outbreak of war in 1939, initially as a Private. Much of his service was with the 2/6th Australian Infantry Battalion2/6th Australian Infantry Battalion
The 2/6th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army that served during the Second World War. It was raised at Puckapunyal, Victoria on 25 October 1939 as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force, and was attached to the 17th Brigade of the 6th Division. The 2/6th fought in...
of the 6th Division
Australian 6th Division
The 6th Division of the Australian Army was a unit in the Second Australian Imperial Force during World War II. It served in the North African campaign, the Greek campaign and the New Guinea campaign, including the crucial battles of the Kokoda Track, among others...
of the Australian Imperial Force
Second Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
. As a Sergeant, he was seriously wounded in the Battle of Bardia
Battle of Bardia
The Battle of Bardia was fought over three days between 3 and 5 January 1941, as part of Operation Compass, the first military operation of the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. It was the first battle of the war in which an Australian Army formation took part, the first to be...
on 3 January 1941. He is the central character in an Ivor Hele
Ivor Hele
Sir Ivor Henry Thomas Hele, CBE was an Australian artist. He was the longest serving war artist for the Australian War Memorial and completed more commissioned works than any other Australian artist in the history of Australian art.He was the first war artist appointed in the Second World War, and...
painting of the battle which has hung in the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia...
since the 1960s.
Upon recovery from his wounds, he returned to his Battalion as a Lieutenant for the disastrous Greek campaign
Battle of Greece
The Battle of Greece is the common name for the invasion and conquest of Greece by Nazi Germany in April 1941. Greece was supported by British Commonwealth forces, while the Germans' Axis allies Italy and Bulgaria played secondary roles...
, and then travelled with the Battalion to New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. He was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
in 1943, for his “disregard of danger and [for] leadership” as a Captain and Company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
commander at Wau
Battle of Wau
The Battle of Wau, 29–31 January 1943, was a battle in the New Guinea campaign of World War II. Forces of the Empire of Japan sailed from Rabaul and crossed the Solomon Sea and, despite Allied air attacks, successfully reached Lae, where they disembarked...
".
For a time thereafter he was attached to Australian Headquarters in London. As a supernumerary officer with the 8th Battalion Royal Scots, he became the first Australian born soldier to land on the beach during the Invasion of Normandy on D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
. Due to the very high Officer casualty rate, he was soon appointed as a Company commander with the Royal Scots, and served in this role until he was further wounded in July 1944.
After recovery from his latest wounds, he returned to Australia and attempted to rejoin the 2/6th in New Guinea, but was thwarted by higher command, who ordered that he be restrained - by force if necessary - from embarking. Accordingly, he saw no further action and was demobilised from the Army with the rank of Major at the end of the war.
Over 30 years later he wrote a personal account of his war experiences entitled Not As a Duty Only. which has been on the reading lists of several Australian military higher training institutions for many years.
Political and diplomatic career
In 1946 he stood as a Liberal Party candidate at a by-electionBy-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
for his father's of old seat of Henty, and was elected on 30 March 1946. After the Liberal-led coalition gained power at the 1949 general election
Australian federal election, 1949
Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 December 1949. All 121 seats in the House of Representatives, and 42 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election, where the single transferable vote was introduced...
, he was appointed Chief Government Whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
.
He was a fierce anti-communist, and in the early 1950s was a spearhead of Parliamentary moves against Communists and Communist sympathisers within the Public Service and the wider community. His attacks are considered by some to have descended to the level of smear. For example, he described the contribution to foreign relations of Dr John Burton, the former Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
of the Department of External Affairs
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia)
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is a department of the government of Australia charged with advancing the interests of Australia and its citizens internationally...
as being 'almost wholly evil'. As a further example, in 1952 he attacked certain academics at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
on the floor of Parliament
Parliament of Australia
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Commonwealth Parliament or Federal Parliament, is the legislative branch of the government of Australia. It is bicameral, largely modelled in the Westminster tradition, but with some influences from the United States Congress...
and claimed that the University was 'more famous for its left wing politics than for its research'.
He also held a strong anti-immigration stance and made public comments, in the press and on the floor of Parliament, that would now be considered as extreme anti-semitism. In the Melbourne Argus of 12 February 1947, he wrote:
The arrival of additional Jews is nothing less than the beginning of a national tragedy and a piece of the grossest deception of Parliament and the people by the Minister for Immigration.
Further, at a press conference in the same month, he said of Jews:
.
We should remember that they are European neither by race standards, nor culture. They are, in fact, an Eastern people. In 2000 years no one but Britain has been successfully able to absorb them, and for the most, they owe loyalty and allegiance to none.
He retired from the Parliament on 4 November 1955 and returned to journalism. In 1965 he was appointed Australian Ambassador to Greece, and served there until 1968.
After politics
Gullett had a long association with Canberra - he had spent most of his childhood there, and in married life, he took up the lease on Lambrigg station, the ACTAustralian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
rural property which had earlier been home to William Farrer
William Farrer
William James Farrer was a leading Australian agronomist and plant breeder. Farrer is best remembered as the originator of the "Federation" strain of wheat, distributed in 1903...
during the time when he developed an important strain of rust-resistant wheat.
In the 1970s, he was a member of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia...
Council, and served as its chairman between April and August 1974. He is featured in the Memorial's Fifty Australians exhibition.
Gullett was the author of two sets of memoirs, Not As a Duty Only, which covered his war service, and Good Company: Horseman, Soldier, Politician, which was a more complete autobiography.