Reginald Swartz
Encyclopedia
Sir Reginald William Colin Swartz KBE
(14 April 1911 – 2 February 2006), best known as Reg Swartz, was a Minister during the governments of Sir Robert Menzies
, Harold Holt
and John Gorton
in Australia. In particular, he is best known as the Minister for Civil Aviation between 1966 and 1969.
He represented the Division of Darling Downs
in the House of Representatives
between 1949 and 1972 and was a member of the Government for the entire length of his parliamentary service.
in 1911 and attended Toowoomba Grammar School
. He joined the 2nd A.I.F.
during World War II. Swartz was a member of the 2/26 Infantry Battalion of the Australian 8th Division
in the Battle of Malaya
. After capture by the Japanese, he was a prisoner of war
in Changi prison
and worked on the Burma–Thailand Railway. He received the Member of the Order of the British Empire for his war service.
In 1988, he accompanied John Howard
along with two other parliamentarians who were former POWs John Carrick
and Tom Uren
to the opening of the Hellfire Pass
Memorial Museum commemorating the 2700 Australians who died working on the Burma-Thailand Railway.
member for Darling Downs in 1949. As such, he was a "Forty-niner" which was the name for the Liberal and Country Party
members first elected in the landslide victory by the Coalition in that year.
Menzies appointed Swartz as Parliamentary Secretary for Trade in 1956. In that position, he led Trade Missions to India in 1956 and South East Asia in 1958. He was appointed as Minister for Repatriation
in 1961 and served in that position before becoming Minister for Health
from 1964 to 1966 and briefly Minister for Social Services
in early 1965.
Harold Holt appointed Swartz as Minister for Civil Aviation
in 1966 and he served in that Ministry for three years. John Gorton appointed him as Minister for National Development
in 1969 and he served in that position for three years. He was Leader of the House
responsible for managing Government business in the House of Representatives from 1971 to 1972.
Swartz was knighted in 1972 and retired as a parliamentarian later that year.
Articles on Sir Reginald Swartz are also on the Australian Army Aviation Association's website at
http://www.fourays.org\history\history_50.htm
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(14 April 1911 – 2 February 2006), best known as Reg Swartz, was a Minister during the governments of Sir Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
, Harold Holt
Harold Holt
Harold Edward Holt, CH was an Australian politician and the 17th Prime Minister of Australia.His term as Prime Minister was brought to an early and dramatic end in December 1967 when he disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach near Portsea, Victoria, and was presumed drowned.Holt spent 32 years...
and John Gorton
John Gorton
Sir John Grey Gorton, GCMG, AC, CH , Australian politician, was the 19th Prime Minister of Australia.-Early life:...
in Australia. In particular, he is best known as the Minister for Civil Aviation between 1966 and 1969.
He represented the Division of Darling Downs
Division of Darling Downs
The Division of Darling Downs was an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was created at Federation in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It was abolished in 1984 when it was replaced by the Division of Groom...
in the 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....
between 1949 and 1972 and was a member of the Government for the entire length of his parliamentary service.
Early life
Swartz was born in BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
in 1911 and attended Toowoomba Grammar School
Toowoomba Grammar School
Toowoomba Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, day and boarding grammar school for boys, in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia....
. He joined the 2nd A.I.F.
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...
during World War II. Swartz was a member of the 2/26 Infantry Battalion of the Australian 8th Division
Australian 8th Division
The 8th Division of the Australian Army was formed to serve in World War II, as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force, who were in turn, part of the Allies of World War II. The 8th Division was raised from regular army units and new, all-volunteer infantry brigades, from July 1940 onwards...
in the Battle of Malaya
Battle of Malaya
The Malayan Campaign was a campaign fought by Allied and Japanese forces in Malaya, from 8 December 1941 – 31 January 1942 during the Second World War. The campaign was dominated by land battles between British Commonwealth army units, and the Imperial Japanese Army...
. After capture by the Japanese, he was a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
in Changi prison
Changi Prison
Changi Prison is a prison located in Changi in the eastern part of Singapore.-First prison and POW camp:...
and worked on the Burma–Thailand Railway. He received the Member of the Order of the British Empire for his war service.
In 1988, he accompanied John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
along with two other parliamentarians who were former POWs John Carrick
John Carrick (Australian politician)
Sir John Leslie Carrick, AC, KCMG is a former Australian politician.-Early life:Carrick studied economics at the University of Sydney . Before he was able to commence his career to any great degree he fought with the Sparrow Force of the Australian Army during World War II. He was landed on...
and Tom Uren
Tom Uren
Thomas Uren, AO was a Deputy Leader of the Australian Labor Party. He helped establish the heritage and conservation movement in Australia and, in particular, worked to preserve the heritage of inner Sydney.-Early life:...
to the opening of the Hellfire Pass
Hellfire Pass
Hellfire Pass is the name of a railway cutting on the former "Death Railway" in Thailand which was built with forced labour during the Second World War, in part by Allied prisoners of war. The pass is noted for the harsh conditions and heavy loss of life suffered by its labourers during construction...
Memorial Museum commemorating the 2700 Australians who died working on the Burma-Thailand Railway.
Parliamentary career
Swartz was elected as the LiberalLiberal 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 for Darling Downs in 1949. As such, he was a "Forty-niner" which was the name for the Liberal and Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
members first elected in the landslide victory by the Coalition in that year.
Menzies appointed Swartz as Parliamentary Secretary for Trade in 1956. In that position, he led Trade Missions to India in 1956 and South East Asia in 1958. He was appointed as Minister for Repatriation
Minister for Veterans' Affairs (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Veterans' Affairs oversees income support, compensation, care and commemoration programs for more than 400,000 veterans and their widows, widowers and dependants....
in 1961 and served in that position before becoming Minister for Health
Minister for Health and Ageing (Australia)
The Minister for Health and Ageing is a portfolio in the Government of Australia with the responsibility for national health policy. The current Minister for Health and Ageing is Nicola Roxon...
from 1964 to 1966 and briefly Minister for Social Services
Minister for Human Services (Australia)
The position of Minister for Human Services within Australian politics is currently held by the Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP. The Minister is responsible for a number of welfare agencies and administers her portfolio through the Department of Human Services and its component bodies:* Child Support...
in early 1965.
Harold Holt appointed Swartz as Minister for Civil Aviation
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport is the Hon Anthony Albanese. On 3 December 2007 he replaced the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, the Hon Mark Vaile, who held office since August 2006, and the Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, the Hon Jim...
in 1966 and he served in that Ministry for three years. John Gorton appointed him as Minister for National Development
Minister for Resources and Energy (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Resources and Energy is Martin Ferguson, appointed on 3 December 2007. The Minister administers his portfolios through the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism.-List of Ministers for Resources:...
in 1969 and he served in that position for three years. He was Leader of the House
Leader of the House (Australia)
The office of Leader of the House in the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Australia exists in order for the management of government business, involving such matters as the following:* the order in which Government issues are to be dealt with...
responsible for managing Government business in the House of Representatives from 1971 to 1972.
Swartz was knighted in 1972 and retired as a parliamentarian later that year.
Articles on Sir Reginald Swartz are also on the Australian Army Aviation Association's website at
http://www.fourays.org\history\history_50.htm