World War II Biographies: John Curtin (Australia, 1885-1945)


Figure 1.--

John Curtin was the Australian Prime Minister during much of World War II. Some consider him to be the greatest of Australia's prime ministers. John was born in Creswick, a tough gold mining town (1885). He grew up in an Irish family. His father was a policeman, but infermity forced him to resign his post and work managing various small hotels. The family needed money and John, although bright, could not persue his education. He had to look for a job. He moved to Melbourne and found a job as a newspaper copy boy. While his education ws cut short, he became a voracious leaders. His reading and work on the newspaper caused him to become interested in politics. He developed strong opinions and voiced them to people he met. He was strongly influenced by socialist writings. Australia joined Britain in World War I (1914). The issue of conscription became a major national issue. Curtin strongly opposed conscription and even soent a few days in jail because of it. He viewed the War as Britain's war, not Australia's war. As in many countries, World War I had a powerful impact on Australian politics. In one of histories many ironies, the World War critic became Australia's great war leader in World War II. Upon taking office in 1941, only 2 months before Pearl Harbor, he told Australians, "???? has ended in Australia".

Parents

He grew up in an Irish family. His father was a policeman, but infermity forced him to resign his post and work managing various small hotels.

Childhood

John was born in Creswick, a tough gold mining town (1885).

Childhood Clothing


Education

The family needed money and John, although bright, could not persue his education. He had to look for a job.

Work

He moved to Melbourne and found a job as a newspaper copy boy. While his education ws cut short, he became a voracious leaders. His reading and work on the newspaper caused him to become interested in politics. He developed strong opinions and voiced them to people he met. He was strongly influenced by socialist writings.

World War I (1914-18)

Australia joined Britain in World War I (1914). The issue of conscription became a major national issue. There was a current of pasifism in European socialism. Curtin was affected by such ideas and strongly opposed conscription and even soent a few days in jail because of it. He viewed the War as Britain's war, not Australia's war. As in many countries, World War I had a powerful impact on Australian politics. World War I conscription was a volitile issue in other countries, especially the Dominions.

Politics

Curtin became the editor of the Westralian Worker (1917). The paper was official journal of the Australian Labor party. He entered politics and won the Fremantle seat in Parliament 1928). He lost the next election (1931). Curtin career and private life was being adversely affected by heavy drinking. After his loss in 1931 he resolved to stop drinking. With new resolve he became leader of the Labor Party (1935). The governing party at the time was the United Australia Party (future Liberal Party) led by Robert Menzies.

World War II (1939-45)

The Menzies' government led Australia into World War II. This time because of the character of the NAZIs and European Fascists, Labor did not oppose the War. They did initially oppose conscription and the posting of draftees outside of Australia. Important elements of Australi's small army was posted in the British bastion at Singapore and sent to aid the British defend Suez. In one of histories many ironies, the World War critic became Australia's great war leader in World War II. Upon taking office in 1941, only 2 months before Pearl Harbor, he told Australians, "???? has ended in Australia". In one of histories many ironies, the World War critic became Australia's great war leader in World War II. Upon taking office in 1941, only 2 months before Pearl Harbor, he told Australians, "???? has ended in Australia". The Australian forces played a major role in the defense of Suez, but losses were high. The Japan struck (December 1941). He told "Japan ignored the convention of a formal declaration of war, and struck like an assassin in the night." Curtin changed after he became prime minister. Some saw his positions hesitant, after becoming prime minister he became determined and commited to the War. He inherited an impossible situation. And one disaster was followed by another. The British had assured the Australian Government that the bastion of Singapore made a Japanese move south on Australia impossible. The fall of Singapore (February 1942) open the way for the powerful Japanese fleet to move south an invade Australia. And much of the Australian army had been surrendered by the British at Singapore or fighting Rommel's Afrika Korps in the Western Dessert. Within days of the fall of Singapore, the Japanese bombed Darwin (February 19, 1942). Other cities in northern Australia were bombed. Curtin told colleagues, "We're in for it now." Curtin quarled with Churchill. The core of the 8th Army in Egypt were the ANZAC troops which included two Australian divisions. Curtin wanted them back in Australia. He also appealed to President Rooselvelt for American assistance. Ameica at the time had limited resources. General MacArthur was ordered out of Corregidor just before it fell and ordered to organize the defense of Australia. The real assistance at this stage of the War was two American carriers which were in essence half of the Pacific fleet. In a very risky operation, at a time when both Pearl Harbor and the American mainland, America deployed two of its four Pacific carriers to the defense of Australia. The Japanese dispatched a task force to seize Port Moresby in New Zealand, the first step in an invasion of Australia. The Ameicans intercepted the task force in the first carrier engagement of the War--the Battle of the Coral Sea (May 1942). The Americans lost the Lexington and the Yorktown was badly damaged, but the Japanese lost a light carrier and many planes and pilots and the task force turned around. THis provided the respite needed to build up American forces in Australia. Curtin approved putting Australian forces under the command of General MacArthur. The two got on well and MacArrthur was not an easy man to get along with. He told Curtin, "Take care of the rear and I'll handle the front." Conscription proved a very difficult question for Curtin. As in World War I, conscription was avery difficult issue in other countries as well. He had opposed conscription in World War I. It was not just a question of conscription, but the authority to post draftees outside of Australia. For much of the War, Australia was being defened by Americans, many of them draftees, while Australian law did not post draftees outside of Australia. Curtin said that conscription was the most dfficult decision he ever made. he was chosen prime minister again in an election during the War (1943). Curtin died of a heart attack (July 5, 1945), just before the final victory over Japan. He died only a few days after President Roosevelt died. Many believe the long hours of work and pressure of the War caused his early death. Much of Perth turned out for his funeral.

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