Walter Russell Crocker

Background

Walter Russell Crocker was born on 25 March 1902, in Broken Hill, Australia. He was the eldest son of Robert Crocker and Alma Bray.

Education

Walter attended schools in Australia, England, and the United States, receiving his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Adelaide in 1925, a second bachelor's degree from Oxford University in 1927, and a master's degree from Oxford in 1928; he also attended graduate school at Stanford University for two years.

Career

Before World War II Walter Crocker worked in the British Colonial Service in Nigeria and at the League of Nations. With the onset of the war, he joined the British Army, despite the fact that the horrors of World War I had made him an ardent pacifist. Crocker served in Sierra Leone and worked as an interpreter. After the war, he returned to Australia and farmed the land, an occupation he had enjoyed as a boy growing up on a farm. In 1949 he accepted a job as a professor of international relations at the Australian National University, where he remained until 1952 and served as acting vice-chancellor for a year.

From 1952 to 1970 Crocker served Australia with distinction for 18 consecutive years at ambassadorial level in a variety of countries including India (1952-1955 and 1958-1962), Indonesia (1955-1957), Canada (1957-1958), Nepal (1960-1962), Belgium and The Netherlands (1962-1965), Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda (1965-1967) and Italy (1967-1970).

Following his retirement from the diplomatic service in 1970, Walter returned home to Adelaide where he served as a member of the Council of Adelaide University from 1971-1978. In 1973 he was appointed Lieutenant-governor of South Australia, a position he held until 1982. He was appointed K.B.E in 1978.

Sir Walter was a prolific writer publishing numerous magazine articles, lectures, and books during his illustrious career. His books include "Japanese population problem" (1931), "Nigeria: a critique of British colonial administration" (1936), "On governing colonies" (1947), "Self-government for the colonies" (1949), "Nehru: a contemporary estimate" (1966), "Australian Ambassador" (1971), "Travelling Back: memoirs" (1981), and "Sir Thomas Playford: a portrait" (1983).

Achievements

• Crocker was known as a civil servant, ambassador, politician, and author. He was an Australian loyal to the ideas of the British Empire who had a diverse career in governmental service around the globe.
  
  Crocker was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1955. He was later promoted to become a Knight Commander of the Order in 1977.

Works

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• book

  • Nehru: A Contemporary's Estimate 1966
  • Australian ambassador;: International relations at first hand 1971
  • Sir Thomas Playford: A Portrait 1983
  • The Japanese Population Problem: The Coming Crisis 1931
  • Nigeria: A Critique of British Colonial Administration. 1936
  • Self-Government for the Colonies. 1949

Politics

Although Crocker supported British imperialism, he was not afraid to criticize some of England's policies in Nigeria, for which he was reprimanded by his superiors.

Views

Walter believed that German Chancellor Adolph Hitler was a threat to world peace.

Connections

Walter had two children: Robert and Christopher.

Father:

Robert Crocker

Mother:

Alma Bray Crocker

Son:

Robert Crocker

Son:

Christopher Crocker

References

• Contemporary Authors New Revision Series: A Bio-Bibliographical Guide to Current Writers in Fiction, General Non-Fiction, Poetry, Journalism, Drama, Motion Pictures, Television, and Other Fields
  2011