Harold David Anderson (6 September 1923 – 17 June 2020) was an Australian public servant and

diplomat A diplomat (from ; romanization, romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state (polity), state, International organization, intergovernmental, or Non-governmental organization, nongovernmental institution to conduct diplomacy with one ...

Early life and career

Anderson was born in the North

Adelaide Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...

suburb of

Semaphore Semaphore (; ) is the use of an apparatus to create a visual signal transmitted over distance. A semaphore can be performed with devices including: fire, lights, flags, sunlight, and moving arms. Semaphores can be used for telegraphy when arra ...

on 6 September 1923, the son of A. H. Anderson of

Mount Gambier Mount Gambier is the second most populated city in South Australia, with a population of 25,591 as of the 2021 census. The city is located on the slopes of Mount Gambier (volcano), Mount Gambier, a volcano in the south east of the state, about ...

. He spent his early years and education in Largs Bay and later Mount Gambier, where he attended

Mount Gambier High School Mount is often used as part of the name of specific mountains, e.g. Mount Everest. Mount or Mounts may also refer to: Places * Mount, Cornwall, a village in Warleggan parish, England * Mount, Perranzabuloe, a hamlet in Perranzabuloe parish, C ...

. At Mount Gambier High School he was dux of his Intermediate year and won the Vansittart Scholarship, which entitled him to three years at

St Peter's College, Adelaide St Peter's College (officially The Anglican Church of Australia Collegiate School of Saint Peter, but commonly known as Saints) is an Private school, independent Anglican Church of Australia, Anglican Primary school, primary and Secondary school ...

. In his final year at the college he won a Bursary to study law at the

University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide is a public university, public research university based in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. Its main campus in the Adelaide city centre includes many Sa ...

. At the end of his first year he gained first position in Latin, receiving the Andrew Scott Prize, and was

articled Apprenticeship is a system for training a potential new practitioners of a trade or profession with on-the-job training and often some accompanying study. Apprenticeships may also enable practitioners to gain a license to practice in a regulate ...

to Charles Abbott KC, who later rose to be

Attorney-General of South Australia The attorney-general of South Australia is the Cabinet minister in the Government of South Australia who is responsible for that state's system of law and justice. The attorney-general must be a qualified legal practitioner, although this wa ...

. During his second year at university, Andserson enlisted as a Private into the

Australian Army The Australian Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of Australia. It is a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army ...

on 7 October 1942. While serving in New Guinea in 1944, Anderson sat for the cadetship examination for the new Australian diplomatic service, and was the only South Australian selected, being discharged on 3 June 1944.

Honours

*Officer of the

Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...

(AO), 1980

Australia Day Honours The Australian honours and awards system refers to all orders, decorations, and medals, as instituted by letters patent from the Monarch of Australia and countersigned by the Australian prime minister at the time, that have been progressively ...

. *Officer of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(OBE), 1966 Queen's Birthday Honours.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Harold David 1923 births Consuls-general for Australia in Nouméa Australian Army personnel of World War II Ambassadors of Australia to Vietnam Ambassadors of Australia to France Permanent delegates of Australia to UNESCO Permanent representatives of Australia to the United Nations Ambassadors of Australia to Belgium Ambassadors of Australia to Luxembourg Ambassadors of Australia to the European Union People educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide University of Adelaide alumni Officers of the Order of Australia Australian Officers of the Order of the British Empire 2020 deaths Australian Army soldiers