Arthur Smith (public servant)

Arthur Sydney Victor Smith CBE (22 January 1893 – 9 February 1971) was a senior Australian public servant. He was Secretary of the Department of Supply and Development from 1941 to 1942.

Arthur Smith
CBE
Secretary of the Department of Supply and Development
In office
1 July 1941 – 17 October 1942
Secretary of the Department of Supply and Shipping
In office
17 October 1942 – 11 April 1945
Personal details
Born
Arthur Sydney Victor Smith

(1893-01-22)22 January 1893
Coburg, Melbourne
Died9 February 1971(1971-02-09) (aged 78)
Darlinghurst, Sydney
NationalityAustralia Australian
Spouse(s)Gladys Lavina Muriel Ford
(m. 1918–1971; his death)
OccupationPublic servant

Life and career

Arthur Smith was born in Coburg, Melbourne on 22 January 1893.[1]

Smith began his Commonwealth Public Service career in the Postmaster-General's Department when he was just 14.[1]

Smith was appointed Secretary of the Department of Supply and Development in July 1941.[2] In this role, he spent March to June 1942 in Washington, at first to secure greater collaboration between Australia, Britain and the United States in fighting the war in the Pacific.[1] When the Pacific War Council was established, Smith was Australia's representative at council meetings.[1]

When the Department of Supply and Development was abolished and the Department of Supply and Shipping was set up in its place, Smith became head of the new department.[3]

Smith died in Darlinghurst, Sydney on 9 February 1971.[1]

Awards

Smith was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in January 1951.[4]

References
  1. Poulos, Judy (2002), "Smith, Arthur Sydney Victor (1893–1971)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 7 May 2014
  2. CA 33: Department of Supply and Development [I] Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 8 May 2014
  3. CA 47: Department of Supply and Shipping, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, archived from the original on 14 March 2020, retrieved 8 May 2014
  4. "Order of the British Empire (Civil division)". Cairns Post. 1 January 1951. p. 1.


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