William Worth (diplomat)

William Worth OBE (born 13 December 1912, date of death unknown) was an Australian diplomat who served two terms as the acting secretary general of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).

Early life and career

William Worth was born in Perth, Western Australia on 13 December 1912. He later moved to Adelaide, South Australia, where he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force on 18 June 1940.[1] Achieving the rank of Flight Lieutenant, Worth served in the RAAF until 1951. During World War II Worth was on the air staff of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force and played a part in the invasion of France in 1944.[2] He later rose to the office of Deputy Director of Intelligence for the RAAF.[3]

On leaving the RAAF he joined the Australian Department of Supply in which he was responsible for security. Prior to leaving for Bangkok to take up an appointment as Deputy Secretary-General of SEATO, Worth served as Assistant Secretary in the Prime Minister's Department in Canberra.[2]

Diplomatic career

In September 1957, Worth was appointed the first Deputy Secretary-General of SEATO and took over as acting Secretary General when Pote Sarasin took office as Prime Minister of Thailand on 22 September 1957. With the return of Sarasin on 10 January 1958, Worth continued as Deputy Secretary General.[4]

On 13 December 1963, he again became acting secretary general of SEATO, after Secretary General Sarasin had resigned after his appointment as Minister for National Development in Thailand. Worth continued until the substantive appointment of Konthi Suphamongkhon on 19 February 1964.[2]

From 1 November 1975 to 31 October 1977, Worth was appointed Administrator of the Australian Christmas Island Territory. In the 1977 Silver Jubilee and Birthday Honours, Worth was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for public service on Christmas Island.[5][6]

References
  1. "WORTH, WILLIAM - Royal Australian Air Force". World War Two Nominal Roll. Australian Government. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  2. "Australian Acting SEATO Head". The Canberra Times. ACT: National Library of Australia. 14 December 1963. p. 3. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  3. "Minister Congratulates Mr. Worth". The Canberra Times. ACT: National Library of Australia. 13 July 1957. p. 2. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  4. "Mr. Worth To Take Over SEATO Post". The Canberra Times. ACT: National Library of Australia. 25 September 1957. p. 2. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  5. "WORTH, William - The Order of the British Empire - Officer (Civil)". It's an Honour database. Australian Government. 11 June 1977. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  6. Australia: "No. 47236". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 June 1977. p. 7122.
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