Geoffrey Street
Australian politician / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Geoffrey Street?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Geoffrey Austin Street, MC (21 January 1894 – 13 August 1940) was an Australian army officer and politician. He was a member of the United Australia Party (UAP) and served as Minister for Defence (1938–1939), the Army (1939–1940) and Repatriation (1940) in the early years of Australia's involvement in the Second World War.
Geoffrey Street | |
---|---|
Minister for the Army | |
In office 13 November 1939 – 13 August 1940 | |
Prime Minister | Robert Menzies |
Preceded by | New title |
Succeeded by | Percy Spender |
Minister for Repatriation | |
In office 14 March 1940 – 13 August 1940 | |
Prime Minister | Robert Menzies |
Preceded by | Eric Harrison |
Succeeded by | Philip McBride |
Minister for Defence | |
In office 7 November 1938 – 13 November 1939 | |
Prime Minister | Joseph Lyons Earle Page Robert Menzies |
Preceded by | Harold Thorby |
Succeeded by | Robert Menzies (Defence Co-ordination) |
Member of the Australian Parliament for Corangamite | |
In office 15 September 1934 – 13 August 1940 | |
Preceded by | William Gibson |
Succeeded by | Allan McDonald |
Personal details | |
Born | (1894-01-21)21 January 1894 Woollahra, New South Wales, Australia |
Died | 13 August 1940(1940-08-13) (aged 46) Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
Political party | United Australia Party |
Spouse |
Evora Francis Currie
(m. 1918) |
Relations | Street family |
Children | Tony Street |
Education | University of Sydney |
Profession | Pastoralist |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Australia |
Branch/service | Australian Imperial Force Citizens Military Force |
Years of service | 1914–1919 1931–1940 |
Rank | Brigadier |
Commands | 3rd Cavalry Brigade 4th Light Horse Regiment |
Battles/wars | First World War |
Awards | Military Cross |
Street enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on the outbreak of the First World War. He served in the Gallipoli Campaign and on the Western Front, winning the Military Cross and ending the war with the rank of major; he was later promoted to brigadier in the reserve of officers. Street subsequently farmed near Lismore, Victoria, entering politics with the support of Robert Menzies. He won the Division of Corangamite at the 1934 federal election and was promoted to cabinet in 1938 by Prime Minister Joseph Lyons. Following Lyons' death the following year, Menzies became prime minister and Street oversaw an expansion of the military. He was killed in the 1940 Canberra air disaster along with two cabinet colleagues and the head of the army.