Charles Gairdner

For those of a similar name, see Charlie Gardiner (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Charles Austin Gardner.

General Sir Charles Gairdner GBE, KCMG, KCVO, CB
23rd Governor of Western Australia
In office 6 November 1951 – 25 October 1963
Monarch	King George VI (1951-52) Queen Elizabeth II (1952-1963)
Premier	Sir Ross McLarty (1951-53) Albert Hawke (1953-59) Sir David Brand (1959-63)
Preceded by	Sir James Mitchell
Succeeded by	Sir Douglas Kendrew
19th Governor of Tasmania
In office 24 September 1963 – 11 July 1968
Monarch	Queen Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Lord Rowallan
Succeeded by	Sir Edric Bastyan
Personal details
Born	20 March 1898 Batavia, Netherlands East Indies (now Jakarta, Indonesia)
Died	22 February 1983(1983-02-22) Nedlands, Western Australia
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	Evelyn Constance Handcock
Profession	British Army soldier

General Sir Charles Henry Gairdner, GBE, KCMG, KCVO, CB (20 March 1898 – 22 February 1983)^[1] was a British Army general during World War II and was Governor of Western Australia from 1951 to 1963, and Governor of Tasmania from 1963 to 1968.

Early life

Gairdner was born in Batavia, Netherlands East Indies (now Jakarta, Indonesia) in 1898. Brought up in County Galway, Ireland, he was educated at Repton School in England, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.^[1][2]

Military career

Upon graduation, Gairdner was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the artillery in May 1916 and sent to the Western Front. After the war he transferred to cavalry. He spent two years at the Staff College, Camberley from 1933 to 1934.^[2] As a lieutenant colonel, from 1937 to 1940 he was the commanding officer of the 10th Royal Hussars, before being chief of staff of the 7th Armoured Division then General Officer Commanding of the 6th and 8th Armoured Divisions.^[3][4] He was awarded the Medal of Freedom by the United States in London on January 16, 1947. He was appointed CB in 1946 and KCMG in 1948.^[1]

Governor of Western Australia and Tasmania

Gairdner's distinguished military career was rewarded in 1951 when he was appointed Governor of Western Australia. He was governor during a number of Royal Visits to Perth - the earliest being in 1954.^[5] His long residency in Western Australia was during a time when Perth and Western Australia were undergoing significant post-war change. He was very popular with the Western Australian public.^[1]

Gairdner's tenure was relatively free of political or constitutional crisis. When Labor's loss of the October 1955 Bunbury by-election resulted in Premier Albert Hawke’s government losing its parliamentary majority, the possibility was raised that the governor might have to exercise his reserve powers. However the parliament remained in recess until Labor won the ensuing 1956 election.^[1]

The Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth was named in his honour in May 1963. Gairdner stepped down from his post on 26 June 1963. He lobbied for the position of Governor of Tasmania and on 23 September 1963 was appointed for five years.^[1]

In February 1969 the Gairdners returned to Perth and settled at Peppermint Grove. Survived by his wife, Sir Charles died on 22 February 1983 at Nedlands and was cremated after a state funeral.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Boyce, Peter, 'Gairdner, Sir Charles Henry (1898–1983)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, accessed 14 October 2011.
2. ^ ^{a b} Statesmen & Scholars And other fascinating Western Australians: A Tour Guide for the Karrakatta Cemetery Historical Walk Trail 1, Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (WA).
3. ^ Ammentorp, Steen. "Gairdner Sir Charles Henry, General". The Generals of WWII. http://www.generals.dk/general/Gairdner/Sir_Charles_Henry/Great_Britain.html. Retrieved 17 November 2008. 
4. ^ Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Gairdner 1951-1963, The Constitutional Centre of Western Australia.
5. ^ Edmonds, Jack (editor) (1979) Swan River colony : life in Western Australia since the early colonial settlement, illustrated by pictures from an exhibition mounted by West Australian Newspapers Ltd. as a contribution to celebrations for the state's 150th year Perth: West Australian Newspapers.ISBN 0909699208 - page 87 - Sir Charles with the Queen

Military offices
Preceded by Herbert Lumsden	GOC, 6th Armoured Division October 1941–May 1942	Succeeded by Charles Keightley
Preceded by Charles Norman	GOC, 8th Armoured Division August 1942–January 1943	Succeeded by Post Disbanded
Government offices
Preceded by Sir James Mitchell	Governor of Western Australia 1951 – 1963	Succeeded by Sir Douglas Kendrew
Preceded by The Lord Rowallan	Governor of Tasmania 1963 – 1968	Succeeded by Sir Edric Bastyan

Persondata
Name	Gairdner, Charles
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	20 March 1898
Place of birth	Batavia, Java (now Jakarta)
Date of death	8 May 1983 age 85
Place of death