Monarch Elizabeth II Name James Harrison Battles and wars World War II Allegiance Australia Succeeded by Mark Oliphant | Nationality Australian Died September 16, 1971 Preceded by Sir Edric Bastyan Role Australian governor Service/branch Australian Army | |
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Premier Steele Hall (1968–70)
Don Dunstan (1970–71) Born 25 May 1912
Camperdown, Victoria ( 1912-05-25 ) Alma mater Royal Military College, Duntroon Education Royal Military College, Duntroon, Geelong College Awards Order of St Michael and St George, Order of the Bath, Order of the British Empire, Mentioned in dispatches | ||
Major General Sir James William Harrison (25 May 1912 – 16 September 1971) was an Australian Army officer and the first Australian-born Governor of South Australia.
James Harrison was born at Camperdown, Victoria, the second child of Victorian-born parents James Samuel Harrison, farmer, and his wife Mary Eleanor, née Harlock. He was educated at Geelong College, Melbourne High School and the Royal Military College, Duntroon, where he graduated in 1932 as an artillery specialist.
He had a varied military career including as the first Commandant of the Officer Cadet School, Portsea and culminating in becoming a member of the Military Board, as quartermaster-general (1962–63) and adjutant-general (1963–66), and General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Eastern Command, Sydney (from 1966).
He was sworn in as Governor of South Australia on 4 December 1968. His term was unremarkable. Don Dunstan later concluded: 'Sir James fulfilled his role as Governor quietly and in the traditional way, and left little mark on the State'. In 1969 and 1970 both he and his wife were hospitalised, in his case with a coronary occlusion. In 1971 he and his wife set off on an overseas holiday. Sir James died suddenly on 16 September 1971 while flying to Honolulu. He was survived by his wife and two sons, and he was cremated.
Honours
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1953 and promoted to Commander (CBE) in 1958.
He was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in January 1968, and knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in October 1968.