Birth name Julius Cohen Name Richard Kingsland | Years of service 1935–1948 Allegiance Australia Rank Group captain | |
Commands held RAAF Base RathminesNo. 11 Squadron RAAF Battles/wars Second World WarBattle of the AtlanticSouth West Pacific theatre Books Into the Midst of Things: The Autobiography of Sir Richard Kingsland Battles and wars Battle of the Atlantic, South West Pacific theatre of World War II, World War II | ||
Sir Richard Kingsland, (19 October 1916 – 27 August 2012) was an Australian RAAF pilot known for being the youngest Australian group captain at age 29. He later became a senior public servant, heading the Departments of the Interior, Repatriation, and Veterans' Affairs.
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Biography
Julius Cohen was born in 1916. He later changed his name to Richard Kingsland, to avoid anti-semitism.
He was sent to Morocco in 1940 to rescue two of Britain's most senior WWII leaders, Duff Cooper and John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort. Kingsland managed to rescue them from French headquarters with only two other men and managed to flee in a Seaplane.
The same year, Kingsland and his crew were sent to bomb a major Japanese headquarters established in Rabaul, New Guinea.
For his invaluable service, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in September 1940.
In June 2010 he published his autobiography, Into the Midst of Things.
Public service
During his public service career, rising to become Secretary of the Departments of Interior, Repatriation, and Veterans' Affairs, Kingsland served 12 ministers and built a reputation as a trusted and experienced departmental head.
Awards and honours
Richard Kingsland was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1967.
He was knighted in 1978, and appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1989.
In 2013, a street in the Canberra suburb of Casey was named Kingsland Parade in Richard Kingsland's honour.
Death
Richard Kingsland died in August 2012, aged 95. He was survived by his wife of 68 years, Kathleen Kingsland, two daughters and a son.