Herbert Collett | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Collett in 1940 | |
| Senator for Western Australia | |
| In office 6 April 1933 – 30 June 1947 | |
| Preceded by | Hal Colebatch |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1877-11-12)12 November 1877 St. Peter Port, Guernsey |
| Died | 15 August 1947(1947-08-15) (aged 69) |
| Resting place | Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth |
| Nationality | English Australian |
| Political party | UAP (1931–44) Liberal (1944–47) |
| Occupation | Librarian |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Branch/service | Citizens Military Force Australian Imperial Force |
| Years of service | 1894–1927 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Commands | 13th Brigade (1921–27) 22nd Brigade (1920–21) No. 2 Command Depot (1918–19) 4th Training Brigade (1916–17) 28th Battalion (1915–16, 1917–18) 11th Australian Infantry Regiment (1908–15) |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches Volunteer Officers' Decoration |
Herbert Brayley CollettCMG, DSO, VD (12 November 1877 – 15 August 1947) was an Australian politician, librarian and soldier. He was aSenator forWestern Australia from 1933 to 1947, representing theUnited Australia Party (UAP) until 1945 and then theLiberal Party. He held ministerial office in theMenzies andFadden governments from 1939 to 1941.
Collett was born inSt. Peter Port,Guernsey and arrived with his family in Western Australia in October 1884. He was educated atPerth Grammar School and became a librarian at theVictoria Public Library in 1891. He married Anne Whitfield in April 1904.[1]
Collett joined the Metropolitan Rifle Volunteers at the age of 16 and rose to command the 11th Australian Infantry Regiment as alieutenant colonel in 1908. With the outbreak of the First World War he commanded the28th Battalion of theAustralian Imperial Force from 23 April 1915 and he served atGallipoli, inEgypt and Sinai and inFrance. On 29 July 1916, he was wounded at theBattle of Pozières. He returned to action on 12 October 1917 at theFirst Battle of Passchendaele. He was promoted to colonel in June 1918 and discharged in September 1919. He wasmentioned in despatches and was made a Companion of theDistinguished Service Order in 1917, aCompanion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1919 and was promoted brevet colonel.[1]
Collett was assistant general secretary of Perth's amalgamated library, museum and art gallery from 1915 to 1933 and president of the Western Australia branch of theReturned Sailors and Soldiers' Imperial League from 1925 to 1933.[1]
In April 1933, Collett was appointed to fill acasual vacancy in theAustralian Senate, representing theUnited Australia Party.[2] In parliament he was particularly concerned with military matters and benefits for ex-servicemen and wasMinister in charge of War Service Homes from April 1939 to June 1941, when he becameMinister for Repatriation until the fall of theFadden government in October 1941. He was alsoVice-President of the Executive Council andMinister in charge of Scientific and Industrial Research from August to October 1940. He was defeated at the1946 election, completing his Senate term in July 1947. Shortly after he died of heart disease, survived by his wife and two sons.[1][3]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New title | Minister without portfolio administering War Service Homes Minister in charge of War Service Homes 1939–1941 | Title abolished |
| Preceded by | Vice-President of the Executive Council 1940 | Succeeded by |
| Minister in charge of Scientific and Industrial Research 1940 | Succeeded by | |
| Preceded by | Minister for Repatriation 1941 | Succeeded by |
