Keith Officer

Sir Frank Keith Officer, OBE, MC (2 October 1889 – 21 June 1969) was an Australian public servant and diplomat, best known for his postings in ambassadorial positions around the world.

Sir Keith Officer OBE, MC
Australian Ambassador to France
In office 18 April 1950 – March 1955
Preceded by	William Hodgson
Succeeded by	Alfred Stirling
Australian Ambassador to China
In office 15 November 1948 – 17 October 1949
Preceded by	Douglas Copland
Succeeded by	Vacant
Australian Minister to the Netherlands
In office 1946–1948
Preceded by	John Hood
Succeeded by	John Quinn
Personal details
Born	(1889-10-02)2 October 1889 Toorak, Victoria, Australia
Died	21 June 1969(1969-06-21) (aged 79) Southampton, England
Alma mater	University of Melbourne (LLB)
Occupation	Public servant and diplomat
Civilian awards	Knight Bachelor
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Branch/service	Australian Imperial Force
Years of service	1914–1919
Rank	Major
Battles/wars	First World War
Military awards	Officer of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches (3)

Life and career

Keith Officer was born on 2 October 1889 in Toorak, Melbourne.^[1] He was educated at Melbourne Grammar School and Melbourne University where he was resident at Ormond College.^[2]

Between 1914 and 1918, Officer served with the First Australian Imperial Force in Egypt, Gallipoli, France and Belgium.^[3]

From 1919 to 1923, Officer was a political officer of the British Colonial Service in Nigeria.^[4]

He joined the Australian Department of External Affairs in 1927.^[5]

In 1940, Officer was appointed counsellor to the Australian legation in Japan,^[6] second in command to Sir John Latham.^[7] He was Charge d'Affaires in Tokyo when the Pacific War broke out.^[8]

Between 1946 and 1948, Officer was Australian Minister to the Netherlands.^[9][10] Officer was offered the post of Australian Minister to Moscow in 1947.^[11]

In 1948, Officer was appointed Australian Ambassador to the Republic of China.^[12][13] He was recalled from Nanjing in November 1949 to consult with the Department of External Affairs on the recognition by the United Kingdom of the Communist Government in China.^[14]

Between 1950 and 1955 Officer was Australian Ambassador to France.^[15] He retired from the Commonwealth Public Service at the end of March 1950.^[15] His retirement prompted External Affairs Minister Richard Casey to write a letter touching on Officer's work, in which he said: "you can properly regard yourself not only as one of the founders of the Australian Foreign Service but as a model which men of succeeding generations can seek to emulate."^[16]

Awards

In 1917, Officer was awarded the Military Cross.^[17] He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1919.^[18] In the 1950 Birthday Honours he was made a Knight Bachelor, for services as ambassador in Paris.^[19]

References

1. Dermody, Kathleen, "Officer, Sir Frank Keith (1889–1969)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 16 August 2014
2. "Mr Keith Officer's varied career". The Argus. Melbourne, Victoria. 1 September 1942. p. 2.
3. "Keith Officer knighted". Queensland Times. Ipswich, Queensland. 26 March 1951. p. 6.
4. "External Affairs Officer in London: Mr. R. F. K. Officer Appointed". The Advertiser. Adelaide, SA. 2 June 1933. p. 25.
5. "Netherlands post for Keith Officer". Northern Star. Lismore, New South Wales. 10 May 1946. p. 5.
6. "Mr. Keith Officer for Japan". Cootamundra Herald. 20 August 1940. p. 1.
7. "Work of Mr. K. Officer. Three years in U.S.A. Tokyo Appointment". The Sydney Morning Herald. NSW. 2 October 1940. p. 16.
8. "Mr. Officer Minister to Netherlands". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. NSW. 10 May 1946. p. 3.
9. "Mr. Officer Minister to Netherlands". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate. 10 May 1946. p. 3.
10. "Minister to Netherlands. Mr. Keith Officer's New Appointment". Kalgoorlie Miner. 10 May 1946. p. 4.
11. "Moscow post offered to F. K. Officer". The Wet Wyalong Advocate. NSW. 23 December 1946. p. 1.
12. "Diplomat for China". Recorder. Port Pirie, South Australia. 18 June 1948. p. 1.
13. "Mr. K. Officer for Chungking". The Canberra Times. ACT. 21 June 1948. p. 2.
14. "Ambassador to China Returning". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 November 1949. p. 3.
15. "To succeed Sir Keith Officer". The Canberra Times. 4 March 1955. p. 2.
16. "NAA: M1129, OFFICER/F K PART 1". Sydney Bulletin. 20 April 1955.
17. "Search Australian Honours: OFFICER, Frank Keith, Military Cross", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 2 March 2015
18. "Search Australian Honours: OFFICER, Frank Keith, The Order of the British Empire – Officer (Military)", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 2 March 2015
19. "Search Australian Honours: OFFICER, Frank Keith, Knight Bachelor", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 2 March 2015

Further reading

• Fewster, Alan (2009). Trusty and Well Beloved: A life of Keith Officer, Australia's First Diplomat. Miegunyah Press. ISBN 9780522855937.

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by John Hood as Chargé d'affaires	Australian Minister to the Netherlands 1946–1948	Succeeded by John Quinn as Chargé d'affaires
Preceded by Douglas Copland as Minister to China	Australian Ambassador to China 1948–1949	Vacant Proclamation of the People's Republic of China Title next held by Stephen FitzGerald
Preceded by William Hodgson	Australian Ambassador to France 1950–1955	Succeeded by Alfred Stirling