Donald Charles Cameron (politician)

Sir Donald Charles Cameron, KCMG, DSO, VD (19 November 1879 – 19 November 1960) was an Australian politician and soldier. He was a member of the Australian House of Representatives as the Nationalist Party of Australia member for Brisbane from 1919 to 1931 and as the United Australia Party member for Lilley from 1934 to 1937.

Sir Donald Cameron KCMG, DSO, VD
Member of the Australian Parliament for Brisbane
In office 13 December 1919 – 19 December 1931
Preceded by	William Finlayson
Succeeded by	George Lawson
Member of the Australian Parliament for Lilley
In office 15 September 1934 – 21 September 1937
Preceded by	George Mackay
Succeeded by	William Jolly
Personal details
Born	19 November 1879 Brisbane, Queensland
Died	19 November 1960(1960-11-19) (aged 81) Brisbane, Queensland
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Nationalist (1919–31) UAP (1931–37)
Occupation	Military officer
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Branch/service	Australian Army
Years of service	1901–1919
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Commands	5th Light Horse Regiment
Battles/wars	Boxer Rebellion Second Boer War First World War Gallipoli Campaign Sinai and Palestine Campaign Battle of Romani Battle of Beersheba
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration Mentioned in Despatches (4) Order of the Nile (Egypt)

Early life and military career

Born in Brisbane, the son of a grazier, he was educated at Toowoomba Grammar School and Brisbane Grammar School. He served with the Queensland Imperial Bushmen in the Second Boer War and with American forces in China during the Boxer Rebellion. He managed the family property, Kensington Downs, along with his brothers between 1902 and 1914, when he enlisted in World War I. He was shot through the liver and lung at the Battle of Gallipoli, and finished the First World War as a lieutenant colonel in command of the 5th Light Horse Regiment. He was mentioned in despatches, received the Order of the Nile, and was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for his war service.[1][2]

Politics

In 1919 he won the seat of Brisbane for the Nationalist Party of Australia, holding it until he was defeated by the Australian Labor Party in 1931. In 1934 he won the nearby seat of Lilley, but retired in 1937. In 1932 he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George.[2][3]

Later life

During World War II, Cameron was chairman of the New South Wales recruiting committee for the Royal Australian Air Force. He died on 19 November 1960 and was cremated; his ashes were buried in the family cemetery on Home Creek Station.[2]

References

1. "COLONEL CAMERON Retiring". The Evening News (2458). Queensland. 25 July 1929. p. 11. Retrieved 6 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
2. Cameron, Sir Donald Charles (1879–1960). Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
3. "U.A.P. CANDIDATES WIN BARTON AND EAST SYDNEY". Barrier Miner. XLIV (13, 280). New South Wales, Australia. 28 December 1931. p. 1. Retrieved 6 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by William Finlayson	Member for Brisbane 1919–1931	Succeeded by George Lawson
Preceded by George Mackay	Member for Lilley 1934–1937	Succeeded by William Jolly