12 Facts About Charles Gairdner

Charles Gairdner retired from the army in 1949 and was appointed Governor of Western Australia in 1951, a position in which he served until 1963, when he assumed the role of Governor of Tasmania until 1968.

Charles Gairdner died in Nedlands, at the age of 84, and was awarded a state funeral.

Charles Gairdner was born in Batavia, Netherlands East Indies on 20 March 1898.

Charles Gairdner spent two years at the Staff College, Camberley from 1933 to 1934.

Charles Gairdner was General Sir Harold Alexander's Chief of Staff during the planning stage of Operation Husky but was relieved and went on to become Prime Minister Winston Churchill's personal emissary to Douglas MacArthur in the Far East.

Charles Gairdner was awarded the Medal of Freedom by the United States on 16 January 1947.

Charles Gairdner was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1941, Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1946 and Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1948.

Charles Gairdner's distinguished military career was rewarded in 1951 when he was appointed Governor of Western Australia.

Charles Gairdner was very popular with the Western Australian public.

Charles Gairdner's tenure was relatively free of political or constitutional crisis.

Charles Gairdner stepped down from his post on 26 June 1963.

Charles Gairdner lobbied for the position of Governor of Tasmania and on 23 September 1963 was appointed for five years.