34 Facts About Geoffrey Street

Geoffrey Austin Street was an Australian army officer and politician.

Geoffrey Street was a member of the United Australia Party and served as Minister for Defence, the Army and Repatriation in the early years of Australia's involvement in the Second World War.

Geoffrey Street served in the Gallipoli Campaign and on the Western Front, winning the Military Cross and ending the war with the rank of major; he was later promoted to brigadier in the reserve of officers.

Geoffrey Street subsequently farmed near Lismore, Victoria, entering politics with the support of Robert Menzies.

Geoffrey Street won the Division of Corangamite at the 1934 federal election and was promoted to cabinet in 1938 by Prime Minister Joseph Lyons.

Geoffrey Street was killed in the 1940 Canberra air disaster along with two cabinet colleagues and the head of the army.

Geoffrey Street was born on 21 January 1894 in Woollahra, New South Wales.

Geoffrey Street's father was a "prosperous city solicitor" and his mother was the niece of poet laureate Alfred Austin.

Geoffrey Street passed his senior examinations in December 1912 and enrolled in law at the University of Sydney, initially studying towards a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Geoffrey Street had an "undistinguished academic record" but continued his involvement in sport, both as a player and in administrative capacities.

Geoffrey Street was due to sail with the expeditionary force to German New Guinea, but instead transferred to the 1st Brigade of the Australian Imperial Force in order to go to Europe.

Geoffrey Street was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 1st Battalion and left Sydney aboard HMAT Afric on 18 October 1914.

Geoffrey Street participated in the Landing at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915 as platoon commander of "D" Company.

In early 1916, Geoffrey Street went to France with the 1st Battalion.

Geoffrey Street was seconded to the 14th Battalion where served as staff captain during the Battle of Fromelles, in charge of the 4th Brigade's report centre.

Geoffrey Street was sent to Cambridge, England, for further training in February 1917.

Geoffrey Street returned to the front in July 1917 as brigade major to Brigadier General Harold "Pompey" Elliott; he was promoted major in October.

Geoffrey Street "resented having the charming and well-connected staff officer foisted upon him" in place of one of his own men of a lower social standing.

Geoffrey Street was finally transferred away from Elliott's staff in April 1918 following an incident in which a poorly worded order placed three battalions in danger.

In early 1918 Geoffrey Street learned that he had been awarded the Military Cross in the 1918 New Year Honours.

Geoffrey Street's unit saw action in the Second Battle of the Somme as well as skirmishes at Chuignolles and Hargicourt.

Geoffrey Street was shot in the wrist by a machine gun bullet in September 1918, and after a period of sick leave joined the Demobilisation and Repatriation Branch in London.

Geoffrey Street was elected to the Hampden Shire Council in 1924 and served as shire president from 1931 to 1932.

Geoffrey Street was a member of the reserve of officers and in December 1932 was promoted to lieutenant colonel as regimental commander of the 4th Light Horse Regiment.

Geoffrey Street was an early member of the Young Nationalists Organisation founded by Robert Menzies.

Geoffrey Street served as campaign secretary for Thomas Chester Manifold at the 1929 Victorian state election.

Geoffrey Street was the principal author of its report into transport regulation.

At the request of Robert Menzies, Geoffrey Street stood for and won Corangamite in 1934.

Geoffrey Street became Minister of Defence in November 1938 and played a major role in the expansion of the military and munitions production prior to the outbreak of the Second World War and pushed the National Registration Act through parliament despite strong opposition.

Geoffrey Street died in the 1940 Canberra air disaster along with two other cabinet ministers.

Geoffrey Street married Evora Frances "Gyp" Currie on 29 June 1918 at St Columba's Church, London.

Geoffrey Street first met his future wife when he played cricket against her brother in 1912.

Geoffrey Street had arrived in England in 1916 as a volunteer and served with a Voluntary Aid Detachment.

Geoffrey Street had a lifelong love of cricket and had a collection of nearly 600 books on the sport.