1. Murray Robson served many years on the backbenches, he enlisted in World War II and served with distinction during the war, gaining promotion to lieutenant colonel and receiving the Distinguished Service Order for his service.
20 Facts About Murray Robson
1. 2.
Murray Robson served little more than a year before he was deposed by Pat Morton.
3.
Murray Robson died of a heart attack in August 1974.
4.
Murray Robson was born in Ashfield, New South Wales on 7 March 1906, the second son of long-serving NSW politician William Elliott Veitch Robson and Mabel Jackson Wise.
5.
Murray Robson's grandfather, William Robson, was a Member of the NSW Legislative Council from 1900 to 1920.
6.
Murray Robson married Lesley Alison Martin in 1931 at St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Sydney and had two sons.
7.
When sitting United Australia Party MP William Foster died in office, Murray Robson stood as an Independent UAP candidate at the resulting by-election in Foster's vacated Legislative Assembly seat of Vaucluse.
8.
At the 4 March 1938 election, Murray Robson retained his seat uncontested.
9.
In June 1941 Captain Murray Robson received a shrapnel wound to the foot while fighting in Syria.
10.
On 3 December 1942, Murray Robson departed North Africa with his unit, disembarking at Brisbane, Queensland, on 8 January 1943.
11.
Murray Robson's efficient handling of his command down Markham Valley to Lae, when his battalion carried out a major outflanking movement, was largely responsible for the rapid overpowering and destruction of the enemy.
12.
Murray Robson remarried soon after to Naomi Priscilla Gee at St Peter's Anglican Church, Watsons Bay on 9 December 1950.
13.
Murray Robson retained his seat at the election on 3 May 1947, assisted by a young Robert Askin, a former Sergeant in his battalion.
14.
Murray Robson later supported Askin in his bid to enter the Parliament in 1950.
15.
Murray Robson was returned again at the 14 February 1953 election unopposed.
16.
Over a year after he assumed the leadership, at a party meeting on 20 September 1955, senior party member Ken McCaw moved that the leadership be declared vacant, citing that Murray Robson's leadership lacked the qualities necessary for winning the next election.
17.
Murray Robson then moved a motion to prevent Pat Morton, who was the only person nominated for leader, from taking the leadership.
18.
Murray Robson retorted that there had been a "continuous intrigue" against his leadership.
19.
Murray Robson did not stay long afterward; on 26 July 1957, he resigned his seat, and returned to his legal practice until he retired.
20.
Murray Robson was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1966 New Year Honours, On 26 August 1974, Robson died of a heart attack at his Rose Bay home, survived by his second wife and both his sons.