John England

John Armstrong England CMG (12 October 1911 – 18 June 1985) was an Australian politician, army officer and public servant. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 1960 to 1975, representing the seat of Calare for the National Country Party. He subsequently served as Administrator of the Northern Territory from 1976 to 1980.

Early life

England was born on 12 October 1911 in Clayfield, Queensland. He was the third of five children born to Jane McLelland (née Fisher) and Sidney Willis England.

England was raised in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, attending the local public school and later boarding at Brisbane Boys' College. In 1928 he joined the Commercial Banking Company, initially working in Sydney and later in Forbes. He left banking in 1935 and the following year was appointed manager of Wilga, a sheep and wheat farm near Grenfell. He eventually acquired the property in 1947 upon his return from World War II.

Military service

England joined the Militia in 1929 and was commissioned as an officer in 1931, serving with artillery and cavalry units. He was called up to full-time service in June 1941 and transferred to the Australian Imperial Force in August 1942. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel in the same year and commanded several anti-aircraft regiments, including the 110th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, the 52nd Composite Anti-Aircraft Regiment and the 2/3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment. England saw overseas service at Merauke in Netherlands New Guinea and in North Borneo. As commander of North East Borneo Force in October 1945 he received the surrender of Japanese troops. He transferred into the reserve of officers in February 1946 and was mentioned in despatches for his work in Borneo.

Politics

England was elected to the House of Representatives at the 1960 Calare by-election, winning the seat of Calare for the Country Party following the resignation of Liberal MP John Howse. His sizeable victory was reportedly a "shock" for the Liberal Party and followed the decision of the Democratic Labor Party to preference the Country Party ahead of the Liberals. He was re-elected on six occasions and retired prior to the 1975 federal election.

In parliament, England served on the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs (1962–1969), the Joint Standing Committee on the Australian Capital Territory (1962–1966) and the Joint Statutory Committee on Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings (1973–1975). He was the Country Party's House whip from 1972 to 1975.

Administrator of the Northern Territory

England was appointed Administrator of the Northern Territory on 1 June 1976 by the Fraser government. He dealt with a number of issues including Darwin's continued recovery from Cyclone Tracy and the transition to self-government under the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978. As administrator he was said to have "alleviated Darwin-Canberra tensions from behind the scenes" using his contacts in the federal government.

England retired as administrator in December 1980, having been appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1979.

Personal life

In 1939, England married Polly Wheatley, with whom he had four children. After leaving the Northern Territory he retired to Grenfell, where he died on 18 June 1985, aged 73.