Raymond Douglas Huish

Sir Raymond Douglas Huish CBE (7 December 1898 – 26 January 1970) was an Australian returned soldier and ex-servicemen's leader, who served in World War I.[1][2]

Huish is best known for being a state president of the Returned Services League from 1930 until 1967.[3][4]

Early life

Huish was born in Clifton, Bristol in England and after spending two years in the United States of America, he emigrated to Australia, settling in Rockhampton, Queensland in August 1910 with his parents Edward and Amelia Huish and three siblings, Stanley, Harold, Seymour and Elizabeth.[1][2][5][6][7]

War service

When World War I broke out, Huish enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in 1915, despite being aged just 16.[2] Huish faked his age by falsely claiming to recruitment officers to be 18 years of age.[2] His two older brothers, Stanley and Harold also enlist but the youngest Huish brother Seymour Huish's attempted to enlist were initially unsuccessful.[2] However, he was able to enlist later, and served on HMAS Australia.[2]

At the time of his enlistment, Huish was employed in the Rockhampton office of merchants William Higson & Co.[8] The company presented Huish with a wrist watch, a cheque and a guarantee that his position would remain his upon his return.[8]

The three older brothers were drafted into the Light Horse Regiment, with Huish serving with his brother Harold in the 5th Light Horse Regiment.[2]

Huish celebrated his 17th birthday while serving in Egypt and by his 18th birthday, he had seen action throughout the Middle East including in Egypt, Palestine, Syria and in the Sinai Desert.[2]

On 5 August 1916, Huish was wounded in the Battle of Katia but later fully recovered, and in February 1917 was drafted into the 2nd Light Horse Brigade Signal Troop.[1][9] Huish was involved in the advances through Palestine and Syria, before contracting malaria in the Jordan Valley.[1]

Huish was promoted to corporal in March 1919, before he returned to Australia and discharged on 27 September 1919.[1]

Career

Upon his return to Australia, Huish travelled, finding a variety of jobs as he moved through the eastern state of Australia before eventually returning to Rockhampton where he found work with local machinery manufacturers, Sydney Williams & Co.[2]

In 1923, Huish was inspired by fellow lighthorseman, Colonel Alexander Chisholm[10] who came to Rockhampton from Gympie in an attempt to revive the local sub-branch of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia and together, they successfully re-formed the branch. Initially just a member on the committee, Huish would become the vice-president of the Rockhampton sub-branch and a joint organising secretary of the first two Diggers' carnivals.[2]

In 1927, Huish became the Rockhampton branch manager of machinery merchants, Buzacott's.[1][2] His work with Buzacott's saw him quickly move up to become the Brisbane-based state manager for the company, and was its managing director by 1929.[1][2]

Despite the move to Brisbane for his work, Huish continued his involvement with the RSL. Following the resignation of Hubert Fraser East[11] in 1930, Huish became the state president.[12][13]

As state president of the RSL, Huish frequently commented in the press on issues pertaining to the welfare of returned Australian Defence Force personnel, soldier settlement, the legacy of those killed during war, military training, national security, the threat of Communism in Australia, the proper use of the Australian flag and the way the press delivered the news.[2][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

In 1946, Huish was a witness at the inquiry into the administration of Australian Comfort Fund's Naval Leave House in Brisbane, where he was questioned over allegations of improper practices at the Australian Comforts Fund, specifically the acquirement of quotes to equip Naval Leave House with items from Buzacott's of which Huish was managing director, such as a public address system and a dance band amplifier.[24][25] Huish was later completely exonerated, having been cleared of any wrongdoing or misconduct.[26][27]

In 1950, Huish served as one of three commissioners of the Royal Commission into Golden Casket.[1][28][29][30]

In October 1954, Huish officially opened the 47th conference of the Queensland Country Press Association where he publicly condemned what he perceived to be "sensationalism" of metropolitan newspapers while praising the way more conservative regional newspapers soberly presented themselves and for the way they had assisted the RSL's cause.[31]

Four Corners controversy

In September 1963, Huish strongly condemned the Australian Broadcasting Commission for a Four Corners program in which he appeared.[32] As acting national president of the RSL, Huish said the program falsely claimed RSL members and the community were being duped by senior RSL officials, and that the program had presented a "completely distorted" view of the RSL's activities.[33]

Huish also criticised the ABC for appearing to heavily edit his comments during appearance on Four Corners while also accusing the program of completely omitting comments from both the president of the New South Wales branch of the RSL and the acting president of the RSL's Victorian branch who both agreed to appear on the program.[33]

Following the program's broadcast, Huish said the RSL planned to make a "strong protest" to the ABC over the way the RSL's activities were depicted.[33]

The ABC's general manager, Charles Moses, said that unless an inquiry is ordered by the Federal Government, the ABC had no statement to make about the Four Corners program.[33] Moses also admitted to not having watched the show.[33]

Australian Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies later said he had received complaints about Four Corners from RSL leaders and planned to examine the transcripts from the program when he returned from an overseas trip to Papua New Guinea.[34]

Two weeks later, Huish said the RSL was planning to take legal action against the Church of England's newspaper The Anglican, which had published an editorial praising the Four Corners program. Huish said the RSL found the editorial to be "highly defamatory".[35][36]

Personal life

Huish married Hilda May Weber at Rockhampton's St Joseph's Cathedral on 1 November 1921.[37][38]

The following year, Huish's younger brother Seymour died.[6][39]

After his move to Brisbane, Huish appeared in Brisbane Traffic Court in 1930 where he was fined £5 for a speeding offence.[40]

In 1954, Huish and his wife were the victims of a burglary.[41][42] Thieves allegedly broke into Huish's home in St Lucia while Huish was at a conference in Ipswich but were disturbed when Lady Huish arrived home from a party with her daughter, prompting the alleged thieves to leap from a window to escape.[41] The alleged thieves had ransacked the house in Hawken Drive, and allegedly stole £200 worth of jewellery and other items.[41]

Honours

Following the Coronation of George VI and Elizabeth, Huish was honoured in the 1937 Coronation Honours by being appointed a Commander of the British Empire, for services to Australian ex-servicemen.[43]

Following the Coronation of Elizabeth II, Huish was honoured with in the 1953 Coronation Honours by being appointed a Knight Bachelor.[44] At an investiture ceremony during her 1954 tour to Australia, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed Huish with his knighthood in person.[45]

Death

Huish died in Brisbane at the age of 72 on 26 January 1970, after having been admitted to St Helen's Hospital after suffering a heart attack.[46][47]

Legacy

A street which runs adjacent to the Fitzroy River in the Rockhampton suburb of Wandal has been named Sir Raymond Huish Drive. The street is notable for providing access to the 2nd World War Memorial Aquatic Centre, the John Leak War Memorial, Alf Kele Memorial Rotary Park and the Victoria Park sports precinct, which includes Hegvold Stadium, home of local QBL team, the Rockhampton Rockets.

Rockhampton Regional Council have erected a signboard beside the street featuring information about Huish, although it appears to have his enlistment age listed incorrectly as 18 in February 1916, despite Huish (who was born in December 1898) himself stating a number of times throughout his life that he was only aged 16 when he enlisted.

References
  1. Goodman, Rupert (1996) Huish, Sir Raymond Douglas (7 December 1898 - 26 January 1970), Volume 14, Australian Dictionary of Biography. Accessed 19 November 2019.
  2. Hardy, Ken (22 July 1950) Citizen of the Week: Raymond Douglas Huish - a young digger who made good, The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  3. (6 June 1952) Huish sets record for RSL president, The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  4. (9 June 1955) Sir Raymond Huish enters 25th year as RSL president, The Central Queensland Herald. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  5. Death registration: Stanley Edward Robert Huish; Death date: 11/09/1963; Mother: Amelia Ann Goss; Father: Edward William Huish, Births, Deaths, Marriages & Divorces, Queensland Government. Accessed 19 November 2019.
  6. Death registration: Seymour Arthur Huish; Death date: 15/07/1922; Mother: Amelia Ann Goss; Father: Edward William Huish, Births, Deaths, Marriages and Divorces, Queensland Government. Accessed 19 November 2019.
  7. Death registration: Elizabeth Rowena Fox; Death date: 06/08/1970; Mother: Amelia Ann Goss; Father: Edward William Huish, Births, Deaths, Marriages & Divorces, Queensland Government. Accessed 19 November 2019.
  8. (28 August 1915)Central Queensland Soldiers' Farewell Gatherings, The Capricornian. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  9. (9 September 1916) Local and General News, The Capricornian. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  10. Carment, David (1979) Chisholm, Alexander (1878-1945), Volume 7, Australian Dictionary of Biography. Accessed 19 November 2019.
  11. Lougheed, A L (1981) East, Hubert Fraser (1893-1959), Volume 8, Australian Dictionary of Biography
  12. (8 December 1930) Big Objects, Claims of Diggers, New State President, The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  13. (8 December 1930) Mr R D Huish, Digger's president - one of the youngest, Queensland Times. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  14. (16 May 1949) Apathy Killing Citizens' Army; people "cold" says Huish, The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  15. (2 August 1952) Evading national service - Huish's view, The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  16. (15 June 1953) Starving Asians seen as menace to Australia - RSL state president's warning, Cairns Post. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  17. (15 July 1953) Concern for flag, The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  18. (3 August 1953) RSL chief warns of complacency, The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  19. (8 August 1953) Police Court not fit place for naturalisation ceremony - Sir Raymond Huish's views, Cairns Post. Retrieved 8 August 1953.
  20. (5 April 1954) State president says "no back street activity and sly grogging by the RSL", Queensland Times. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  21. (1 November 1954) More memorial halls advocated, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  22. (12 November 1954) Sir Raymond Huish believes "trainees should fight overseas if required", Queensland Times. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  23. (22 March 1956) RSL state president says 'reserve new budget savings for national disasters', The Central Queensland Herald. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  24. (21 March 1946) 'Honour at Stake - why Huish asked for inquiry, The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  25. (3 April 1946) Leave House Inquiry Exonerates Huish and Mountain, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  26. (22 March 1946) R D Huish says attacked by Chandler: let it pass, The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  27. (7 April 1946) Mountain and Huish cleared, Truth. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  28. (22 December 1949) Wide Inquiry into Golden Casket planned, The Age. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  29. (19 January 1950) Commission inspects drawing of Casket, The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  30. (27 October 1950) Casket probe cost £1369, The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  31. (29 October 1954) "High praise for country press" by Sir Raymond Huish, Pittsworth Sentinel. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  32. Ashbolt, Allan (1 September 1963) RSL's influential role in politics, Four Corners, ABC Television. Accessed 19 November 2019.
  33. (3 September 1963) RSL protests strongly over TV program, The Canberra Times. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  34. (4 September 2019) PM agrees to view programme, The Canberra Times. Retrieved 19 November 2019
  35. (16 September 1963) RSL may sue church newspaper, The Canberra Times. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  36. (5 December 1963) Writ sequel to article, The Canberra Times. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  37. (4 November 1921) Personal News, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  38. Marriage registration: Raymond Douglas Huish; Marriage date: 01/11/1921; Spouse's name: Hilda May Weber, Births, Deaths, Marriages & Divorces, Queensland Government. Accessed 19 November 2019.
  39. (17 July 1922) Funeral notice: Seymour Arthur Huish, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  40. (25 March 1930) Traffic breaches, The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  41. (7 March 1954) Thieves in Knight's home: jump out window, The Sunday Mail. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  42. (7 March 1954) Soldier chief burgled, Truth. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  43. (19 May 1937) Mr Huish's honour well deserved, The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  44. (1 June 1953) 11 Australian knights - Huish only Queenslander, The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  45. (11 March 1954) Decorations presented by Queen at impressive ceremony, knighthood bestowed on RSSAILS state president, Cairns Post. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  46. (28 January 1970) RSL leader dies, The Canberra Times. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  47. Death registration: Raymond Douglas Huish; Death date: 26/01/1970, Births, Deaths, Marriages and Divorces, Queensland Government. Accessed 19 November 2019.
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