GALE, Charles Claus MC (1892-1957)
Modified on Fri, 12 Aug 2016 19:32 by Con — Categorized as: Biography - All, Biography - Students, Geelong College, Biography of War - World War I
GALE, Charles Claus MC (1892-1957)
Public Servant, Charles Claus Gale was appointed Secretary of the Premier's Department in 1931 and, in 1934, led the planning for the Royal Visit for Victoria's Centenary Celebrations. At retirement, he was Secretary of the Public Works Department.
Charles was the son of Charles Thomas Gale and Augusta nee Ebeling and was born at Warracknabeal, on 2 August 1892. At the time of his enrolment at the College in 1906, the family were resident at 'Listoun', Munday St, Geelong. He gained the following academic class prizes:
1906, 2nd, Arithmetic, Upper 4th Form.
1906, 2nd, Algebra, Middle 4th Form.
1906, 1st, Geometry, Lower 4th Form.
1906, 2nd, Latin, Lower 4th Form.
1906, 1st, French, Middle 4th Form.
After passing the Junior Public Service Examinations he joined the Victorian State Public Service in 1910.
He enlisted in the AIF on 28 February 1916 and was promoted Sergeant in April, prior to his embarkation for France in June 1916. He was mentioned in despatches in May 1917 and wounded at Passchendale in October 1917. When he returned from hospital recuperation in England he was appointed Intelligence Officer with the 10th Infantry Military Brigade eventually earning the Military Cross in December 1919. He returned to Australia in September 1919.
Pegasus Magazine
, in June 1957 recorded the following obituary of Charles Claus Gale
'who died at Burwood on April 25, aged 64 years, (who) was, as secretary to the Public Works Department of Victoria, one of the State's best known public servants. His work as organizer and administrator, and his high principles of service to the public, practised over 47 years, have been eulogised by parliamentary leaders. He was educated at the College from 1906 to 1908. During the 1914-1918 war he served in France with the AIF and was awarded the Military Cross.'
Sources: Pegasus April 1909 p6; Pegasus September 1931 p42; Pegasus June 1934 p 50; Pegasus June 1948 p47; Pegasus June 1953 p36; Pegasus June 1957 p 51; J Affleck (comp) Geelong Collegians at the Great War.