Thomas Trumble, CMG, CBE (9 April 1872 – 2 July 1954) was a career Australian public servant who was appointed acting Secretary of the Department of Defence during the First World War, and Secretary from 1918 to 1927.

Thomas Trumble
Secretary of the Department of Defence
In office
February 1918 – July 1927
Prime MinisterBilly Hughes (1918–23)
Stanley Bruce (1923–27)
MinisterGeorge Pearce (1918–21)
Walter Massy-Greene (1921–23)
Eric Bowden (1923–25)
Sir Neville Howse (1925–27)
Sir William Glasgow (1927)
Preceded bySir Samuel Pethebridge
Succeeded byMalcolm Shepherd
Personal details
Born(1872-04-09)9 April 1872
Ararat, Victoria
Died2 July 1954(1954-07-02) (aged 82)
Caulfield, Victoria
NationalityAustralian
EducationWesley College, Melbourne
OccupationPublic servant
AwardsCompanion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Trumble was the first Secretary who did not have a military background. After his Secretary role, he subsequently served as official secretary to the high commission for Australia in London, and Australian Defence Liaison Officer in London, retiring in 1932. During the Second World War, he was welcomed when he returned to public service from 1940 to 1943 as director of voluntary services, Department of Defence Co-ordination.[1]

His older brothers Billy and Hugh played Test cricket for Australia.

References edit

  1. ^ Hyslop, Robert (1990), "Trumble, Thomas (1872–1954)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 12, MUP
Government offices
Preceded by Secretary of the Department of Defence (I)
1918–1921
Succeeded by
Himself
as Secretary of the Department of Defence (II)
Preceded by
Himself
as Secretary of the Department of Defence (I)
Secretary of the Department of Defence (II)
1921–1927
Succeeded by