Albert Edwin Axon KBE (1898 - 1974)

Born 21 Dec 1898 in New Farm, Queensland (Australia)

Ancestors

Husband of Hilda Harris (Withecombe) Axon — married 5 Jun 1926 in Queensland, Australia

Died 17 Feb 1974 at age 75 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

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Biography

Bert Axon KBE is Notable.

Sir Albert Axon KBE ME was an Australian engineer, army officer, businessman and university chancellor.

Bert Axon KBE was born in the Colony of Queensland (1859-1900)

Albert 'Bert' Edwin Axon was born on 21st December 1898 in New Farm, Queensland (Australia). He was the only child of Herbert Axon, a mercer from England, and Irish-born Florence Parker. ^[1] Bert was educated at the Normal School, Brisbane, and Brisbane Grammar School. He was a prefect in his final year and topped the open scholarship examinations for entry to the University of Queensland.

Bert Axon KBE is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australian Imperial Force 1918-1919
Infantry; Australian Flying Corps

Bert completed first-year engineering, before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force on 11th April 1918; transferring to the Australian Flying Corps in June, he became an air mechanic, but reverted to the infantry in October. The War ended while he was on the troop-ship SS Carpentaria in the Indian Ocean. ^[2]

Upon his return to Brisbane he was discharged in the December and resumed his university course in the new year, graduating in mechanical and electrical engineering Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in 1923. He then spent two years in England, Switzerland and the United States of America, studying the design, manufacture and testing of electrical generating and transmission equipment.

Back home Albert married Hilda Withecombe, who he had met whilst they were both attending university, on 5th June 1926 in the Congregational Church, Eagle Junction. ^[3]

He joined the consulting engineer A E Harding Frew and took charge of the firm's electrical and mechanical department. He attained his Master of Engineering (ME) in 1928. In 1929 he set up as a consulting electrical and mechanical engineer, advising authorities in Queensland and New South Wales.

Bert Axon KBE is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australian Military Force 1942-1944
Australian Army Ordnance Corps; Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

On 14th February 1942 Bert began full-time duty in the Australian Army Ordnance Corps with the rank of Major. In July he transferred to the Second Australian Imperial Force and in December was appointed a deputy-director, Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Queensland Lines of Communication Area. Promoted temporary Lieutenant Colonel in 1943, he was released from military service at the request of the Queensland government in September 1944. ^[4]

In 1948 he established A E Axon & Associates. During the years when towns had separate electricity authorities, the firm handled the design and supervised the installation of power stations and distribution systems. They later diversified into the design of electrical installations, lifts, mechanical services, and air- conditioning for hospitals, office buildings and factories; as well as evaluated sugar-mills and electrical industries.

Bert maintained a long association with the University of Queensland. He was a member of the senate in 1935-66 and chairman (1956) of the buildings and grounds committee. He was elected chancellor in 1957 and held that position until ill health forced his retirement in 1966. ^[5]

In the New Year Honours 1959 Albert Axon was created Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) as Chancellor of the University of Queensland. ^[6]

The Universities of Melbourne and of New England conferred honorary doctorates on him in 1961, as did the University of Queensland in 1972. ^[5]

Aged 75 years, he passed away of Parkinson's Disease on 17th February 1974 in Brisbane. ^[7] He was survived by his wife, son and daughter.

Sources

1. ↑ Queensland Birth Index #tba
2. ↑ Australian War Memorial embarkation roll: 65001 Private Albert Edwin Axon; accessed 14 Feb 2024
3. ↑ Queensland Marriage Index #1926/B/40073
4. ↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: QX36203 (Q140063) Lieutenant Colonel Albert Edwin Axon; accessed 14 Feb 2024
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} University of Queensland Alumni and Community; accessed 13 Feb 2024
6. ↑ Australian Honours: KBE; accessed 13 Feb 2024
7. ↑ Queensland Death Index #1974/B/48260

See also:

• George, W I. 'Axon, Sir Albert Edwin (1898–1974)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 1993; accessed online 13 Feb 2024.