Sir John Clancy KBE CMG LLB was an Australian judge and chancellor of the University of New South Wales from 1960 until his retirement in June 1970.
John Sydney James Clancy was born on 20th May 1895 in Glebe, New South Wales (Australia). He was the son of John Clancy, an Irish business man, and his Australian-born wife, Molly Bradshaw. [1]
Educated at Marist Brothers, Parramatta (1907-8), Marist Brothers St Benedicts, Marist Brothers' High School, Darlinghurst, and at the University of Sydney (LLB, 1925), young Clancy worked as a clerk in the Department of Public Instruction from 12th February 1913.
He enlisted in the 1st Battalion, Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force on 11th August 1914, and embarked at Sydney on 19th August aboard HMAT Berrima A35, serving at Rabaul. Task achieved the unit returned to Syday and John was discharged on 18th January 1915. [2] Joining the Australian Imperial Force on 14th January 1916, he embarked for Europe at Sydney on 7th October aboard HMAT Ceramic A40. He fought on the Western Front with the 20th Infantry Battalion until wounded in action at Bullecourt during the Battle of Arras on 3rd May 1917. [3] Discharged in Sydney on 2nd July 1918, John returned to the department and to his studies.
John married Christobel Buckland, a 24-year-old public servant, on 22nd August 1922 in St Mary's Catholic Cathedral, Sydney. [4]
Admitted to the Bar in July 1925, he was attached to the Government Insurance Office in 1926-27 and soon obtained briefs to represent injured workers in compensation cases. He was appointed to the District Court bench in November 1931. He was chairman from 1944 of the Crown Employees Appeal Board. Raised to the Supreme Court in July 1947, he became senior puisne judge and was acting chief justice (1964-65).
In July 1949 John was appointed to the first council of the New South Wales University of Technology (University of New South Wales). In 1953 he became vice-president (a position that was known as deputy chancellor from 1955) and in 1960 became chancellor. In 1962 he received an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of New England.
He was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the New Year Honours 1964 as Senior Puisne Judge of the NSW Supreme Court. [5]
In the New Year Honours 1967 he was created Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) as Chancellor of the University of New South Wales. [6]
Retiring from the bench on 26th May 1965, John retired as chancellor in June 1970.
Aged 75 years, he passed away on 15th October 1970 in the Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, and was buried in Northern Suburbs Memorial Park. [7] He was survived by his wife and daughter, Margaret.
On 23 August 1971 the University of New South Wales awarded him a posthumous degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa).
See also:
C > Clancy > John Sydney James Clancy KBE CMG
Categories: 1914-1915 Star | British War Medal | Victory Medal | Glebe, New South Wales | University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales | 1st Battalion, Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force, World War I | 20th Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, World War I | St Mary's Catholic Cathedral, Sydney, New South Wales | Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George | Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire | Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales | Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, North Ryde, New South Wales | University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales | Australia, Notables in the Public Service and Professions | Notables