Paul Alfred (Cohen) Cullen AC CBE DSO (1909 - 2007)

Born 13 Feb 1909 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Phyllis Marjorie (Sampson) Cullen — married Feb 1932 (to 1961) in Woollahra, New South Wales, Australia

Husband of Cecily Jean (Drake-Brockman) Cullen — married 1962 (to before 1972) in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Husband of Evelyn (Egerton-Warburton) Cullen — married 23 Dec 1973 in New South Wales, Australia

Died 7 Oct 2007 at age 98 in New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kenneth Evans [send private message]

Biography

Paul (Cohen) Cullen AC CBE DSO is Notable.

Paul (Cohen) Cullen AC CBE DSO has Jewish Roots.

Major General Paul Cullen AC CBE DSO ED was both a distinguished Australian soldier and citizen. He commanded the 2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion through the gruelling Kokoda, Northern Beachheads and Aitape-Wewak Campaigns in the Second World War. In peacetime, he mixed serving in the Militia and Citizen Military Forces with business ventures, agricultural enterprises, philanthropy, and volunteer involvement with several not-for-profit organisations, locally and nationally. He has been recognised not once but three times through the civil Australian Honours System, twice in the military honours, and internationally in the form of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Nansen Refugee Award.

Formative years

Paul (Cohen) Cullen AC CBE DSO was born in New South Wales, Australia

Paul Alfred Cohen (later Cullen) was born on 13th February 1909 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, the younger son of Lady Elma Cohen and Sir Samuel Sydney Cohen. ^[1][2]

The family moved from Newcastle to Woollahra in 1913, purchasing a house in Ocean Street. In 1914, they took elder son George to England where he was to attend a boarding school for a year. What an adventure for the young boy. However, George's year turned into five years with the Great War preventing sea travel. The second pair of exciting voyages did not come until 1919. The following year, Paul was enrolled at nearby Cranbrook School. Despite some anti-Semitic heckling at the Christian college, he spent six happy years there. He won several academic prizes in English, History, Maths and Latin; but usually tired of the subject afterward. He even topped his class in New Testament Christianity – not bad for a Jewish boy – but the Headmaster refused to award him the prize! Paul took the Bar Mitzvah at thirteen and regularly attended synagogue, mostly out of respect for his father. Following the war, he would depart any form of faith, other than atheism! Upon leaving Cranbrook, Paul started work with Priestley & Morris, chartered accountants. He studied and gained his accountancy certificate; finishing second in New South Wales.

Paul's grandfather, George Judah Cohen, with whose portrait his own hangs beside at the National Art Gallery, was an Aussie pioneer from the early years of colonial settlement to federation. Paul has continued that mantle from infant Commonwealth of Australia to achieving our 'manhood' to becoming a compassionate and just multicultural nation.

Military service

Paul Cohen enlisted in the Militia in 1927, at just 18 years of age. He and most of his young associates at Priestley & Morris were members of the Australian Garrison Artillery. Paul received his first command in 1936, as Captain of the 16th Heavy Battery, South Head, New South Wales. With the declaration of war in September 1939, Paul went into fulltime service as a Battery Commander at several forts, including at South Head, North Head and Newcastle. In mid-September the government announced the formation of a 2nd Australian Imperial Force to be recruited for overseas servce (the Militia was covered by a separate Act of Parliament which prevented them from service off Australian territory.

Paul (Cohen) Cullen AC CBE DSO is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Second Australian Imperial Force 1939-1945
2/2nd Infantry Battalion; 2/1st Infantry Battalion

Almost immediately upon the war declaration Paul Cohen was approached to enlist in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force. LT COL George Wootton, Commanding Officer of the to-be-formed 2/2nd Infantry Battalion approached him to command one of the Companies. The 2/2nd was to raise its complement from the Newcastle / Hunter region. On 30th October 1939, 275618 CAPT Paul Cohen became NX163 CAPT Paul Cohen of the 2nd Australian Imperial Force. He would serve throughout the six-year war, being discharged on 27th September 1945 following Japan's surrender.^[3]

By the end of 1940, Paul had been promoted to Major and in command of Headquarters Company. But their training was over. In defence of Egypt and the Suez Canal, it was time to push the Italian army west, out of Libya and into the face of the Americans landing in Morocco. The 2/2nd were a valued unit in the victories against Bardia, Tobruk, Derna and Benghazi. The 6th and 7th Divisions were redirected to Greece, to defend against likely German occupation. From Mount Olympus in the north they successfully stalled that advance for several weeks, but when the Greek Government capitulated, it was time for the Australians and New Zealanders to evacuate south to Crete. Paul and some others managed to 'commandeer' a boat and sailed to Crete. They were soon overwhelmed by crack paratroopers and by the end of May 1941, Crete had fallen. Paul Cullen was one of the last to be evacuated, pushing the boat off the sand and being pulled aboard by a rope. Paul and his brother George who was also in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force, changed their names legally to Cullen: Jewish soldiers were aware of their likely fate should the be captured by the Germans.^[2] Several of their cousins from England had been doing the same. The 2/2nd re-grouped and then it was off to Syria to stem any advance the Germans may make towards the Suez. As they were about to load onto transport, the word arrived that the Vichy French had surrendered and Syria was 'safe'. With the entry of Japan into the war with the bombing of Pearl Harbor and Darwin and occupation of Malaya, Phillippines and Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), the men became worried for their families at home. But it took months for the Australian Prime Minister John Curtin, to convince his British counterpart to release the Aussie troops. That happened eventually but even then in stages. They initially moved to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) where they were stationed from March to June 1942, and subjected to Japanese air and naval attacks.

Whilst in Ceylon, Paul was appointed Commanding Officer of the 2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion and promoted Lieutenant Colonel. He would continue that command throughout the Papua and New Guinea campaigns of Kokoda, Buna-Gona and Sanananda, and Aitape-Wewak. At the end of hostilities in August 1945, he was the temporary commander of 16th Australian Infantry Brigade.

He was appointed Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his leadership throughout the Kokoda Campaign in 1942 and a second award at Aitape-Wewak in 1945. Some recent biographies have dealt harshly with Cullen, calling him reckless. But that is not true, except in the sense that he was forthright, made immediate decisions when warranted and fought for the safety and wellbeing of his men. He was a front-line leader who trusted his instincts, without the advantage of pondering options over a cuppa or latte. Grazed by Italian artillery at Bardia, tunic torn by German machine gun fire at Tempe Gorge, Japanes shrapnel littering his foxhole at Sanananda, and suffering malaria as did his men, Paul Cullen was a great Batttalion commander because he knew his men and underwent whatever they underwent. He continually put his life on the line for those for whom he accepted responsibility. For his war service he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945 and Australia Service Medal 1939-1945.

Following cessation of fighting and his de-mobilisation from the 2AIF, Paul transferred to the 'new militia', the Citizen Military Force (today known as the Army Reserve). He was appointed the first commanding officer of 45th Battalion, the St George Regiment. Many of his officers and non-commissioned officers were former soldiers of the 2/1st Battalion. In 1954, Paul was promoted to Brigadier and given command of 14th Infantry Brigade, headquartered at Hamilton, Newcastle. He was again promoted in 1962, to Major General - the first Australian of Jewish descent to achieve the feat since Sir John Monash - and took command of the Communications Zone. He was appointed to the Military Board as CMF member in 1964, in effect the most senior officer in the Citizen Military Force in Australia. During his tenure on the Board the CMF numbers began to rise, equipment was updated and pay of CMF members was made tax-free. Major General Paul Cullen retired from active duty on his birthday 1966; having been a member of Australia's Defence Force for 39 years.

Business ventures

Paul qualified as a Chartered Accountant in March 1931. The following year, a Great War veteran and one of Paul's lecturers, John Gunn, and he formed a business partnership, JAL Gunn & Cohen. Despite the Great Depression, the business flourished. The year 1936 was a life-changing year for Paul. On the business front, the year saw Paul uniting forces with a cousin, Pat Levy, to raise capital (the equivalent of millions of dollars today, to set up Australian Fixed Trusts Pty Ltd, the first unit trust in Australia. It soon leased the floor below JAL Gunn & Cohen. Other events of 1936 are detailed under Community focussed and Military service.^[4]

After the war, Paul terminated his association with JAL Gunn & Cohen to take over the running as managing director of David Cohen & Co. (his father passed away in 1948). Through their subsidiary companies, David Chen & Co operated more than 200 stores across New South Wales in 1950. Paul started to be invited onto various directorates, including the Australian Gas Light Co and Royal Exchange of Sydney as his father and grandfather had been previously. Paul also ran the Mainguard Australia Ltd, Australia's first merchant bank. One of Mainguard's investment opportunities was Festival Records, established to give young Aussie artists such as Johnny O'Keefe, Johnny Devlin and Col Joye a 'fair go'. Paul continued to be involved in property management and development of several outback stations.

Community focussed

With his father, Paul was active before the war in helping resettle Jews from Germany. Upon receiving a cable from Jewish leaders in Britain in 1936 for help with resettling Jews escaping Hitler's Nazi Germany, they sprung into immediate action calling a meeting of interested persons. The German Jewish Relief Fund (later known as Australian Jewish Welfare Society, and now Jewish Care) was born, with Samuel the founding president and Paul joint honorary secretary with his brother-in-law Keith Moss. Paul went to Canberra to lobby John McEwen, then Minister for the Interior, and the personal guarantee or sponsor system for migrants was created.^[5]

Additional community involvement starting in 1936 was the formation of the Temple Emmanuel, a liberal Jewish organisation, of which Paul became honorary treasurer, and his accepting an invitation to join the council of the Sydney Industrial Blind Institution (now the Royal Blind Society).

Paul continued this focus of assistance for refugees of all walks of life following the war. Indeed, from support for the Royal Blind Society, Jewish charitable societies and the welfare of citizen soldiers, as well as refugee advocacy, Paul Cullen fought for others all his life. The same philosophy that made him a great Battalion commander in the Second World War, made him a compassionate fighter for the underprivileged and disabled.

Attending a meeting in 1967 to consider co-ordinating joint efforts in fund-raising and distribution of money raised in his Australian Jewish Welfare Society capacity, Paul found himself projected into the chairmanship (later presidency) of Austcare in 1967.^[6]

He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1974, with some believing that he would received a knighthood like his father if the Australian Labour government had not 'scrapped' the award. In 1978 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his continued work for the underprivileged. International recognition of his work on behalf of refugees was forthcoming in 1981 in the form of the Nansen Award: the Nansen Medal and US$50,000 towards continued projects to aid refugees.^[7] Paul donated the money. Rewards continued to flow to Paul Cullen when, in 1983, he was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).

In latter years, Paul Cullen was more focussed on rural interests such as show societies and country associations than on the business world, still helping wherever a worthy campaign appeared.^[8]

Marriage/s and family

Paul was married three times. ^[2] His first marriage was to Phyllis Marjorie Sampson in February 1932, ^[9][2][10] He and Phyllis did not tell their parents about their marriage until late April. ^[10] The couple moved into a unit at nearby Bellevue Hill. They were at the movies when Phyl, as she was always called, went into labour. Racing home, she gave birth in their unit. That was when they found out that they were not getting one baby, but twins: six weeks premature and weighing 4kgs between the two of them:

• Christopher Samuel (1932-)
• Dinah Helen (1932-2019); married surname Harvey

Paul and Phyl took an overseas vacation / business trip from late 1938 to August 1939, visiting the United States, England, Israel and Ceylon (Sri Lanka). After the war they purchased a 100-acre property at Arcadia, in Greater Sydney's north near the Hawkesbury River, that included a substantial fruit orchard. Following their divorce it was sold to the Methodist Church, who turned it into the Wesley Vision Valley Conference Centre.

Paul's second marriage was to Jenny Whitington nee Drake-Brockman in 1962 in Sydney, New South Wales. ^[11] After marrying, Jenny and Paul purchased a 1,200-hectare property at Braidwood, New South Wales, that they named Currajugg, an indigenous peoples term for 'plenty of water'. The relationship ended in a bitter divorce prior to 1973, with Jenny keeping their property. ^[2]

Paul's third marriage was to Eve Daly, on 23rd December 1973. ^[2] They lived initially on a property that paul owned at Bega on New South Wales' South Coast, before selling up and purchasing a 550-hectare property at Marulan in 1983. Wingello Park became their home for many years and is still held by the family.

Final rest

Paul passed away on 7th October 2007 at Wingello Park. He was survived by his two children, eight grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren. ^[2]

Thank you, Paul Cullen, for your service and for your example of compassion and selflessness.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #6392/1909
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6} Paul Ham, 'Cullen, Paul Alfred (1909–2007)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/cullen-paul-alfred-20603/text31457, accessed 13 August 2017 by Clare Spring.
3. ↑ Australian Army service record for https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=575323&c=WW2 LT COL Paul Alfred Cullen: https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=575323&c=WW2; accessed 2 May 2018
4. ↑ Baker, 2005
5. ↑ Baker, 2005
6. ↑ Baker, 2005
7. ↑ UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award: http://www.unhcr.org/nansen-refugee-award.html; accessed 2 May 2018
8. ↑ Baker, 2005
9. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #4220/1932
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} "Secret wedding." 3 May 1932. Tweed Daily (Murwillumbah), p. 3. Retrieved 17 August 2017 by Clare Spring from http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/193083294.
11. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #911/1962

See also

• Australian Dictionary of Biography Obituaries Australia: Paul Alfred Cullen; accessed 3 May 2018.
• Australian War Memorial: Major General Paul Alfred Cullen; accessed 3 May 2018.
• Baker, Kevin. Paul Cullen: Citizen and Soldier. Rosenberg. Dural, 2005.
• Givney, E C. The First at War: The Story of the 2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion 1939-45. The Association of First Infantry Battalions. Earlwood, 1987.
• Wikipedia profile: Paul Cullen (General); accessed 3 May 2018.