Walter Cawthorn

Major General Sir Walter Joseph Cawthorn (11 June 1896 – 4 December 1970) was an Australian soldier and diplomat, commonly known as a former head of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS). Cawthorn was born in the suburb of Prahran in Melbourne. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, following the start of World War I, and served as a regimental sergeant major, in Gallipoli. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1918.

Cawthorn took charge of the Middle East Intelligence Centre, at the start of World War II, and later became the director of military intelligence at the General Headquarters, in India. From 1948 to 1951 he was Deputy Chief General Staff, Pakistan Army.

He was knighted in 1958, and appointed as high commissioner of Canada. Cawthorn died in Melbourne, at the age of 74.

Early life
Walter Joseph Cawthorn was born in the suburb of Prahran, on 11 June 1896, the second child of an English commercial traveller, William Cawthorn, and his wife, Fanny Adelaide, née Williams. He was educated at Melbourne High School, and became a schoolteacher, along with his younger sister, Minnie Elizabeth Cawthorn.