page_title: Henry Gullett
section_title: Menzies Government
hierarchical_section_title: Henry Gullett / Political career / Menzies Government
context_page_description: Sir Henry Somer Gullett KCMG, known as Harry Gullett, was an Australian journalist, military historian and politician. He was a war correspondent during World War I and co-authored the official history of Australia's involvement in the war. He later served in federal parliament from 1925 to 1940 and held senior ministerial office.
  Gullett grew up in country Victoria. He left school at the age of 12 but began a career in journalism through family connections. During World War I he was attached to Australian units on the Western Front and the Sinai and Palestine campaign, and also did work for the War Records Section. He contributed a volume to the Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918. Gullett was elected to parliament in 1925 as an "independent Nationalist". He joined S. M. Bruce's government as Minister for Trade and Customs and then became deputy opposition leader after the government's defeat. Gullett held a series of senior portfolios in the United Australia Party governments of the 1930s, serving as Minister for Trade and Customs, External Affairs, Information, and Scientific and Industrial Research.
context_section_description: In April 1939, Gullett became Minister for External Affairs in the first Menzies Ministry and Minister for Information from September 1939.  However, when Robert Menzies formed a coalition with the Country Party in March 1940, he was moved to Vice-President of the Executive Council, and Minister in charge of Scientific and Industrial Research. He was killed in the Canberra air disaster in August 1940.
caption: Gullett towards the end of his life
exif: {}