Publisher's Synopsis
A biography of Frederick Sheddon, the man who dominated the Australian defence organization for some 20 years during a crucial period in the country's history.;Sir Frederick Shedden was Secretary of the Defence Department from 1937 to 1956 - including World War II, the onset of the Cold War and Australia's commitment to the Korean War and the Malayan Emergency. Shedden's role went far beyond that of the traditional public servant. He was a central player in some of the most important events in Australian history. He was the key confidant of World War II Prime Ministers Robert Menzies and John Curtin, accompanying them in discussions with Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Franklin Roosevelt. As secretary of the War Cabinet and the Advisory war Council, he was at the heart of the national defence effort when Australia was under threat of invasion. He became the trusted link between Curtin and American General Douglas MacArthur.;Shedden dominated the Australian defence organization for two decades and, some argued, usurped the powers of the military chiefs. By the late 1940s, terms such as "civilian commander-in-chief", "defence supremo" and "defence czar" were used about him. Shedden's story is essential background for understanding the development of Australian defence organization and policy, and has great relevance for current policy-makers.
