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Edward (Ted) Arrowsmith (1901–1987)

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Edward Arrowsmith (1901-1987) trade union official

Birth: 26 August 1901, Salford, Lancashire, England.
Marriage: Bessie Mae Carter, 27 September 1923, Kogarah, New South Wales
Death: 3 July 1987, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.

Active in Militant Minority Movement during Depression. Active left-wing trade unionist, helped to keep trade union spirit alive in BHP Spun Pipe Department, Port Kembla. 1936, elected to committee of management of Federated Ironworkers Association of Australia (Port Kembla Branch) and minutes secretary. Member of Hughes-Evans Labor Party, and 1941 joined Communist Party of Australia. Became assistant secretary of FIA (Port Kembla) when Pat McHenry left to work at National Office, and in 1941 was elected to North Illawarra Council. Associated with Bill Frame and Pat McHenry. Effective industrial leader who nurtured left-wing activism amidst up and coming trade unionists in Illawarra. 1953, defeated for secretaryship Port Kembla FIA amidst general power struggle for control of FIA.

Murray and White; Tribune 1 April 1941; Hagan and Wells; Firth, 1986

Additional Resources

Citation details

'Arrowsmith, Edward (Ted) (1901–1987)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/arrowsmith-edward-ted-25589/text33903, accessed 29 March 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

26 August, 1901
Salford, Lancashire, England

Death

3 July, 1987 (aged 85)
Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

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