People Australia

  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites
  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites
  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites

Browse People:

Browse Lists:

Cultural Advice

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains names, images, and voices of deceased persons.

In addition, some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written, but may no longer be considered appropriate.

These articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Australian National University.

Older articles are being reviewed with a view to bringing them into line with contemporary values but the original text will remain available for historical context.

Eric Allen Cole (1891–1957)

This article was published:

Eric Allen Cole (1891-1957) engineer, trade union leader 

Birth: 20 May 1891 at Lithgow, New South Wales son of native-born Thomas Allen Burgess Cole (1862-1919), foundryman, and Emily, née Ellis (1868-1941), born in St Pancras, London. Marriage: 28 July 1917 at Soldiers’ Memorial Church of St Stephen, Lidcombe, NSW, to native-born Annie Violet Erickson (1895-1972). They had two daughters and one son. Death: 5 September 1957 at Randwick, NSW. Religion: Anglican. 

  • Apprenticed as engineer at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, joined Union Steamship Company, served in Merchant Navy, during World War I.
  • Elected to Sydney district, Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers (AIMPE), while employed as engineer to NSW Railways Power Stations. From 1939 to 1940 was vice president of Sydney district and Sydney district secretary 1940.
  • Skilled advocate, representing Australian Maritime Council as delegate to preparatory technical conference at Copenhagen in 1945.
  • In 1947 elected general secretary AIMPE, holding position until 1957 when defeated as a result of direction from Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Court.
  • Cause of death: malignant mesopithelioma left pleura.

Sources
On Watch, November 1957.

Citation details

'Cole, Eric Allen (1891–1957)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/cole-eric-allen-33109/text41284, accessed 3 October 2023.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

20 May, 1891
Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia

Death

5 September, 1957 (aged 66)
Randwick, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

mesothelioma

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.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Occupation
Key Organisations
Workplaces