Hattil Foll
Encyclopedia
Hattil Spencer "Harry" Foll (30 May 1890 – 7 July 1977) was a long-serving Australian politician and Minister of State.
Foll was born in West Brixton
, London and educated at Holy Trinity School in London. He emigrated to Australia in 1909 and worked on a station near Longreach in western Queensland
, but a year later moved to Beenleigh
, near Brisbane
, to work as a bookkeeper. In 1911, he became a clerk in the Queensland Government Railways
. In August 1914, he enlisting in the first Australian Imperial Force
and landed on the first day
of the Gallipoli campaign
. He was wounded in the head and leg on 19 May and was discharged medically unfit in February 1916. He married Evelyn Bush Mousley in December 1915 and they had a son (who died in infancy) and four daughters. He worked briefly as Secretary to the Minister for Railways.
for Queensland
in 1917
as a Nationalist
. He served continuously in the Senate until 1947, and from 1938 to 1947 he and Thomas Crawford
were the joint Fathers of the Senate.
Senator Foll became a member of the United Australia Party
when it was formed from the shell of the Nationalist Party in 1931. From 1938 until 1941, Foll served as a cabinet
minister during the Prime Ministerships of Lyons
, Menzies
, Page
and Fadden
. He was Minister in Charge of War Service Homes from November 1937 until November 1938, Minister for Repatriation
from November 1937 to April 1939, Minister for Health
from November 1938 to April 1939, Minister for the Interior
from April 1939 to October 1941 and Minister for Information from December 1940 to the fall of the Fadden
government in October 1941. He retired in 1947, after having failed to gain preselection by the Queensland People's Party
(subsequently absorbed into the Liberal Party
) for the 1946 election
.
After leaving Parliament, Foll became a grazier near Armidale, New South Wales
, but retired in 1957 to Port Macquarie
, where he died, survived by his wife and daughters.
Foll was born in West Brixton
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, London and educated at Holy Trinity School in London. He emigrated to Australia in 1909 and worked on a station near Longreach in western Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, but a year later moved to Beenleigh
Beenleigh, Queensland
Beenleigh is a suburb in the Logan City area of Queensland, Australia. Beenleigh and adjoining suburbs are located near the confluence of the Logan and Albert rivers...
, near Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, to work as a bookkeeper. In 1911, he became a clerk in the Queensland Government Railways
Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail, also known as QR, is a government-owned railway operator in the state of Queensland. Under the control of the Queensland Government, Queensland Rail operates the inner-city and long-distance passenger services, as well as some freight operations and gives railway access to other...
. In August 1914, he enlisting in the first Australian Imperial Force
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
and landed on the first day
ANZAC Day
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all...
of the Gallipoli campaign
Battle of Gallipoli
The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli, took place at the peninsula of Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916, during the First World War...
. He was wounded in the head and leg on 19 May and was discharged medically unfit in February 1916. He married Evelyn Bush Mousley in December 1915 and they had a son (who died in infancy) and four daughters. He worked briefly as Secretary to the Minister for Railways.
Political career
Foll was elected to the SenateAustralian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
for Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
in 1917
Australian federal election, 1917
Federal elections were held in Australia on 5 May 1917. All 75 seats in the House of Representatives, and 18 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election...
as a Nationalist
Nationalist Party of Australia
The Nationalist Party of Australia was an Australian political party. It was formed on 17 February 1917 from a merger between the conservative Commonwealth Liberal Party and the National Labor Party, the name given to the pro-conscription defectors from the Australian Labor Party led by Prime...
. He served continuously in the Senate until 1947, and from 1938 to 1947 he and Thomas Crawford
Thomas Crawford (Australian politician)
Thomas William Crawford was a long-serving member of the Australian Senate and joint Father of the Senate.-Early life:...
were the joint Fathers of the Senate.
Senator Foll became a member of the United Australia Party
United Australia Party
The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...
when it was formed from the shell of the Nationalist Party in 1931. From 1938 until 1941, Foll served as a cabinet
Cabinet of Australia
The Cabinet of Australia is the council of senior ministers of the Crown, responsible to parliament. The Cabinet is appointed by the Governor-General, on the advice of the Prime Minister the Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, and serves at the former's pleasure. The strictly private...
minister during the Prime Ministerships of Lyons
Fourth Lyons Ministry
The Fourth Lyons Ministry was the twenty-fourth Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 29 November 1937 to 7 April 1939.United Australia Party–Australian Country Party Coalition*Rt Hon Joseph Lyons, MP: Prime Minister...
, Menzies
First Menzies Ministry
The First Menzies Ministry was the twenty-sixth Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 26 April 1939 to 14 March 1940.United Australia Party*Rt Hon Robert Menzies, KC MP: Prime Minister, Treasurer...
, Page
Page Ministry
The Page Ministry was the twenty-fifth Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 7 April 1939 to 26 April 1939.United Australia Party–Australian Country Party Coalition*Rt Hon Sir Earle Page, GCMG MP: Prime Minister, Minister for Commerce...
and Fadden
Fadden Ministry
The Fadden Ministry was the twenty-ninth Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 28 August 1941 to 7 October 1941.United Australia Party–Australian Country Party Coalition*Rt Hon Arthur Fadden, MP: Prime Minister, Treasurer...
. He was Minister in Charge of War Service Homes from November 1937 until November 1938, Minister for Repatriation
Minister for Veterans' Affairs (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Veterans' Affairs oversees income support, compensation, care and commemoration programs for more than 400,000 veterans and their widows, widowers and dependants....
from November 1937 to April 1939, Minister for Health
Minister for Health and Ageing (Australia)
The Minister for Health and Ageing is a portfolio in the Government of Australia with the responsibility for national health policy. The current Minister for Health and Ageing is Nicola Roxon...
from November 1938 to April 1939, Minister for the Interior
Minister for Home Affairs (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Home Affairs has been Brendan O'Connor since 6 June 2009. The Home Affairs portfolio brings together agencies such as the Australian Customs Service , the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, which were previously the...
from April 1939 to October 1941 and Minister for Information from December 1940 to the fall of the Fadden
Arthur Fadden
Sir Arthur William Fadden, GCMG was an Australian politician and, briefly, the 13th Prime Minister of Australia.-Introduction:...
government in October 1941. He retired in 1947, after having failed to gain preselection by the Queensland People's Party
Queensland People's Party
The Queensland People's Party was a conservative political party in Queensland, Australia.Created in 1943 by Brisbane Lord Mayor John Beals Chandler, the Queensland People's Party contested elections in South East Queensland. In 1948, they became the Queensland branch of the Liberal Party of...
(subsequently absorbed into the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
) for the 1946 election
Australian federal election, 1946
Federal elections were held in Australia on 28 September 1946. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election...
.
After leaving Parliament, Foll became a grazier near Armidale, New South Wales
Armidale, New South Wales
Armidale is a city in the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia. Armidale Dumaresq Shire had a population of 19,485 people according to the 2006 census. It is the administrative centre for the Northern Tablelands region...
, but retired in 1957 to Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie, New South Wales
Port Macquarie is a city on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, located about north of Sydney, and south of Brisbane. The city is located on the coast, at the mouth of the Hastings River, and has an estimated population of 44,313....
, where he died, survived by his wife and daughters.