Bill Robertson (Australian intelligence officer)
Bill Robertson | |
|---|---|
| Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service | |
| In office 3 July 1968 – 21 October 1975 | |
| Prime Minister | John Gorton (1968–71) William McMahon (1971–72) Gough Whitlam (1972–75) |
| Preceded by | Sir Walter Cawthorn |
| Succeeded by | Ian Kennison |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 February 1917 South Yarra, Victoria |
| Died | 2 January 2011 (aged 93) |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford |
| Civilian awards | Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Branch/service | Second Australian Imperial Force |
| Years of service | 1939–1947 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Military awards | Officer of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches |
William Thomas Robertson, CBE, MC (2 February 1917 – 2 January 2011) was the fourth Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), from 1968 until 1975, when was dismissed by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam; the reasons for Robertson's dismissal have remained a matter of controversy.
During the Second World War, Robertson served as an Australian Army officer. He served as an infantry officer in North Africa, where he was wounded in action, and in Greece, before being appointed to staff roles in New Guinea. During 1944–45, he was attached to the British Army in North West Europe and held senior staff roles with two different British divisions.
In 1952, Robertson was a founding member of the ASIS; its existence was to remain officially secret for two and a half decades.