Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Published Biography – Australian Dictionary of Biography adb.anu.edu.au

Additional Biography

Early Life

Collier Robert Cudmore was born on 4 June 1885 at Avoca station, near Wentworth, New South Wales, second son of Daniel Henry Cudmore, pastoralist, and his second wife Martha Earle, née McCracken.

Schooling

Collier attended St Peter’s College where he won a Form Prize in 1898. In 1900 Collier was a Corporal in Cadet Corp. Collier passed his Junior Examinations in 1900 followed by Senior Examinations in 1901 & 1902 and the Higher Public Examinations in 1903.

In 1903 Collier competed in the St Peter’s Sports and was fourth in the Half Mile Handicap, he also competed in Intercollegiate rowing against Geelong Grammar and Intercollegiate Football against PAC in 1902 and 1903. He was third in the Half Mile in the 1903 Intercollegiate Sports and rowed for St Peters in the SA Association Regatta.

Adelaide University

Collier commenced studying at toward a BA at Adelaide University in 1904 and passed examinations toward his degree in both 1904 & 1905. Collier then proceeded to England to study at Magdalen College, Oxford. In December 1932 Collier was awarded a Bachelor of Arts from Adelaide University (Ad eundem gradum, recognising his BA from Oxford).

Adelaide University Sport

Football

Collier represented the Adelaide University in their first Intervarsity Football match against Melbourne University in 1904.

Boat

Collier rowed for the Adelaide University Boat Club in 1904 and 1905 and represented Adelaide University at the Intervarsity competitions in 1904 & 1905. The 1905 teams weights and positions are recorded below.

Magdalen College, Oxford

Collier attended Magdalen College, Oxford, England from 1906. He gained his B.A. in 1910 and was called to the English Bar at the Inner Temple in April 1910. In 1907 Collier and his brother Paul spent 5 weeks touring on the Continent.

While at Magdalen, Collier continued to row and with great success. He twice represented Oxford in the annual Oxford v Cambridge boat race (1908 & 1909) assisting Oxford to a win in 1908. He was awarded a Blue for rowing in April 1908. Collier won a gold medal for Britain in fours in the 1908 Olympics.

Back in Australia

Collier returned to Australian in 1911 and was coach of the Adelaide University Intervarsity Boat Crew for the 1911 race. He then rowed for the Adelaide Rowing Club in the pre War era. In July 1911 he was called to the Bar in South Australia.

World War I

In June 1915 Collier left Australia for Britain where he gained a Commission in the Royal Field Artillery.

Tragically in April 1916, Collier’s brother Milo (also a Lieutenant the Royal Artillery) was killed in action.

Collier was severely wounded in the 1916 offensive and in August 1917 he was in London where he was met by Lieut. Reginald H Reid (Royal Field Artillery, Ulster Division of the 36th) who commented that Collier had a bad time with “a leg” and was now getting about again and hoped to return to France shortly. However it appears that he did not rejoin his old division until August of 1918. Collier was again wounded and was invalided from the service returning to Adelaide in April 1919.

Post War Life

Collier was engaged to Phyllis Miriam Wigg in May 1921 and the couple married in June 1922. They had two children, Patricia Mary (22 April 1923) and Michael Collier (18 August 1925).

Collier maintained his interest in rowing and was an umpire for the 1922 University Boat race and a Judge for the Olympic rowing trials in 1924. He was Chairman of the St Peter’s Old Collegiate Association for six years in the 1920s. Collier’s views on an appropriate war memorial for South Australia are expresses below in his own words. (see document)

In 1933 Collier was elected to the Legislative Council and he led his party in the Upper House from 1939 until his retirement in 1959. He gave his maiden speech in July 1933.

During WWII Collier served as a Major in the R.S.L. Defence Corps. Patricia served in the RAAF during WWII. Michael served as an Able Seaman during WWII.

Later Years

Collier was knighted in 1958 and retired from parliament in 1959. Sadly Collier’s wife Phyllis passed away in 1964. Collier passed away in 1971, aged 86.

Michael followed his father to St Peter’s College and to Magdalen College, Oxford, he was admitted to the Bar in South Australia in 1950 and married Judith Elizabeth Taylor in 1953.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project please see the document attached.