Alan John Sweeting, (3 November 1918 – 9 July 2016), known as Bill Sweeting, was an Australian historian and museum administrator.

Career

Sweeting was born in

Penrith, New South Wales Penrith is a city in New South Wales, Australia, located in Greater Western Sydney, 55 kilometres (31 mi) west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Nepean River, on the outskirts of the Cumberland Plain. Its elevati ...

on 3 November 1918. Sweeting joined the

Second Australian Imperial Force The Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF, or Second AIF) was the name given to the volunteer expeditionary force of the Australian Army in the Second World War. It was formed following the declaration of war on Nazi Germany, with an initial ...

(2nd AIF) on 23 July 1940 and was posted to the 2/4th Field Ambulance. He served with the medical unit in the Middle East during 1941, and returned to Australia with it February 1942. From July of that year he and the 2/4th Field Ambulance took part in the

Kokoda Track campaign The Kokoda Track campaign or Kokoda Trail campaign was part of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign consisted of a series of battles fought between July and November 1942 in what was then the Australian Territory of Papua. It was prima ...

. In April 1944 Sweeting was appointed confidential clerk to official historian

Gavin Long Gavin Merrick Long (31 May 1901 – 10 October 1968) was an Australian journalist and military history, military historian. He was the general editor of the official history series ''Australia in the War of 1939–1945'' and the author of thr ...

. He eventually reached the rank of sergeant and, after the war had ended, he was discharged from the 2nd AIF on 12 November 1945. After leaving the army, Sweeting continued to work for Long as a research assistant on the

official history An official history is a work of history which is sponsored, authorised or endorsed by its subject. The term is most commonly used for histories which are produced for a government. The term also applies to commissions from non-state bodies includin ...

series ''

Australia in the War of 1939–1945 ''Australia in the War of 1939–1945'' is a 22-volume official history series covering Australian involvement in the Second World War. The series was published by the Australian War Memorial between 1952 and 1977, most of the volumes being edi ...

''. He also authored three chapters in one of the volumes, covering the experiences of Australian prisoners of war held by Japan. After Long retired in 1963, Sweeting became the acting editor of the official history series, and remained in this role until 1970 when the last volume was published. In 1967 Sweeting was appointed the Assistant Director of the

Australian War Memorial The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in wars involving the Commonwealth of Australia and some conflicts involving pe ...

(AWM). Sweeting was appointed a

Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

in June 1977 for his public service. At this time he was the Public Assistant Director, Board of Trustees at the AWM. Sweeting retired from the AWM in March 1979; his final position there was Assistant Director, History and Publications. In the mid-1980s Sweeting was a member of a

Returned and Services League of Australia The Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) is a support organisation for people who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force. Mission The RSL's mission is to ensure that programs are in place for the well-being, care ...

committee that monitored the AWM.

References

;Citations ;Works consulted * *

Career

References

Further reading