Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

Sir Robert Joseph Henry Risson, (20 April 1901 – 19 July 1992) was an Australian engineer, soldier, and tramway administrator. After university he worked for the Brisbane Tramways Trust, later under the auspice of

Brisbane City Council Brisbane City Council (BCC) is the democratic executive local government authority for the City of Brisbane, the capital city of the state of Queensland, Australia. The largest City Council in Australia by population and area, BCC's jurisd ...

, as an engineer and administrator. During World War II Risson served in the Middle East and New Guinea. Following the war he returned to the Brisbane tramways, and became chairman of the

Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a metr ...

from 1949 to 1970. In this position he defended trams, and is considered a major factor in the survival of Melbourne's tram system. Risson had ties with a myriad of professional and community organisations, including the Freemasons, where he served as Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Victoria in the mid 1970s. Risson was decorated for his service, holding the rank of major general and being knighted.

Early life

University of Queensland Rugby Union football Club Q

Robert Joseph Henry Risson was born on 20 April 1901 in

Ma Ma Creek, Queensland Ma Ma Creek is a rural town and locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Ma Ma Creek had a population of 149 people. Geography Although there are some houses within the town, most of the population is living in rur ...

. He attended Gatton State High School, passing the ''Senior Public Examination'' in November 1918, and

matriculated Matriculation is the formal process of entering a university, or of becoming eligible to enter by fulfilling certain academic requirements such as a matriculation examination. Australia In Australia, the term "matriculation" is seldom used now. ...

The University of Queensland , mottoeng = By means of knowledge and hard work , established = , endowment = A$224.3 million , budget = A$2.1 billion , type = Public research university , chancellor = Peter Varghese , vice_chancellor = Deborah Terry , city = B ...

where he studied Civil Engineering. He graduated in 1922/3 and obtained a Bachelor of Engineering (civil). At university Risson studied at King's College and participated in social events, debates, and became involved with the

University of Queensland Rugby Club The University of Queensland Rugby Club is an Australian rugby club, based at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Queensland. They currently compete in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition. They were formed in 1911, as rugby was adopte ...

, becoming president by 1933. Risson's engagement to Gwendolyn (Gwen) Spurgin was announced in November 1930. The wedding was held on 12 May 1934 in

St John's Cathedral :''This list is for St. John the Evangelist Cathedrals. For St. John the Baptist Cathedrals, see St. John the Baptist Cathedral (disambiguation)'' St. John's Cathedral, St. John Cathedral, or Cathedral of St. John, or other variations on the name ...

, Brisbane, and the couple honeymooned in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

. During the 1920s Gwen also attended The University of Queensland, where she played hockey representing both the University and Australia. Gwen later coached the University of Queensland Women's Hockey Club.

Brisbane Tramways Trust

In June 1923 Risson was employed by the Brisbane Tramways Trust as a junior civil engineer, at an annual wage of £250. Risson's duties with the Brisbane tramways were altered in 1927, following the adoption of a report by

, which was at that stage in control of Brisbane's tram network. In 1933 Risson assisted the Brisbane Tramways constructional engineer in overseeing track renewal in central Brisbane, and was Permanent Way Engineer by 1939. Risson fought in active service during World War II, but returned to work with the Brisbane tramways following the war. He worked within Brisbane City Council's Transport Department and rose to Assistant General Manager. During late 1948 Risson was Acting General Manager. Brisbane's tramways undertook an expansion and modernisation program following World War II, introducing modern vehicles and utilising mass-concrete tram track construction methods. Following Risson's departure to Melbourne to head the

, it took Brisbane City Council three years to find a replacement. G.A. Preston, an engineer, was announced as Risson's successor in February 1953, and was subsequently elevated to general manager from 1 January 1954; a position to which "Risson was considered the logical successor".

Military career

Risson's military career started on 15 May 1933, when he was commissioned as a

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...

in the Australian Engineers, which became the

Royal Australian Engineers The Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) is the military engineering corps of the Australian Army (although the word corps does not appear in their name or on their badge). The RAE is ranked fourth in seniority of the corps of the Australian Army, b ...

in 1936. He was promoted to captain on 7 September 1936. On 13 October 1939, following the outbreak of the Second World War, Risson enlisted in 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 initia ...

(AIF), with the rank of major, receiving the AIF

service number A service number is an identification code used to identify a person within a large group. Service numbers are most often associated with the military; however, they may be used in civilian organizations as well. National identification numbers may ...

QX6062. Risson was sent to the Middle East, where he commanded the 2/3rd Field Company, and then the 7th Division Engineers from 29 May 1941 to 23 January 1942, engaging in the 1941 Siege of Tobruk, where he played a vital role in improving defences, and then in the

Syria–Lebanon campaign The Syria–Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was the Allied invasion of Syria and Lebanon (then controlled by Vichy France) in June and July 1941, during the Second World War. The French had ceded autonomy to Syria in Septemb ...

. On 24 January 1942 he assumed command of the 9th Division Engineers, which he led in the

First Battle of El Alamein The First Battle of El Alamein (1–27 July 1942) was a battle of the Western Desert campaign of the Second World War, fought in Egypt between Axis (German and Italian) forces of the Panzer Army Africa—which included the under Field Marsha ...

and the

Second Battle of El Alamein The Second Battle of El Alamein (23 October – 11 November 1942) was a battle of the Second World War that took place near the Egyptian railway halt of El Alamein. The First Battle of El Alamein and the Battle of Alam el Halfa had prevented th ...

. After the 9th Division returned home in 1943, he was promoted to

brigadier Brigadier is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several thousand soldiers. I ...

on 23 March 1943, and became Chief Engineer of II Corps, participating in the New Guinea campaign. He became Chief Engineer of

I Corps I Corps, 1st Corps, or First Corps may refer to: France * 1st Army Corps (France) * I Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars * I Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French A ...

on 12 April 1944, when the corps number changed. He was temporarily attached to Allied Land Forces Headquarters (LHQ) from 21 May 1944 to 1 July 1944, but returned to command the engineers in the 1945

Borneo campaign The Borneo campaign or Second Battle of Borneo was the last major Allied campaign in the South West Pacific Area during World War II to liberate Japanese-held British Borneo and Dutch Borneo. Designated collectively as Operation Oboe, ...

. While Risson was overseas, Gwen also participated in the war effort, commanding Brisbane's Women's Air Training Corps in 1940. She stated the goal was for women to do the jobs of men on the ground, "releas ngthem for actual flying." She was sent to Melbourne for administrative training in 1941. Risson continued his military career after the Second World War with the Citizen Military Forces (CMF), commanding the 4th Infantry Brigade. In July 1953 he was promoted to the rank of

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

, and appointed General Officer Commanding the 3rd Division. He held that post until 1956, and served as the CMF Member of the Military Board from 1957 to 1958.

Awards

Lieutenant-General Sir Leslie Moreshead pinning the OBE ribbon on Lieutenant Colonel R

Risson was decorated five times for his service during the Second World War. He received a

Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly of other parts of the Commonwealth, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, ty ...

in 1943, alongside 28 other members of the 9th Division also honoured, for their role at El Alamein; was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1942 for his role in the Siege of Tobruk, and a

Commander 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 ...

in 1945 for his work in New Guinea; and was Mentioned in Despatches in 1941 and 1943 for actions in Syria and El Alamein, respectively. Risson was also awarded the

Efficiency Decoration The Efficiency Decoration, post-nominal letters TD for recipients serving in the Territorial Army of the United Kingdom or ED for those serving in the Auxiliary Military Forces, was instituted in 1930 for award to part-time officers after twe ...

Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board

Following Hector Hercules Bell's decision in 1949 to retire as

chairman, the State Government of Victoria, in April 1949, empowered a committee to start vetting applications for his replacement. Risson was announced as the incoming MMTB chairman in June 1949, assuming the role on 1 October, and becoming the MMTB's third chairman. He was initially paid £2,500 per year. Risson made operational changes to the MMTB Throughout the 1950s. He introduced operating efficiencies, with his military training influencing his managerial style. Bell's promised PCC tram began operation in 1950, but remained a one-off, with more W-class trams being built instead, the last entering service in 1956. Risson's reopening of Bourke St trams, with the justification of economic advantage, and is lauded as his greatest achievement. Risson also made use of migration agreements to bolster low employee numbers, even purchasing dwellings to house new arrivals. Risson's era saw ongoing industrial disputes, regarding pay, bus operation (following one protracted industrial dispute, the Arbitration Commission ruled that there be two-person operation of 31+ seat buses), and even the implementation of a summer uniform. There were also cuts to all-night and Sunday tram services, and the abandonment of the Point Ormond line, and Footscray system. These cuts were part of Risson's economy drive, justified by low patronage and a need to decrease costs.

Legacy

Risson was a defender of trams at a time when they were falling out of favour across Australia. He is often regarded as a major factor in the retention of Melbourne's tram network, which now has a route length of , making it the largest tram network in the world. Academic Graeme Turnbull argues that "the view has been frequently expressed that the retention of the Melbourne tramway system during this period, is due almost solely to Sir Robert's strong management." While academic John Legge wrote in 2006 that "Melbourne's tram network in the years after the war found that Risson still knew how to fight.

Premiers Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier. A premier will normally be a head of governm ...

as tough as

Henry Bolte Sir Henry Edward Bolte GCMG (20 May 1908 – 4 January 1990) was an Australian politician who served as the 38th Premier of Victoria. To date he is the longest-serving Victorian premier, having been in office for over 17 consecutive years. ...

backed away from such a contest." Further, Victorian Transport Minister Alan Brown called Risson "the man who deserves full credit for saving our city's trams" in 1994, and columnist Bruce Guthrie described Risson as "the man who saved our trams." To honour Risson's legacy the tram terminus in Elizabeth Street was named after him by Brown in 1994. The first D1-class tram (number 3501), officially launched on 2 August 2002, was fitted with plaques near the front doors stating that it had been "named in honour of Sir Robert J.H. Risson...", but they were removed when the tram was re-decorated in PTV livery in June 2014.

Personal life

Risson participated in a variety of organisations through his life. Risson became a Freemason in 1961, holding a number of positions including as Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Victoria between 1974 and 1976. He was a

fellow A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

of the Institution of Civil Engineers; Institution of Engineers of Australia;

Australian Institute of Management The Australian Institute of Management Education and Training Pty Ltd, commonly known as AIM or AIMET, is an Australian education provider. Its courses include business, management and leadership. AIM offers short courses, nationally accredited qu ...

; and a member of the

Institute of Transport The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) is a professional body representing the transport and logistics industries worldwide. It is a membership-based organisation with over 30,000 members in over 30 countries. This i ...

. Further, he was Chief Commissioner of the Australian Boy Scouts Association from 1958 to 1963; President of the

Good Neighbour Council The Good Neighbour Council was an Australian Commonwealth Government program launched in 1950 to win public acceptance of mass immigration to Australia of post-Second World War refugees and settlers by promoting rapid assimilation. State Good Neig ...

from 1963 to 1968; Chairman of the National Fitness Council from 1961 to 1971; and inaugural chair of the

Duke of Edinburgh's Award The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (commonly abbreviated DofE) is a youth awards programme founded in the United Kingdom in 1956 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, that has since expanded to 144 nations. The awards recognise adolescents and young ...

in 1963. Risson died on 19 July 1992 in

Murrumbeena, Victoria Murrumbeena is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 13 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Glen Eira local government area. Murrumbeena recorded a population of 9,996 at the 2021 census ...

Honours

In addition to his honours during active service in the Second World War, Risson was made an

Officer of the Order of St John The Order of St John, short for Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (french: l'ordre très vénérable de l'Hôpital de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem) and also known as St John International, is a British British monarchy ...

, a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1958, and was conferred the honour of

Knight Bachelor The title of Knight Bachelor is the basic rank granted to a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not inducted as a member of one of the organised orders of chivalry; it is a part of the British honours system. Knights Bachelor are th ...

during the Queen's Birthday ceremonies in 1970.

References

External links

Search of Risson's WW2 Honours and Awards
Australian War Memorial.
21 Australian Infantry Brigade amphibious training
1944 video clip featuring Risson, Australian War Memorial.
HRH Duke of Gloucester visits 1 Aust Corps Troops
1945 video clip featuring Risson, Australian War Memorial.
The Duke of Gloucester's visit to Atherton
1945 video clip featuring Risson, Australian War Memorial.
Collection of media featuring Risson
Australian War Memorial. {{DEFAULTSORT:Risson, Robert 1901 births 1992 deaths Military personnel from Queensland Australian military engineers Australian Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Australian Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Australian Companions of the Order of the Bath 20th-century Australian engineers Australian Freemasons Australian generals Australian Knights Bachelor Australian Army personnel of World War II Australian people in rail transport Australian public servants Trams in Melbourne University of Queensland alumni