FRANK FORDE

Member of the Privy Council (1944)

Labor
6 July 1945 — 13 July 1945 7 days

Frank Forde became Australia's 15th prime minister, the day after John Curtin died in office.

Born

18 July 1890
Mitchell, Queensland

Died

28 January 1983
Brisbane, Queensland

Partner

Vera Forde

Party

Australian Labor Party

Photo: Martin/Fairfax

Labor
6 July 1945 — 13 July 1945 7 days

About

With political experience from state politics during World War I and federal politics during the Depression, Frank Forde took on significant responsibilities for directing Australia's war effort during the 1940s.

Frank Forde in conversation with two pilots, holding mugs.

Photo: Australian War Memorial 

He was deeply committed to his party, to the point of working as an organiser after his parliamentary and diplomatic career had ended. Frank Forde was willing to step up when required, and step back when the party's decision was that others should lead. 

Forde worked as a teacher, railway clerk and  telegraphist before transferring to a position at the Rockhampton post office in 1914. There he quickly became a prominent figure in organisations such as the Australian Natives' Association.

Forde won the State seat of Rockhampton in a by-election in May 1917, and held the seat until he was elected to the Federal seat of Capricornia in 1922. Forde moved up the Labor ranks and, in 1931, was one of the few Labor ministers to survive the Scullin government's defeat.

Following Scullin's retirement in 1935, Forde contested the leadership, but was defeated by John Curtin by a single vote. Forde's contribution as loyal deputy during the years of Opposition transitioned into the much greater responsibilities of Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for the Army and member of the War Cabinet after Curtin became prime minister in 1941.

Losing Capricornia to a returned war hero in 1946, Forde then served as Australian High Commissioner in Canada for seven years. 

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Parliament

Frank Forde was sworn in as prime minister the day after the death of John Curtin in office and just weeks before the announcement of the surrender of Japan and the end of the Second World War. At this time, the Labor Party held 49 seats, while the United Australia Party held 12 seats and the Country Party 7 seats.

The strong position of the government was due to the Labor party's successful strategies to maintain unity and mobilise the war effort. The focus of Forde's short term as prime minister was to help the Curtin family, the parliament and the country come to terms with the loss of the prime minister who had steered them through one of the most challenging periods Australians had faced. 

Frank Forde wearing a hat and coat and holding a leather satchel under his arm as he walks into a building.

Photo: News Ltd/Newspix