Biographical entry Grimwade, Harold William (1869 - 1949)

Summary

Harold William Grimwade, like his brothers Edward and Wilfred, was a successful business man who helped advance Australia's pharmaceutical, glass, plastics and chemical manufacturing industries. He completed his pharmacy apprenticeship in London and returned to Melbourne to act as warehouse manager at Felton, Grimwade & Co. In 1893 he was made a partner of the firm. In 1910 when their father Frederick Sheppard Grimwade die, he and his two brothers inherited the company. They also inherited substantial interests in their father's many other businesses which included Felton Grimwade & Bickford's of Perth, J. Bosisto & Co., Cuming Smith & Co. Ltd, the Adelaide Chemical and Fertilizer Co. Ltd, and the Melbourne Glass Bottle Works Pty Ltd (later Australian Glass Manufacturers Ltd). In 1912 they established Australian Oxygen Co. which became known as Australian Oxygen and Industrial Gases Pty Ltd. In around 1920. When war broke out in 1914 Harold Grimwade left the company to fight. He become chief embarkation officer for the Australian Imperial Force in Victoria, and then joined the 4th Field Artillery Brigade in 1915. After the war he was appointed general officer commanding Artillery, Australian Corps. From 1926 to 1930 he commanded 4th Division, Australian Military Forces. Grimwade later rejoined the family business becoming chairman of A.C.I. and of Felton Grimwade & Duerdins.

Details

Events

1893 -

Career position - Partner of Felton, Grimwade & Co.

1914

Career position - Joined the Australian Imperial Force

1915

Career position - Head of the 4th Field Artillery Brigade in Egypt and France

1916 - c. 1918

Career position - Brigadier General and commander of the 3rd Division Artillery

1917

Award - Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)

1918

Award - Companion of the Order of Bath (CB)

c. 1919

Career position - General Officer commanding Artillery, Australian Corps

1926 - 1930

Career position - Commanded 4th Division, Australian Military Forces

Related entries

Published resources

Book Sections

• Poynter, J. R., 'Grimwade, Harold William (1869-1949)', in Bede Nairn and Geoffrey Serle (eds), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 9, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1983, pp. 126-128. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A090692b.htm. Details

Online Resources

• National Library of Australia, 'Grimwade, Harold William', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1469297. Details