P002084 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

All key entry types: Awards; Concepts; Corporate Bodies (Organisations); Cultural Artefacts; People; etc

These key entries are listed separately below with other indexes and lists.

 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human McCarthy, G.J. updated 2026-04-30 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P002084b.htm person Butement William Alan Stewart CBE FTSE AACR2 18 August 1904 25 January 1990 Place of Birth Masterton, New Zealand Place of Death Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Physicist William Butement was Chief Scientist with the Commonwealth Department of Supply and executive in charge of Australian Defence Scientific Research and Development 1949-1967 which included the Rocket Range at Woomera. Earlier in his career his work on radar earned him the title "Mr Searchlight Radar". However, he regarded the proximity fuse as his greatest achievement. He is commemorated by the High Frequency Radar Division, Butement Laboratory at Salisbury in South Australia.

Educated University College London (BSc). Scientific Officer, Signals Experimental Establishment War Office outstation Woolwich, United Kingdom 1928-38; senior scientific officer, Radar Research and Development Establishment, United Kingdom Ministry of Supply 1938-39; principal scientific officer and assistant director of scientific research, United Kingdom Ministry of Supply HQ London 1940-46; deputy chief scientific officer of party to Australia under Sir John Evetts to set up Rocket Range; first chief superintendent, Long Range Weapons Establishment Australia 1947-49; chief scientist, Department of Supply 1949-67, responsible for the newly created Australian Defence Scientific Service (ADSS); Research director, Plessey Pacific Pty Ltd 1967-72.

1947 1949 Career position - Inaugural chief superintendent, Long Range Weapons Establishment Australia 1949 1967 Career position - Chief Scientist, Department of Supply 1959 1959 Award - Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) - Chief Scientist of the Department of Supply 1975 1987 Award - Foundation Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (FTS) 1987 1990 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE) [Foundation Fellow AATS 1975] Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (1987 - )

Fellow 1987 - 1990 [Co-founder and Foundation Fellow AATS 1975]

 Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (1975 - 1987)

Co-founder and Foundation Fellow 1975 - 1987

 Long Range Weapons Establishment, Department of Defence (1947 - 1955)

Inaugural chief superintendent 1947 - 1949

 Australian Defence Scientific Service (ADSS), Department of Supply and Development (1949 - 1974)

Chief Scientist, Department of Supply 1949 - 1967, responsible for ADSS

 British Atomic Tests in Australia (1952 - 1963)

Chief Scientist, Department of Supply 1949 - 1967

Wikidata

 Butement, William Alan (1904-1990)

Trove

 'Butement, William Alan Stewart', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Butement, William Alan Stewart Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Resource: Fellows of the Academy Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering Fellows of the Academy 2024 Book Section: Butement, William Alan Stewart (1904-1990), defence scientist Home, R. W. Butement, William Alan Stewart (1904-1990), defence scientist Melbourne Melbourne University Press 2007 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 17: 1981 - 1990 A-K Diane Langmore 172-174 Book: Dr W. A. S. Butement, the first Chief Scientist for Defence Williams, Betty Dr W. A. S. Butement, the first Chief Scientist for Defence Canberra Defence Science and Technology Organisation 1991 Book: Woomera Southall, Ivan Woomera Sydney Angus & Robertson 1962 Book: A History of Defence Science in Australia Wisdom, John A History of Defence Science in Australia Melbourne Defence Science and Technology Organisation 1995 Journal Article: Ernest William Titterton 1916-1990 Newton, J. O. Ernest William Titterton 1916-1990 1992 Historical Records of Australian Science 9 2 167-187 Journal Article: Leslie Harold Martin 1900-1983 Caro, D. E.; Martin, R. L. Leslie Harold Martin 1900-1983 1987 Historical Records of Australian Science 7 1 97-107 Resource: Federation and Meteorology Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre Federation and Meteorology 2001 Resource: Technology in Australia 1788-1988 Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering Technology in Australia 1788-1988 Online Melbourne Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre 2000 William Alan Stewart Butement - Records Private hands (contact Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre) William Alan Stewart Butement - Records 1960 - 1990 Records relating to his research after his retirement c1960-90. 0.3 m