Reviewing politics
and culture since 1913

  1. Politics
6 May 2014updated 16 May 2014 3:01pm

The Returning Officer: Kangaroos

Returning Officer

By Stephen Brasher

Leo St Clare Grondona was born in Melbourne in 1890. He left for the war in Europe in May 1916 and was wounded the following year. Before the conflict, he had been a farmer and had written a novel, Collar and Cuffs: the Adventures of a Jackeroo (1911). In 1929, he stood as a Tory candidate in Camberwell North, losing to Labour’s Charles Ammon.

Grondona became an economist and published The Kangaroo Keeps on Talking: or an All-British Continent (1924), with a foreword by Stanley Baldwin. During the Second World War, Grondona was made camp commandant of Wilton Park, where Italian and German generals were held prisoner.

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU

Subscribe to the New Statesman today for only £1 a week.
Content from our partners
Back Britain's builders
AI and energy security: A double-edged sword
Lifelong learning for growth and prosperity

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x