Family background
Herbert Maxwell Arrowsmith was born on 30 July 1903 at Waverley, NSW, son of Charles J Arrowsmith and his wife Jessie, nèe Alcock. On 19 April 1927, he married Freda, daughter of Frederick Emmett of Auburn, and had a son and daughter. He died on 10 August 1982 at Mowll Village Castle Hill, predeceased by his wife.
Occupation & interests
Herbert Arrowsmith was educated at Parramatta High School. He was appointed General Secretary of the NSW Bible Society in 1932 and served as a missionary in China from 1935 to 1936 and in Queensland from 1936 to 1938. He worked with the Church Missionary Society of NSW from 1939 to 1945 and was Federal Secretary from 1942 to 1945. From 1941 to 1950 he served with the Rank of Flight Lieutenant as part-time Chaplain of the Royal Australian Air Force. He was appointed Rector of St John’s in Toorak, Melbourne, from 1945 to 1949 and Canon of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, in 1955. In 1950 he was appointed Commonwealth Secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society and, from 1952, Vice-Chairman of the United Bible Societies. He was noted for his gift of oratory. His publications included Australia and the Pacific (1943) and These Australians (1946).
Local government service
Reverend Canon Herbert Maxwell Arrowsmith was Alderman for Macquarie Ward, 1 December 1956 to 4 December 1959. He was a member of the Finance Committee, 1957-59 and the City Planning and Improvements Committee, 1957-59. He also represented the Civic Reform Association.
References
Australian War Memorial www.awm.gov.au
British and Foreign Bible Society, Annual Reports
Church Missionary Society, Annual Reports
City of Sydney Archives: Aldermen’s Files
Society of Australian Genealogists: AGCI Index
Who’s Who in Australia 1955