Charles Hughes Cousens | |
|---|---|
 Charles Cousens, 1940 | |
| Born | 26 August 1903 Poona, India |
| Died | 9 May 1964 (aged 60) Sydney, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Alma mater | Royal Military College Sandhurst |
| Occupation(s) | radio and television presenter |
| Known for | broadcasting propaganda in Japan as a POW |
| Television | Seven News, Commonwealth Bank Hour of Music |
Charles Hughes Cousens (26 August 1903 - 9 May 1964) was an Australian radio broadcaster, television presenter and army officer.[1]
Cousens was a radio and television personality known for his programs on 2GB and Channel 7 in Sydney.[1]
However, he is best known for broadcasting radio propaganda on Radio Tokyo for the Imperial Japanese Army while he was being held as a prisoner of war during World War II, for which he faced accusations of high treason.[1]
In 1946, Cousens was charged under the Treason Act 1351 - the first Australian to face the charge.[1][2] Despite being committed for trial in August 1946, the charge was dropped in December 1946.[1] However, his commission was stripped by military authorities in January 1947.[3]
Cousens always maintained he delivered the propaganda broadcasts because he had been threatened by the Japanese with torture and death.[1] Despite this, his work during the war has continued to be the subject of much discussion and speculation.[4][5][6][7][8]
- ^ a b c d e f Chapman, Ivan (1993). "Cousens, Charles Hughes (1903–1964)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Treason charge denied: Cousens moves to quash prosecution". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 July 1946. p. 4. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
The charge against Cousens, in the lower court, based on the Treason Act of 1351 (Act 25, Edward III), was:-... ...there had not been a similar charge since the Commonwealth was formed...
- ^ "Major Cousens' commission cancelled - may lose gratuity and leave rights". The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 January 1947. p. 1. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ Slee, John (27 April 1990). "The fears that make us traitors". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 8. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ Cavalier, Rodney (4 May 1990). "Was Charles Cousens a traitor?". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ Smyth, Terry (6 June 1999). "Tokyo Rose: I can clear Aussie traitor". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 50. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Life and death on the air". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 October 2006. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ Clough, Brent (20 October 2007). "Radio Treason - the life and trial of Charles Cousens". Radio Eye. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
Did he have to do it? Did he work for the enemy? Cousens maintained he tried to subvert the process by the way he used his voice.