Brigadier Monsignor Gerald Anthony Cudmore, AM
1933–2004
Monsignor Gerry Cudmore, well known to many soldiers of all or no religious faiths, died on 21 April 2004, aged 71. Monsignor Cudmore was ordained priest in 1958. After serving in a number of Melbourne parishes, he became a chaplain in the Australian Regular Army in 1963. Following appointments to the Army Apprentice School and the Officer Cadet School, he was the first Australian chaplain to serve in Vietnam with the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, at Bien Hoa, where his pastoral care for the soldiers of all denominations became legendary. An anecdote in The Cross of Anzac, the history of Australia’s Catholic military chaplains, recounts his use of some forthright soldiers’ language vowing vengeance against those responsible for the wounding of a young soldier whom he was comforting. In something of a role reversal, the wounded Digger reproved Gerry for behaviour unworthy of a priest.
Subsequently, Monsignor Cudmore served with the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion at Puckapunyal, in the 28th Commonwealth Brigade in Malaysia and in the 6th Brigade in Australia. He also held appointments in the Army Character Training Team, at Army Office in Canberra and at Headquarters Training Command in Sydney. Monsignor Cudmore rose to become Principal Chaplain (Roman Catholic) with the rank of Brigadier in the Australian Army in 1988. With the support of the then Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Laurie O’Donnell, Monsignor Cudmore arranged for the original Changi Chapel, built by prisoners of war at the infamous Japanese World War II camp in Singapore, to be rebuilt and dedicated at the Royal Military College, Duntroon. He was awarded a Chief of the General Staff Commendation in recognition of his efforts.
When he reached retiring age for his rank, Monsignor Cudmore left the Army and reverted to the Melbourne archdiocese. He was Vicar-General in Melbourne from 1993 to 1996, subsequently serving in a number of parishes in the archdiocese. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1988. Melbourne’s St Patrick’s Cathedral was overflowing for his requiem mass and military funeral. A letter from His Excellency the Governor-General was read out aloud by Archbishop Hart, and the Chief of Army, who was absent overseas, was represented by Major General Peter Haddad, AO.
Michael O’Connor
