Warren Joins the Bureau

A series of weather-related fatal aircraft accidents had occurred. The anticipation of possible war with Germany was another important consideration.

From the time of its formation in 1908 the Bureau's development had been hampered by an inadequacy of manpower and financial resources. In the first two decades of the Bureau's life talented senior staff such as Griffith Taylor and Ernest Kidson left in search of greener pastures. Particularly unfortunate was the cancellation of the appointment of Henry Barkley as Commonwealth Meteorologist in 1931. Following the retirement of H. A. Hunt, the first Commonwealth Meteorologist, Watt, Assistant Director to Hunt, became Commonwealth Meteorologist when Watt's appeal against Barkley's promotion was successful.

Cornish (1996) pays tribute to Barkley's vision and talents, and describes how Barkley, more than any other in the Bureau, had agitated for more resources to improve meteorological services for civil and military aviation. Barkley's death in 1938 deprived the Bureau of a man of great vision and considerable talent, attributes which were badly needed at that time.

Warren was attached to the Bureau in 1938 to report to the Public Service Board on the Bureau's management performance. There is no doubt that the appointment of a non-meteorologist for this purpose did not find favour with many senior Bureau staff, but it seems that Watt was satisfied with Warren's performance because the latter was appointed Assistant Director (Administration) on 22 April 1939.

Figure 2 A. W. Cornish, H. N. Warren, W. S. Watt, E. W. Timcke and H. M. Treloar (from left to right) at a celebration in Melbourne in January 1939 following the completion in 1938 of the first training course for Observers.

In that year a committee with representatives of the Bureau, the Navy, Army and Air Force was established to examine Departmental arrangements for control of the Bureau. Warren was the sole Bureau representative on this committee. It recommended to the Federal Cabinet that operational control of the Bureau should be transferred to the Air Board. This recommendation was approved by Federal Cabinet on the outbreak of war with Germany in September 1939 but it was not until July 1940 that administrative arrangements were finalised and the Bureau was transferred from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Air.

Bureau of Meteorology