William Worth (diplomat)


William Worth was an Australian diplomat who served two terms as the acting secretary general of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization.

Early life and career

Born in Perth, Western Australia, Worth later moved to Adelaide, South Australia where he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force on 18 June 1940. Achieving the rank of Flight Lieutenant, Worth served in the RAAF until 1951. During World War II Worth was on the air staff of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force and played a part in the invasion of France in 1944. He later rose to the office of Deputy Director of Intelligence for the RAAF.
On leaving the RAAF he joined the Australian Department of Supply in which he was responsible for security. Prior to leaving for Bangkok to take up an appointment as Deputy Secretary-General of SEATO, Worth served as Assistant Secretary in the Prime Minister's Department in Canberra.

Diplomatic career

In September 1957, Worth was appointed the first Deputy Secretary-General of SEATO and took over as acting Secretary General when Pote Sarasin took office as Prime Minister of Thailand on 22 September 1957. With the return of Sarasin on 10 January 1958, Worth continued as Deputy Secretary General.
On 13 December 1963, he again became acting secretary general of SEATO, after Secretary General Sarasin had resigned after his appointment as Minister for National Development in Thailand. Worth continued until the substantive appointment of Konthi Suphamongkhon on 19 February 1964.
From 1 November 1975 to 31 October 1977, Worth was appointed Administrator of the Australian Christmas Island Territory. On 11 June 1977, for "Public service on Christmas Island" Worth was appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.