Charles Cousens
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.
Cousens was a radio and television personality known for his programs on 2GB and Channel 7 in Sydney.
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.
In 1946, Cousens was charged under the Treason Act 1351 - the first Australian to face the charge. Despite being committed for trial in August 1946, the charge was dropped in December 1946. However, his commission was stripped by military authorities in January 1947.
Cousens always maintained he delivered the propaganda broadcasts because he had been threatened by the Japanese with torture and death. Despite this, his work during the war has continued to be the subject of much discussion and speculation.