Harold Cohen (politician)

Brigadier Harold Cohen CMG, DSO, VD
Solicitor-General of Victoria
In office 20 March – 2 April 1935
Minister of Public Instruction
In office 20 March – 2 April 1935
Assistant Treasurer of Victoria
In office May 1932 – March 1935
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Caulfield
In office 2 March 1935 – 11 June 1943
Preceded by	Sir Harold Luxton
Succeeded by	Andrew Hughes
Member of the Victorian Legislative Council for Melbourne South Province
In office June 1929 – February 1935 Serving with Sir Frank Clarke
Preceded by	Norman Falkiner
Succeeded by	Archibald Crofts
Personal details
Born	(1881-11-25)25 November 1881 St Kilda, Victoria
Died	29 October 1946(1946-10-29) (aged 64) South Melbourne, Victoria
Resting place	Melbourne General Cemetery
Political party	Nationalist Party (1929–31) United Australia Party (1931–43)
Alma mater	University of Melbourne
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Branch/service	Australian Army
Years of service	1901–1944
Rank	Brigadier
Commands	2nd Infantry Brigade (1926–27) 4th Divisional Artillery (1921–26) 6th Field Artillery Brigade (1915–19)
Battles/wars	First World War Second World War
Awards	Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration Mentioned in Despatches (3)

Brigadier Harold Edward Cohen, CMG, DSO, VD (25 November 1881 – 29 October 1946) was an Australian soldier, lawyer and, like his grandfather Edward Cohen, a Victorian State politician.

Early life

Cohen was the son of Montague and Annie Cohen and born in St Kilda, Melbourne. He married Freda Pirani on 4 December 1907, and they had two sons and two daughters. Cohen was educated at Xavier College where he was the first Jewish boy to attend the school. He was school captain in 1898 & President of the Old Xaverians Association from 1919-1920.

He continued his studies at Melbourne University. Prior to being a politician, Cohen was a solicitor, soldier and a company director.

Political career

In 1929, Cohen was elected as a Nationalist Party MP for Melbourne South Province in the Victorian Legislative Council. Cohen was Assistant Treasurer from 1932 until March 1935, Minister of Public Instruction and Solicitor-General from 20 March to 2 April 1935 in the government of Stanley Argyle.

In 1935, he changed to the Victorian Legislative Assembly and was elected to Caulfield and was member for Caulfield until his defeat in 1943.

Scouting

Cohen served as Chief Commissioner of Scouts Victoria from 1919 to 1921.