Charles Hector McFadyen CBE (29 October 1892 – 26 August 1965) was an Australian soldier, senior public servant and sportsman.

He was a member of the Flemington Presbyterian Church youth group, the Jolly Beggars (after the cantata by Burns), played sport, notably cricket and Australian Rules Football, and enjoyed summer visits to the beach at Frankston.

On 23 November the unit embarked on the troop ship Ceramic with McFadyen as a Warrant Officer First Class[2] bound for Egypt, en route to Gallipoli.

[3] Stacy was a Sydney Hospital surgeon who brought practical experience and the latest methods to bear on the treatment of the wounded in the field.

With the aid of engineers and Belgian labourers the field was quickly transformed into a modern operating centre within 10 miles of the front line and less in a few places.

He set up a workshop that made splints and thigh cases and, eventually, the station was supplied with electric light.

It was 'the showpiece of the Army Corps and there were continual inspections by high-ranking French and British military and medical personnel.'

McFadyen recalled that 'Stacy was far too good for the ordinary run of medical officers' and that he returned to Australia 'without proper recognition.

[6] McFadyen was promoted Lieutenant Quartermaster with the 8th Field Ambulance based at Albert Somme, France, in February 1917.

McFadyen saw the war's brutal consequences first hand and would have experienced many of the privations and dangers of field life in forward locations.

He enjoyed periods of leave in Paris, Belgium and, notably after the Armistice, other places in Europe, Germany, the United Kingdom and Ireland before returning to Australia on the Bremen on 25 July 1919.

He particularly enjoyed leave in Charleroi, attending opera in Brussels and the music halls in Paris where he heard the young Maurice Chevalier sing the Madelon de la Victoire and also the singer's older patron and lover, Mistinguett.

In all, he spent four full years abroad and was billeted in locations in Belgium, England and Ireland awaiting return to Australia.

Two board members were nominated by Hughes and Mrs Pattie Tillyard and Charles McFadyen were elected by public vote.

[12] In the same year, the Acting Minister for Health, Archie Cameron, dissolved the nominee board and created a wholly elected body, of which McFadyen became chairman.

Charles persuaded the Minister for Health Frederick Stewart and the Treasurer Percy Spender to have an amount placed on the forward estimates to enable a hospital to be built at a later date.

Another concern of his was the high cost of living in the new capital for low waged public servants compared with Melbourne or Sydney.

[16] McFadyen came to be considered as a possible Labor candidate for the Federal seat of Eden-Monaro and was encouraged by Prime Minister James Scullin but full ALP endorsement was not forthcoming.

[17] His son, Ken, recalled he moved around a lot and at this time was living in Manly and working in Martin Place, Sydney.

Issues in these years included the lack of efficient coastal shipping services, particularly for Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland.

McLeay then caved in to ship owner and Harbor Trust complaints about McFadyen's chairmanship and in 1952 disbanded the committee.

[24] ‘I cleared the port and in the process stood on a few corns,’ Charles recalled and added: ‘I have an idea the P.M. was not happy about McLeay’s treachery.’[4] Paltridge, his Minister from 1955, he held in high regard.

Charles believed his advice and Paltridge's advocacy in Federal cabinet were instrumental in the government's decision to create the Australian National Line.

Also, by his departmental peers and senior political and industry figures, if testimonials on the occasion of his 1955 CBE honour and retirement are any indication.

A lifelong public servant, he had the distinction of joining as a junior by way of competitive examination and rising to the top.

In the 1955 Queen's Birthday Honours, McFadyen was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services as Secretary of the Department of Shipping and Transport.