[1] Cramer grew up on his father's farm, attending Gaspard Public School until the age of fourteen.

Later joined by another brother, Reg, they achieved success through several business ventures including a syndicate subdividing land in Willoughby and a partnership in a building firm specialising in apartment blocks.

After the collapse of the UAP in the early 1940s he joined the Democratic Party and was an unsuccessful candidate in the seat of Lane Cove at the 1944 New South Wales state election.

[13][14] Cramer's service as army minister included the final years of Australia's involvement in the Malayan Emergency and the prelude to Vietnam War.

[16] He remained in parliament as a backbencher for a decade and was critical of Liberal leader John Gorton, supporting his eventual replacement by William McMahon.

[1] He announced his retirement from politics in November 1973,[17] and was succeeded by future prime minister John Howard as the MP for Bennelong at the 1974 election.

[19] For her four decades of service as a charity worker and community activist, Lady Cramer was created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1971.