Francis de Groot

2025-08-27T16:45:55Z

2001:8003:3F51:1A01:5DD5:F826:BD84:809E: Darlinghurst, Rushcutters Bay, University of Sydney links

{{Short description|Irish-Australian soldier and furniture maker (1888–1969)}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Francis de Groot
| image = De Groot, France; c. 1915 (cropped).jpg
| caption = de Groot in 1915
| birth_name = Francis Edward de Groot
| birth_date = 24 October 1888
| birth_place = [[Dublin]], Ireland
| death_date = {{death date and age|1 April 1969|24 October 1888|df=y}}
| death_place = Dublin, Ireland
| occupation = Soldier, furniture maker
| education = {{plainlist|
* [[Belvedere College]]
* [[Blackrock College]]
}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Mary Elizabeth Byrne|25 October 1919}}
| module = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = {{flag|United Kingdom}}<br/>{{flag|Australia}}
| branch = {{army|United Kingdom}}<br/>{{army|Australia}}
| serviceyears = UK: 1907–1919<br/>Australia: 1942–1944
| rank = Captain
| servicenumber =
| unit = {{plainlist|
* [[South Irish Horse]]
* [[5th Dragoon Guards]]
* [[15th The King's Hussars]]
}}
| commands =
| battles = {{tree list}}
* [[World War I]]
** [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]]
* [[World War II]]
** [[Australian home front during World War II|Australian home front]]
{{tree list/end}}
}}
}}
'''Francis Edward de Groot''' (24 October 1888 – 1 April 1969) was an Irish-Australian soldier and furniture maker. He is best known for dramatically interrupting the official opening of the [[Sydney Harbour Bridge]] in 1932, attempting to slash the ribbon with a military sword while on horseback.

De Groot was born in [[Dublin]], Ireland into a family of artisans. He left school at a young age and joined the [[Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)|Merchant Navy]], later serving an apprenticeship with his uncle, an antiques dealer. He first lived in Australia from 1910 to 1914, working for [[Angus & Robertson]] as an antiques buyer. De Groot returned to Ireland in 1914 and enlisted in the [[British Army]], having previously served with reserve units. He saw active service on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] and finished the war with the rank of captain. In 1920, de Groot returned to Australia and established his own furniture-making business in [[Sydney]], producing replicas of 18th-century furniture styles in Australian timber. He serviced a number of commercial clients and high-profile individuals from a workshop in [[Rushcutters Bay]].

De Groot was a fascist and joined the paramilitary [[New Guard]] in 1931, taking part in clashes with left-wing groups. His disruption of the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge was designed to embarrass state premier [[Jack Lang (Australian politician)|Jack Lang]], a particular target of the New Guard. He was arrested on the spot and charged with minor offences, receiving a small fine; he later successfully sued the police for wrongful arrest. Photographs and films of De Groot's actions were widely published and made him a significant public figure, although he played little further role in the New Guard. He continued his work as a furniture manufacturer and during [[World War II]] served with the Australian military, eventually retiring back to Ireland.

==Early life==
De Groot was born on 24 October 1888 in central [[Dublin]]. He was the son of Mary (née Butler) and Cornelius De Groot. His father's family was of [[Dutch Huguenot]] ancestry.<ref name=adb>{{cite news|url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/de-groot-francis-edward-frank-12881|title=Francis Edward (Frank) De Groot (1888–1969)|first=Andrew|last=Moore|work=Australian Dictionary of Biography|date=2005a}}</ref> He came from "a dynasty of carvers and gilders"; his father was a wood carver and sculptor, while his paternal grandfather exhibited wood carvings at the [[Great Exhibition]] of 1851 and [[Irish Industrial Exhibition]] of 1852.<ref name=daao>{{cite news|url=https://www.daao.org.au/bio/francis-de-groot/biography/|title=Francis De Groot|publisher=Design & Art Australia Online|access-date=15 July 2024|first=Michael|last=Bogle|year=2012}}</ref>

De Groot attended [[Blackrock College]] and [[Belvedere College]] in Dublin. He joined the [[Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)|Merchant Navy]] at the age of thirteen, but later took up an apprenticeship with his uncle Michael Butler, an antiques dealer, for whom he worked for five years in Dublin and London. He remained involved with the military, joining the [[South of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry]] in 1907 and serving for six months with the [[5th Dragoon Guards]] in 1909.<ref name=adb/>

===Early years in Australia===
In 1910, de Groot immigrated to Australia and settled in [[Sydney]]. He soon came into contact with bookseller and antiquarian [[George Robertson (publisher)|George Robertson]], one of the founders of the [[Angus & Robertson]] bookstore chain, and his associate [[Frederick Wymark]]. Robertson had tasked Wymark with opening a gallery attached to Angus & Robertson's [[Castlereagh Street]] store selling art and antiquities. De Groot's connections in Dublin and [[London]] proved useful to Wymark and he serviced a number of significant clients including [[Eadith Walker]], [[Samuel Henry Ervin]], [[Thomas Anderson Stuart]], [[William Dixson]], the [[Ebenezer Vickery|Vickery family]] and the [[Hordern family]].<ref name=daao/> In his memoirs he recalled that Robertson had given him a budget of £10,000 ({{inflation|AU|10000|1910|fmt=eq|r=-5}}) to acquire items for resale by Angus & Robertson.<ref name=adb/>

===World War I===
De Groot returned to Ireland on the outbreak of [[World War I]] and enlisted in the [[15th Hussars]], a cavalry regiment. He saw active service on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]], later transferring to a tank battalion with the rank of acting captain.<ref name=adb/> He was present for the [[Battle of the Somme]] in 1916 and the [[Battle of Passchendaele]] in 1917. He was discharged in 1919, with his discharge delayed by his recovery from [[Spanish flu]].<ref>{{cite book|title=So Once Was I: Forgotten Tales from Glasnevin Cemetery|publisher=[[Merrion Press]]|first=Warren|last=Farrell|year=2024|isbn=9781785375132}}</ref>

==Furniture business==
[[File:De Groot showroom, Rushcutters Bay.jpg|thumb|upright|Photograph of de Groot's showroom in [[Rushcutters Bay]], 1927]]
In October 1919, de Groot married Mary Elizabeth Byrne in [[Donnybrook, Dublin]].<ref name=adb/> They had first met in 1910 prior to de Groot's initial departure to Australia. After their marriage they took advantage of a [[War Office]] scheme which provided free passage to the Dominions for returned soldiers.{{sfn|Farrell|2024}} They arrived in Sydney in May 1920 and de Groot established his own business as an antique dealer and manufacturer of reproduction furniture. De Groot's Auction Rooms opened in [[Phillip Street]] in 1921 and later shifted to Bent Street.<ref name=daao/> Specialising in [[Queensland maple]], his business proved immensely successful and by 1927 he was reportedly employing 200 artisans at his workshop in [[Rushcutters Bay]].<ref name=adb/> However, it has been suggested that the figures he claimed "seem implausible given the size of the Australian furniture market in the 1920s".<ref name=daao/>

De Groot had a particular interest in 18th-century furniture styles, translating [[Chippendale furniture|Chippendale]], [[Adam style|Adam]] and [[William and Mary style]]s into Australian timbers "with concessions to 20th century housekeeping".<ref name=daao/> One of his most significant commissions in the 1920s was a refit of the [[David Jones (department store)|David Jones]] department store chain.<ref name=adb/> In 1934 he received a major commission from [[The Australia Hotel]] in Sydney, and the following year he designed a furniture suite for Governor-General [[Isaac Isaacs]] to be installed at [[Government House, Canberra]]. De Groot exhibited with [[The Society of Arts and Crafts of NSW]] in 1937 and advertised widely in interior design publications such as ''The Australian Home Builder'' and ''[[The Home]]''. Outside of furniture he also collected china, silver, [[Waterford Crystal]], and Persian rugs.<ref name=daao/>

==Politics==
[[File:Francis de Groot 1932 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|De Groot in 1932]]
During the 1930s, de Groot joined a fascist [[paramilitary]] organisation called the [[New Guard]], which was politically opposed to the more left-wing government and the socialist views of NSW Premier Jack Lang. Many of the members of the New Guard were men who had served in World War I.<ref name="100 objects">{{cite web|title=Harbour Bridge Opening|url=http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/exhibitions/2010/onehundred/100-objects/Exhibit-073.htm|work=One Hundred Objects Exhibition|publisher=[[State Library of New South Wales]]|accessdate=23 April 2013}}</ref>

Seeking to attack leftist meetings, de Groot organised groups of 1,000-strong groups of New Guard members throughout December 1931, commenting later that "the best reply to force, was greater force...seeing that we could command the greater force, [I] saw no reason why it should not be employed".{{Sfn|Moore|2005|p=62}}

== Sydney Harbour Bridge opening ceremony incident ==
He became famous when, on 19 March 1932, he upstaged Lang at the opening of the [[Sydney Harbour Bridge]], before a crowd of 300,000 people.<ref name="100 objects" /> He was not a member of the official party but, on horseback and dressed in his military uniform, he was able to blend in with the escort party of NSW Lancers. Lang was about to cut the ribbon to formally open the bridge, when de Groot rode forward and drew his ceremonial sword, attempting to cut the ribbon and declare the bridge open "in the name of the decent and respectable people of New South Wales".{{Sfn|Moore|2005|p=97}} While many accounts say de Groot succeeded in slashing the ribbon, at least one eyewitness has disputed the claim and suggested it was probably broken by the hooves of his rearing horse.<ref>W.S.Hamilton, "Big day on the Bridge", ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', 4 March 1972</ref>
He said this was in protest that the [[Governor of New South Wales]], Sir [[Philip Game]], had not been invited to perform the ceremony. The Mayor of North Sydney, [[Hubert Primrose]], an official participant at the opening ceremony, was also a member of the New Guard, but whether he was involved in planning de Groot's act is unknown.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} De Groot was also said to have later joined the [[White Army (Australia)|White Army]], another fascist organisation founded in [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]] in 1931.<ref name=catchcart1985>{{cite thesis | last=Cathcart | first=Michael | title=The White Army of 1931: Origins and legitimations: The League of National Security in Victoria in 1931, and the means by which it was legitimated | publisher=[[Australian National University]]|via=Open Research | date=June 1985 | doi=10.25911/5d74e695b15b4 | url=https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/113889 | access-date=30 March 2021}}</ref>

===Arrest===
[[File:De Groot cutting the ribbon.jpg|left|thumb|de Groot trying to cut the ribbon]]
W. J. Mackay, Chief of the [[Commonwealth Police|CBI]] pulled de Groot from his horse, arrested him, and confiscated his ceremonial sword. Initially he was taken to a small police station attached to the toll house on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Later in the day he was sent to the Lunatic Reception House at [[Darlinghurst]], where he was formally charged with being insane and not under proper care and control.{{Sfn|Wright|2006|p=101}} On the same afternoon de Groot was examined by Eric Hilliard, psychiatrist and medical superintendent of Parramatta Mental Hospital, who determined that de Groot was not insane. The following day de Groot was examined by W.S. Dawson, Professor of Psychiatry at the [[University of Sydney]], and by John McPherson. Both doctors found him to be completely sane.{{Sfn|Wright|2006|pp=103–104}}

On 21 March 1932, de Groot appeared before Mr. McDougall, Stipendiary Magistrate, for the hearing of the charge of insanity. Detective Superintendent Mackay gave evidence to the effect that de Groot's actions on the Bridge were those of an insane man. Subsequently, Eric Hilliard gave his opinion, based on his examination of de Groot, that de Groot was sane. The magistrate subsequently ordered de Groot's discharge from the Reception House.{{Sfn|Wright|2006|pp=108–109}}

===Charges===
[[File:Arrest of Francis de Groot at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.jpg|thumb|right|Photograph of de Groot's arrest]]
De Groot was subsequently charged with three offences. The three charges brought against him were:

# Having maliciously damaged a ribbon which was the property of the Government of New South Wales to the value of £2;
# Having behaved in an offensive manner in a public place; and
# Having used threatening words to Inspector Stuart Robson in a public place.<ref>{{cite news|title=De Groot Charged|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16850128?searchTerm=francis%20de%20groot&searchLimits=l-title=35|accessdate=23 April 2013|newspaper=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=23 March 1932}}</ref>

The charges were heard on 1, 4, 5, and 6 April 1932 in the Central Police Court in Liverpool Street, Sydney before John Laidlaw, Chief Stipendiary Magistrate of New South Wales.{{Sfn|Wright|2006|pp=127–130}}

While the first and third charges laid against him were dismissed, the Magistrate did find de Groot guilty of offensive behaviour in Bradfield Highway – a public place. He was fined the maximum penalty of £5, with £4 in costs. The Magistrate found that "... the actions of the defendant were grossly offensive, provocative, and clearly unlawful".<ref>{{cite news|title=De Groot. Maximum Penalty|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1157432?zoomLevel=1|accessdate=23 April 2013|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=7 April 1932}}</ref>

Later, de Groot sued the Commissioner of police for wrongful arrest, and case was eventually settled out of court with de Groot receiving damages amounting to £69/1/9 (£{{£sd|l=69|s=1|d=9}} or $138.18).

===Horse===
The horse ridden by de Groot at the opening ceremony was a 16.2-hand chestnut named "Mick". The horse belonged to a [[Pymble]] schoolgirl, Margo Reichard, and was borrowed by the leader of the New Guard, [[Eric Campbell (New Guard leader)|Eric Campbell]], from her father Albert Reichard. After the escapade, the horse was initially taken to the Mounted Police Barracks before being returned to its owner. In about 1933 the horse had a fall while being ridden by Albert Reichard, and was put down.<ref name="Cottee's book">{{cite book|last=Cottee|first=J.M.|title=De Groot, Mick and the Opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge|year=2007|publisher=John Cottee|location=ACT|isbn=9780646476902|pages=43–46|url=http://library.sl.nsw.gov.au/record=b2554646~S2}}</ref>

== Later life ==
After the court case he sued for wrongful arrest on the grounds that a police officer had no right to arrest an officer of the Hussars. An out-of-court settlement was reached, and de Groot's ceremonial sword was returned to him. He later returned to Ireland, where he died on 1 April 1969.

Before his death, de Groot indicated he would like to see the sword returned to Australia. In 2004, the sword was found on a farm in [[County Wicklow]], in the possession of de Groot's nephew. Plans were announced to have it valued and returned to Australia, possibly as a display at the [[National Museum of Australia]]. However, the museum was outbid by Paul Cave, the founder and chairman of [[BridgeClimb Sydney]], the tourism company that conducted climbs across the Harbour Bridge. The sword was presented to Bridge Climb Sydney by prior students of Blackrock College, de Groot's old school, during a school reunion for ex-students now living in Australia.

== Gallery ==
{{Gallery
| align = center
| widths =
| heights =
| mode = nolines
|File:Francis de Groot, atop a horse, 1932.jpg
|de Groot on horseback in 1932
| alt1 =
|File:Francis De Groot dragged off his horse after illegally cutting the opening ribbon.jpg
|de Groot being dragged off his horse after cutting the opening ribbon
| alt2 =
|File:“Circular Dining Table, by Francis de Groot, with four (not three) column supports and shaped base with acanthus carving, diameter 4 feet (1.2192 metres).jpg”.jpg
|Dining table made by de Groot for Dame [[Eadith Walker]] of Yaralla
| alt3 =
|File:Captain De Groot and Party at Bowen's Creek Bridge Opening (4091988634).jpg
|de Groot at the 1935 opening of the Bowens Creek Bridge (middle, with hat)
| alt4 =
|width=200|height=220}}

==References==
===Footnotes===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Moore|first=Andrew|title=Francis de Groot: Irish Fascist Australian Legend|year=2005|publisher=Federation Press|location=Leichhardt, NSW|isbn=1862875731|url=http://library.sl.nsw.gov.au/record=b2325847~S2}}
* {{cite book|last=Wright|first=Brian|title=In the Name of Decent Citizens: The Trials of Frank de Groot|year=2006|publisher=ABC Books|location=Sydney, NSW|isbn=9780733319037|url=http://library.sl.nsw.gov.au/record=b2430200~S2}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* [http://www.federationpress.com.au/bookstore/book.asp?isbn=1862875731 Biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216010759/http://www.federationpress.com.au/bookstore/book.asp?isbn=1862875731 |date=16 February 2006 }} of Francis de Groot published by the Federation Press.
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/mystery-solved-de-groots-sword-to-cut-a-dash-again/2007/03/16/1173722744988.html Mystery solved: De Groot's sword to cut a dash again] ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]'' 16 March 2007

{{Fascism}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:De Groot, Francis}}
[[Category:15th The King's Hussars officers]]
[[Category:1888 births]]
[[Category:1969 deaths]]
[[Category:Australian fascists]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:History of Sydney]]
[[Category:Irish emigrants to Australia]]
[[Category:People educated at Blackrock College]]
[[Category:People from Dublin (city)]]
[[Category:Irish people of Dutch descent]]
[[Category:People educated at Belvedere College]]
[[Category:Irish furniture designers]]
[[Category:Australian furniture designers]]
[[Category:Australian furniture makers]]
[[Category:Antiques dealers]]
[[Category:Australian Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Christian fascists]]
[[Category:New Guard members]]

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Francis de Groot