James Normington Rawling

James Normington Rawling (1898–1966) was an Australian political activist and writer. After serving on the Western Front during World War I he became an ardent pacifist, and later became known for his association with, and expulsion from, the Communist Party of Australia (CPA), as well as his research and broader literary activities.

Early life Rawling was born on 27 July 1898, in Plattsburg (now Wallsend, New South Wales), the son of coalminer James Rawling and his wife, Annie Elizabeth (née Normington), and was educated at Newcastle High School. and went on to serve on the Western Front with both the 36th and 35th battalions. His battlefield experiences instilled in him a vehement opposition to war, which subsequently shaped his views and later political activities. He also gave evidence against the CPA as a witness in the 1949 Royal Commission into the Victorian branch of the party.

Academic activities Rawling returned to teaching during World War II, and was awarded a Master of Arts (MA) degree from the University of Sydney in 1946. He was awarded a Commonwealth Literary Fund fellowship in 1947, to write a biography of Charles Harpur.

Later years From 1962–63 Rawling held a position as a visiting fellow at the Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, during which time he worked on the manuscript of a history of the CPA.

Rawling died at Sydney Hospital of a coronary occlusion on 7 March 1966. He was survived by his wife, Mary, and three daughters.