About Tom Gurr
Lived 1904 – 1995 (aged 90–91). Tom Gurr was an Australian and New Zealand journalist, film director, director and screenwriter.
Thomas Johnson Gurr (1904, Dunedin, New Zealand – 9 August 1995) was an Australian journalist and documentary filmmaker. He worked for Cinesound Productions writing commentary for newsreels until 1933 when he left to join Associated Newspapers. By 1938 he was editor in chief at the Sunday Telegraph and he later edited the Sydney Sun.
During the war, Tom served as a War Correspondent with Associated Newspapers. He became a member of the Australian Commonwealth Government Editors' Delegation and travelled to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Korea, and watched the D-Day invasion from above, flying over the scene. Tom was decorated with seven service medals for his work as a war correspondent, and marched in every Anzac Day ceremony in Sydney, Australia, until the age of 90.
During World War II he also wrote and directed the classic action documentary film Jungle Patrol (1944), and later made a similar film during the Korean War, One Man's War (1952).
His sister, Nancy Gurr (Thompson), was also a pioneer of the Australian film industry. His brother, Rodney Gurr, worked for MGM in the US before returning to Australia. Their father "Thomas Stuart Gurr" was a novelist and writer.
Filmography South West Pacific (1943) – writer Jungle Patrol (1944) – writer, director One Man's War (1952) – writer, director
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Important facts
People in Tom Gurr's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Tom Gurr's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Tom Gurr?
Australian journalist (1904-1995)
When was Tom Gurr born?
Tom Gurr was born in 1904.
When did Tom Gurr die?
Tom Gurr died on 9 August 1995.
What was Tom Gurr's occupation?
Tom Gurr was a journalist, film director, director and screenwriter.
What nationality was Tom Gurr?
Tom Gurr was Australian and New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Tom Gurr. https://biography.guide/tom-gurr/
MLA: "Tom Gurr." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/tom-gurr/.
Chicago: "Tom Gurr." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/tom-gurr/.
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