Marcel Aurousseau MC C. de G. (19 April 1891 in Woollahra, Sydney – 22 August 1983 in Sydney) was an Australian geographer, geologist, war hero, historian and translator.
Aurousseau, who was of French and Irish descent, attended Sydney Boys High School alongside three students who were also later prominent in various fields: Arthur Wheen (an historian and translator), (an economist), and Arthur McLaughlin (a medical practitioner).
He began his scientific career as an "office boy" at the Australian Museum in Sydney. While completing the Bachelor of Science course at the University of Sydney, Aurousseau won the University Medal in Geology.
In 1913, he was appointed to the position of assistant lecturer at the newly formed geology department of the University of Western Australia (UWA), in Perth.
Army service
Lt. Marcel Aurousseau, Inf. For conspicuous gallantry in action. He took command when his company commander was killed, and inspired all ranks by his fine example. During a night attack, he led his company forward with great dash till he was severely wounded.
Following the outbreak of World War I, Aurousseau obtained leave from UWA, to join the Australian Imperial Force. He was assigned initially to the 28th Battalion (1915), before joining the 51st Battalion on the Western Front.
Aurousseau first saw action in France at the battles of Fleurbaix (Fromelles), the Pozières and the Mouquet Farm (14–15 August 1916), which resulted in his being wounded severely. He was subsequently awarded the Military Cross.
Promoted to captain, Aurousseau also served at the Battle of Messines, the Third Battle of Ypres (Polygon Wood), the First Battle of Dernancourt (part of the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux), and was wounded again at Hourges, during the Battle of Amiens, in August 1918.
For his war service, Aurousseau was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre (1919).
Scientific and literary career
Returning to Perth after the war, Aurousseau again taught geology at UWA.
He subsequently moved to the United States, to work at the Geophysical Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution, in Washington DC. During 1923–24, Aurousseau worked for the American Geographical Society in New York.
After returning briefly to Australia, Aurousseau moved to London to pursue a literary career.
Between 1936 and 1955 he worked as executive secretary of the British Government Permanent Committee on Geographical Names. During World War II, Aurousseau contributed to military geographical dictionaries used by Allied forces. In 1956 he declined the award of an MBE.
In his most influential work, The Rendering of Geographical Names (1957), Aurousseau coined the term exonym: a place name that is the common name only in countries or regions outside the place in question, usually for historical reasons. Usage of "exonym" has grown to include non-geographical proper names for things such as languages, cultures or populations. Some significant examples of exonyms therefore include: the English language "China" for Zhōngguó; the Spanish word estadounidenses (lit. "unitedstatesians") for "Americans", and; the English "German" for Deutsch.
In 1969, the Royal Geographical Society presented Aurousseau with the Victoria Medal, an annual award "for conspicuous merit in research in geography". He was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities in 1972.
Authored works
Aurousseau's published works include:
- Travel books
- Highway Into Spain, London, Peter Davies (1930), 1st ed., 686 pages.
- Highway Into Spain, London, Peter Davies (1931), 2nd ed., 294 pages.
- Beyond the Pyrenees, London, Peter Davies (1931), orig. publ. 1930 as part of Highway Into Spain.
- Geography/history
- The Rendering of Geographical Names, London, Hutchinson (1957).
- The Letters of F. W. Ludwig Leichhardt (transl. & ed.), London, Hakluyt Society/Cambridge University Press (1968).
- Sound recording
- Marcel Aurousseau interviewed by Hazel de Berg for the Hazel de Berg collection (1977), c. 36 minutes; held by the National Library of Australia.
Footnotes
- Oxford Companion to Australian Literature, 2004, "Aurousseau, Marcel" (subscription required) (4 September 2015).
- G. J. McCarthy 2009, "Aurousseau, Marcel (1891-1983)" , Australian Encyclopedia of Science (4 September 2015).
- John Ramsland, 2015, The Other Side of No Man’s Land: Arthur Wheen World War I Hero, Melbourne, Brolga Publishing, p. 310.
- Supplement to the London Gazette, 14 November 1916, p. 11073.
- University of Sydney, 2015, Marcel Aurousseau: Book of Remembrance Entry (4 September 2015).
- Marcel Aurousseau, 1957, The Rendering of Geographical Names, London, Hutchinson, pp. 2–3, and; Kelsey B. Harder, 1996, "The term", in: Ernst Eichler & Walter de Gruyter (eds), Namenforschung/Name Studies/Les noms propres. 2. Halbband+Registerband, Berlin, Walter de Gruyter, p. 1012.
- Spate, O. H. K. "MARCEL AUROUSSEAU" (PDF). Australian Academy of the Humanities. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
External links
- Works by Marcel Aurousseau at Open Library
Marcel Aurousseau MC C de G 19 April 1891 in Woollahra Sydney 22 August 1983 in Sydney was an Australian geographer geologist war hero historian and translator Aurousseau who was of French and Irish descent attended Sydney Boys High School alongside three students who were also later prominent in various fields Arthur Wheen an historian and translator an economist and Arthur McLaughlin a medical practitioner He began his scientific career as an office boy at the Australian Museum in Sydney While completing the Bachelor of Science course at the University of Sydney Aurousseau won the University Medal in Geology In 1913 he was appointed to the position of assistant lecturer at the newly formed geology department of the University of Western Australia UWA in Perth Army serviceLt Marcel Aurousseau Inf For conspicuous gallantry in action He took command when his company commander was killed and inspired all ranks by his fine example During a night attack he led his company forward with great dash till he was severely wounded London Gazette 14 November 1916 Following the outbreak of World War I Aurousseau obtained leave from UWA to join the Australian Imperial Force He was assigned initially to the 28th Battalion 1915 before joining the 51st Battalion on the Western Front Aurousseau first saw action in France at the battles of Fleurbaix Fromelles the Pozieres and the Mouquet Farm 14 15 August 1916 which resulted in his being wounded severely He was subsequently awarded the Military Cross Promoted to captain Aurousseau also served at the Battle of Messines the Third Battle of Ypres Polygon Wood the First Battle of Dernancourt part of the Battle of Villers Bretonneux and was wounded again at Hourges during the Battle of Amiens in August 1918 For his war service Aurousseau was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre 1919 Scientific and literary careerReturning to Perth after the war Aurousseau again taught geology at UWA He subsequently moved to the United States to work at the Geophysical Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution in Washington DC During 1923 24 Aurousseau worked for the American Geographical Society in New York After returning briefly to Australia Aurousseau moved to London to pursue a literary career Between 1936 and 1955 he worked as executive secretary of the British Government Permanent Committee on Geographical Names During World War II Aurousseau contributed to military geographical dictionaries used by Allied forces In 1956 he declined the award of an MBE In his most influential work The Rendering of Geographical Names 1957 Aurousseau coined the term exonym a place name that is the common name only in countries or regions outside the place in question usually for historical reasons Usage of exonym has grown to include non geographical proper names for things such as languages cultures or populations Some significant examples of exonyms therefore include the English language China for Zhōngguo the Spanish word estadounidenses lit unitedstatesians for Americans and the English German for Deutsch In 1969 the Royal Geographical Society presented Aurousseau with the Victoria Medal an annual award for conspicuous merit in research in geography He was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities in 1972 Authored worksAurousseau s published works include Travel booksHighway Into Spain London Peter Davies 1930 1st ed 686 pages Highway Into Spain London Peter Davies 1931 2nd ed 294 pages Beyond the Pyrenees London Peter Davies 1931 orig publ 1930 as part of Highway Into Spain Geography historyThe Rendering of Geographical Names London Hutchinson 1957 The Letters of F W Ludwig Leichhardt transl amp ed London Hakluyt Society Cambridge University Press 1968 Sound recordingMarcel Aurousseau interviewed by Hazel de Berg for the Hazel de Berg collection 1977 c 36 minutes held by the National Library of Australia FootnotesOxford Companion to Australian Literature 2004 Aurousseau Marcel subscription required 4 September 2015 G J McCarthy 2009 Aurousseau Marcel 1891 1983 Australian Encyclopedia of Science 4 September 2015 John Ramsland 2015 The Other Side of No Man s Land Arthur Wheen World War I Hero Melbourne Brolga Publishing p 310 Supplement to the London Gazette 14 November 1916 p 11073 University of Sydney 2015 Marcel Aurousseau Book of Remembrance Entry 4 September 2015 Marcel Aurousseau 1957 The Rendering of Geographical Names London Hutchinson pp 2 3 and Kelsey B Harder 1996 The term in Ernst Eichler amp Walter de Gruyter eds Namenforschung Name Studies Les noms propres 2 Halbband Registerband Berlin Walter de Gruyter p 1012 Spate O H K MARCEL AUROUSSEAU PDF Australian Academy of the Humanities Retrieved 22 April 2024 External linksWorks by Marcel Aurousseau at Open Library
