Article

Victor Wentworth Odlum

Published Online January 29, 2008

Last Edited October 7, 2014

Victor Wentworth Odlum, journalist, soldier, diplomat (b at Cobourg, Ont 21 Oct 1880; d at Vancouver 4 Apr 1971). He served in the South African War and WWI, and between the wars pursued a career as a journalist.

Odlum, Victor Wentworth

Victor Wentworth Odlum, journalist, soldier, diplomat (b at Cobourg, Ont 21 Oct 1880; d at Vancouver 4 Apr 1971). He served in the South African War and WWI, and between the wars pursued a career as a journalist. He was connected with several newspapers, including the Vancouver Daily Star, of which he was publisher 1924-32. In the late 1930s he served on the board of the CANADIAN BROADCASTING CORP.

With the rank of major-general, he commanded the 2nd Canadian Division (1940-41) and was released to become high commissioner to Australia and Canada's first ambassador to China, 1943-46. An admirer of Jiang Jieshi, Odlum was out of step with events in China, although many of his proposals regarding Canada-China relations were innovative. He was ambassador to Turkey 1947-52.