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George Monckton-Arundell, 8th Viscount Galway facts for kids

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The Viscount Galway
GCMG, DSO, OBE, KStJ, PC
George Monckton-Arundell.jpg
5th Governor-General of New Zealand
In office
12 April 1935 – 3 February 1941
Monarch George V
Edward VIII
George VI
Prime Minister George Forbes
Michael Joseph Savage
Peter Fraser
Preceded by The Lord Bledisloe
Succeeded by The Lord Newall
Personal details
Born (1882-03-24)24 March 1882
Died 27 March 1943(1943-03-27) (aged 61)
Blyth, Nottinghamshire
Alma mater Christ Church, Oxford
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch/service British Army
Rank Colonel
Battles/wars First World War
Awards Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
Distinguished Service Order
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Mentioned in Despatches

George Vere Arundel Monckton-Arundell, 8th Viscount Galway, GCMG, DSO, OBE, KStJ, PC (24 March 1882 – 27 March 1943) was a British politician. He served as the fifth Governor-General of New Zealand from 1935 to 1941.

Early life

The Monckton-Arundell family
Simon, the 8th Viscount Galway, Isabel, Lucia, Celia and Mary (from left).

George Vere Arundell Monckton-Arundell Galway was born on 24 March 1882. His parents were George Monckton-Arundell, 7th Viscount Galway and Vere Gosling. He had one sibling: Violet Frances Monckton-Arundell (wife of married Lt.-Col. Geoffrey Henry Julian FitzPatrick, son of Edward Skeffington-Smyth).

He received his education at a preparatory school in Berkshire before attending Eton College (1895–1900) and Christ Church College, University of Oxford (1900–1904). He read Modern History and graduated with Bachelor of Arts and took the Master of Arts subsequently (this degree at Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin is an elevation in rank and not a postgraduate qualification).

Lord Galway succeeded his father to the family's Irish peerage in 1931.

Career

Military career

Monckton-Arundell was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Nottinghamshire (Sherwood Rangers) Yeomanry on 1 January 1900, and promoted to lieutenant on 11 June 1902. In 1904, he joined the First Life Guards, the senior regiment of the British Army that makes up the Household Cavalry, where he rose to the rank of colonel. During the First World War he was appointed as adjutant general and quartermaster general. He was of the Royal Artillery (1933–35). In 1933 he was appointed Colonel Commandant of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) until 1935, when he relinquished it on appointment as Governor-General of New Zealand. Upon retirement from his post as governor-general he returned as Colonel Commandant of the HAC until his death. He was also appointed Honorary Colonel of the 7th (Robin Hood) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (later 42nd (The Robin Hoods, Sherwood Foresters) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers) in 1933.

Political ambitions

In 1910, Monckton-Arundell attempted to follow his father into the House of Commons. He contested the Scarborough constituency in the January and December elections of 1910, but was unsuccessful both times.

Governor-General of New Zealand

Viscount Galway was Governor-General of New Zealand from 12 April 1935 to 3 February 1941. His military background made an impression with cabinet ministers of the time. His term was twice extended because of the Second World War. Viscount Galway and his wife received numerous gifts during his time as governor-general. Some were returned to New Zealand around the time of the sale of the family house Serlby Hall, and were donated to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in 1980.

George Monckton-Arundell, photographed by Herman John Schmidt
George Monckton-Arundell, photographed by Herman Schmidt, circa 1935

Galway was a freemason. During his term as governor-general, he was also Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand. In the 1937 Coronation Honours, he was appointed a member of the Privy Council.

Later years

Upon his return to England, Galway held the honorary post of Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire under the 7th Duke of Portland.

Personal life

Viscount Galway married Lucia Margaret White, daughter of the 3rd Baron Annaly, in 1922. They had four children:

  • Mary Victoria Monckton (1924–2010), who married David Henry Fetherstonhaugh, son of Lt.-Col. Timothy Fetherstonhaugh, in 1947. They divorced in 1972 and she married Maj. Robert Patricius Chaworth-Musters, son of Col. John Neville Chaworth-Musters, in 1974.
  • Celia Ella Vere Monckton (1925–1997), who married Sir Joshua Rowley, 7th Baronet, son of Lt.-Col. Sir Charles Rowley, 6th Baronet, in 1959.
  • Isabel Cynthia Monckton (b. 1926), who married John King, Baron King of Wartnaby, son of Albert John King, in 1970.
  • Simon George Robert Monckton-Arundell (1929–1971), who married Lady Theresa Jane Fox-Strangways, daughter of Harry Fox-Strangways, 7th Earl of Ilchester, in 1953.

He died suddenly on 27 March 1943 in Blyth.

Arms

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