William Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle

Infobox Governor-General | name=The Rt Hon.
The Viscount De L'Isle
VC KG GCMG GCVO PC


order=15th Governor-General of Australia
term_start=3 August 1961
term_end=7 May 1965
predecessor=The Viscount Dunrossil
successor=The Lord Casey
birth_date=birth date|1909|5|23|df=y
birth_place=Chelsea, London, United Kingdom
death_date=death date and age|1991|4|5|1909|5|23|df=y
death_place=Kent, United Kingdom
spouse=
profession=
religion=

William Philip Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle VC KG GCMG GCVO PC (23 May 1909 – 5 April 1991), was the 15th Governor-General of Australia and the last one who was British. He was a descendant of King William IV by his mistress Dorothea Bland.

Early life

He was the younger of two children, and the only son, of William Sidney, 5th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley (19 August 1859-18 June 1945) and his wife, Winifred Agneta Yorke Bevan (d. 11 February 1959). The Sidney family was one of England's oldest and most distinguished families. He was educated at Eton and Magdalene College, Cambridge and became a chartered accountant. In 1929 he joined the Grenadier Guards Reserve of Officers.

War service

During World War II Sidney served in France and Italy. He led a handful of men in the defence of the Anzio beachhead, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Sidney led a successful attack which drove German troops out of a gully. Later he led another counter-attack and dashed forward, engaging the Germans with his tommy gun at point-blank range, forcing a withdrawal. When the attack was renewed, Sidney and one guardsman were wounded and another killed, but he would not consent to have his wounds dressed until the Germans had been beaten off and the battalion's position had been consolidated. During this time, although extremely weak from loss of blood, he continued to encourage and inspire his men.

In later life, when asked where he had been shot, he would jocularly respond that he was shot in Italy. This was to conceal the fact that he had, in fact, been shot in the buttocks.

Political Life

At a by-election in 1944 he was elected unopposed to the House of Commons as Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Chelsea. His father died in 1945 and he succeeded as 6th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley. In 1951 he was appointed Secretary of State for Air under Winston Churchill and held that office until 1955. During this time he visited Australia, travelling to Woomera to examine weapons research and meeting the Prime Minister, Robert Menzies. In 1956 he was created Viscount De L'Isle.

Governor-General

In 1961, following the sudden death of Lord Dunrossil, Menzies recommended De L'Isle's appointment as Governor-General of Australia. He performed his ceremonial duties with dignity and travelled widely around Australia. There were no political or constitutional controversies during his term, since the Menzies Liberal government was firmly in power. De L'Isle's Official Secretary throughout his term was Murray Tyrrell.

Marriage and Issue

Sidney married Jacqueline Corrine Yvonne Vereker (20 October 1914 - 15 November 1962), daughter of Field Marshal Lord Gort, on 8 June 1940. The couple had 5 children;
* Elizabeth Sophia (b. 12 March 1941)
* Catherine Mary (b. 20 October 1942)
* Philip John Algernon, 2nd Viscount De L'Isle (b. 21 April 1945)
* Anne Marjorie (b. 15 August 1947)
* Lucy Corinna Agneta (b. 21 February 1953)

After his wife's death, he married Margaret Shoubridge on 24 March 1966 in Paris. They had no issue.

Retirement

By the time of De L'Isle's retirement in 1965, public opinion was strongly in favour of an Australian Governor-General, although this was not a reflection on his performance in the role. His continuing interest in Australia was shown by several visits after his retirement, the last for Australia's bicentenary in 1988, when he presented a bronze statue which now stands in the grounds of Government House in Canberra.

De L'Isle held firmly conservative views and was involved in the foundation of what is now the Freedom Association. He died in Kent on 5 April 1991.

tyles and Honours

* The Hon. William Sidney (1909-30 March 1944)
* The Hon. William Sidney VC (30 March 1944-1945)
* The Rt. Hon. The Lord De L'Isle and Dudley VC (1945-1956)
* The Rt. Hon. The Viscount De L'Isle VC (1956-1961?)
* The Rt. Hon. The Viscount De L'Isle VC GCMG GCVO PC (1961?-23 April 1968)
* The Rt. Hon. The Viscount De L'Isle VC KG GCMG GCVO PC (23 April 1968-1991)

Lord De L'Isle would have been made GCMG and GCVO upon or before becoming Governor-General of Australia. However, it is unknown when exactly these appointments were made.

He was appointed Knight of the Garter (KG) on 23 April 1968 [ [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/orders/garterlist.htm List of the Knights of the Garter (1348-present) ] ] , becoming one of only three men ever to have held both of the highest orders of gallantry and chivalry - Victoria Cross and Knight of the Garter. [ [http://www.history.uk.com/articles/index.php?archive=38 History.UK.com Articles ] ]

See also

*List of United Kingdom MPs with the shortest service
*British VCs of World War 2

References

External links

* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/kent.htm Location of grave and VC medal]
*