William Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Viscount De L'Isle
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Sidney in 1962
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| 15th Governor-General of Australia | |
| In office 3 August 1961 – 7 May 1965 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Robert Menzies |
| Preceded by | Lord Dunrossil |
| Succeeded by | Lord Casey |
| Secretary of State for Air | |
| In office 31 October 1951 – 20 December 1955 |
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| Monarch | |
| Prime Minister | Winston Churchill |
| Preceded by | Arthur Henderson |
| Succeeded by | Nigel Birch |
| Member of Parliament for Chelsea |
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| In office 11 October 1944 – 15 June 1945 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Samuel Hoare |
| Succeeded by | Allan Noble |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| In office 18 June 1945 – 5 April 1991 Hereditary peerage |
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| Preceded by | 5th Baron De L'Isle |
| Succeeded by | The 2nd Viscount De L'Isle |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Philip Sidney
23 May 1909 Chelsea, London, England |
| Died | 5 April 1991 (aged 81) Tonbridge, Kent, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouses |
Jacqueline Vereker
(m. 1940; died 1962)Margaret Bailey
(m. 1966) |
| Children | 5, including Philip |
| Relatives | 6th Viscount Gort (father-in-law) |
| Alma mater | Magdalene College, Cambridge |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1929–1944 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Grenadier Guards |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
William Philip Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle (born May 23, 1909 – died April 5, 1991) was a brave British Army officer and a politician. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, which is the highest military award for bravery. Later, he served as the 15th Governor-General of Australia from 1961 to 1965. He was the last person from outside Australia to hold this important role.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Philip Sidney was born into a noble family in London, England. He was the only son of William Sidney, 5th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley. He went to Eton College, a famous school, and then studied at Magdalene College, Cambridge University. After his studies, he became a chartered accountant, which means he was an expert in managing money for businesses. He also joined the Territorial Army in 1929.
Family Life
Lord De L'Isle married Jacqueline Corrine Yvonne Vereker in 1940. They had five children together. Sadly, his wife passed away in 1962. Later, in 1966, he married Margaret Shoubridge.
Heroic War Service
During Second World War, William Sidney fought for his country. He was a Major in the Grenadier Guards. He showed incredible bravery during the Italian Campaign.
Bravery at Anzio
In February 1944, during the Battle of Anzio in Italy, Major Sidney led his men in a tough fight. He bravely attacked German troops, forcing them to retreat. Even after being wounded, he kept encouraging his soldiers. He refused to have his wounds treated until his unit's position was safe. For his amazing courage, he was awarded the Victoria Cross. This medal is given for the most outstanding bravery in the face of the enemy.
Life in Politics
After his war service, William Sidney entered politics. In October 1944, he became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Chelsea. He was part of the Conservative Party.
Moving to the House of Lords
In 1945, his father passed away. William Sidney then inherited his father's title, becoming the 6th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley. This meant he moved from the House of Commons to the House of Lords, which is another part of the British Parliament.
Secretary of State for Air
From 1951 to 1955, he held an important job as the Secretary of State for Air. In this role, he was in charge of the Royal Air Force. He worked under the famous Prime Minister Winston Churchill. During this time, he even visited Australia to see weapons research. In 1956, he was given an even higher title, becoming Viscount De L'Isle.
Serving Australia
In 1961, Lord De L'Isle was chosen to be the 15th Governor-General of Australia. This is a very important role, representing the King or Queen in Australia. The Australian Prime Minister, Robert Menzies, suggested him for the job.
Time in Office
He started his role on August 3, 1961. He was known for wearing the traditional uniform for the Governor-General. His time in office was smooth, and he didn't face any major political problems. He was the first Governor-General in many years to have young children living with him at Yarralumla, the official residence. This made him popular with the public.
Challenges and Legacy
Sadly, his wife became ill and passed away in 1962. Despite this personal tragedy, he decided to continue serving until his term ended in 1965. His daughters, Catherine and Anne, helped him by acting as official hostesses. When he retired, people in Australia wanted an Australian to be the next Governor-General. Lord De L'Isle was the last British person to hold this position.
Later Years and Passing
After leaving Australia in 1965, Lord De L'Isle continued to visit the country. His last visit was in 1988 for Australia's 200th birthday celebration. He even gave a bronze statue to Government House in Canberra.
He passed away in Kent, England, on April 5, 1991. He was buried in his family's vault. He was the last person to have received the Victoria Cross and also served in both parts of the British Parliament. His son, Philip, took over his titles.
Honours and Recognition
William Philip Sidney received many honours throughout his life. These included:
- The Victoria Cross (VC) for his bravery in war.
- Being appointed a Knight of the Garter (KG) in 1968. This is a very high honour in Britain.
- He was one of only two people ever to hold both the Victoria Cross and the Order of the Garter.
