Arthur Claud Spencer Chichester, 4th Baron Templemore, KCVO, DSO, OBE, PC, DL (12 September 1880 – 2 October 1953) was a British soldier and politician of Anglo-Irish descent.
The Lord Templemore | |
|---|---|
 Arms of the Baron Templemore | |
| Conservative Chief Whip in the House of Lords | |
| In office 1940–1945 | |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Lucan |
| Succeeded by | The Earl Fortescue |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Arthur Claud Spencer Chichester 12 September 1880 Westminster, London, England[1] |
| Died | 2 October 1953 (aged 73) County Wicklow, Ireland |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Education | Harrow School |
| Alma mater | Royal Military College, Sandhurst |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch/service |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1907–1918 1939–1944 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Royal Fusiliers Irish Guards |
| Battles/wars | Second Boer War World War I |
| Awards | Queen's South Africa Medal Tibet Medal Royal Victorian Order Distinguished Service Order Order of the British Empire |
Early life
editChichester was the eldest son of the 3rd Baron Templemore and his wife, Evelyn (née Stracey-Clitherow). From his father's second marriage, he had a younger half-brother, Sir Gerald Chichester, a diplomat and courtier who served as Private Secretary to Queen Mary.[2]
He was educated at Harrow and trained at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, before being commissioned into the Royal Fusiliers as a second lieutenant on 20 January 1900.
Career
editHe fought in the Second Boer War, and was promoted to lieutenant on 23 February 1901,[3] staying in South Africa until the end of the war, when he returned home on the SS Assaye in September 1902.[4] When he was back in the United Kingdom, he returned as a regular lieutenant in his regiment in November 1902.[5] He later served in Mauritius, India, and the British expedition to Tibet.[6]
By now a Captain, Chichester distinguished himself in the First World War with his service in France and Italy, becoming a Major with the Irish Guards and winning along with many other awards the DSO (1918) and an OBE (1919).[6]
In 1924, he succeeded his father as fourth Baron Templemore, and three years later was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Earl of Onslow as Under-Secretary of State for War and Paymaster General.[6]
Lord Templemore was a Lord in Waiting to George V from February to June, 1929 and again between 1931 and 1934. He was also Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard for 11 years (1934–1945), and served as Conservative Chief Whip in the House of Lords (1940–1945). He was appointed KCVO in 1938.[6] He was a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire.
Personal life
editTemplemore married the Hon.Clare Meriel Wingfield, second daughter of Mervyn Wingfield, 7th Viscount Powerscourt, at St George's, Hanover Square, London, in 1911.[7] They had three sons:
- Major Hon. Arthur Patrick Spencer Chichester (23 March 1914 – 23 December 1942), killed in action in North Africa in World War II[8]
- Major Hon. Dermot Chichester (18 April 1916 – 19 April 2007)
- Lord Desmond Clive Chichester, MC (1920–2000)
The fourth baron died in 1953 in County Wicklow. His second son succeeded him in the barony and in 1975 inherited the title of Marquess of Donegall in the Peerage of Ireland from a distant cousin.[6]
References
edit- ^ Crisp, Frederick Arthur (Ulster King of Arms) (1911). Visitation of Ireland – Volume 5.
- ^ "A DISTINGUISHED CHARLWOOD RESIDENT. SIR GERALD CHICHESTER'S NOTABLE CAREER". The Surrey Mirror and County Post. 13 October 1939. p. 10. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Hart′s Army list, 1903
- ^ "The Army in South Africa – Troops returning Home". The Times. No. 36865. London. 5 September 1902. p. 6.
- ^ "No. 27494". The London Gazette. 11 November 1902. p. 7167.
- ^ a b c d e "Lord Templemore: Soldier and statesman". The Times. 5 October 1953. p. 11.
- ^ "Marriages: The Hon. Claud Chichester and the Hon. Clare Wingfield". The Times. 11 January 1911. p. 11.
- ^ "Obituary". The Times. 1 January 1943. p. 4.