George Monckton-Arundell, 8th Viscount Galway

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

The Right Honourable The Viscount Galway GCMG, DSO, OBE
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

Early life and 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.[1] He had one sibling: Violet Frances Monckton-Arundell (14 May 1880 – 24 October 1930).[2] He received his education at a preparatory school in Berkshire[3] before attending Eton College (1895–1900) and Christ Church College, University of Oxford (1900–1904). He read Modern History and graduated with Bachelor or 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).[1][4]

Viscount Galway married Lucia Margaret White, daughter of the 3rd Baron Annaly, in 1922. They had four children: Mary Victoria Monckton (born 1924), Celia Ella Vere Monckton (1925–1997), Isabel Cynthia Monckton (born 1926) and Simon George Robert Monckton-Arundell (1929–1971).[4][5]

Viscount Galway succeeded his father to the family's Irish peerage in 1931.[4]

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.[6] 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)[7] 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.[4][8][9] 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.[10][11]

Political ambitions

In 1910, Monckton-Arundell attempted to follow his father into the House of Commons. He contested the Scarborough constituency in the 1910 general election, but was unsuccessful.[5]

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.[9] 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,[12] and were donated to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in 1980.[13]

Galway was a freemason. During his term as governor-general, he was also Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand.[14]

Later years and death

Upon his return to England, Galway held the honorary post of Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire under the 7th Duke of Portland. He died suddenly on 27 March 1943 in Blyth.[9]

Arms

Coat of arms of George Monckton-Arundell, 8th Viscount Galway

Notes The arms of George Monckton-Arundell consist of: Crest 1 On a chapeau Azure doubled Ermine a swallow Argent (for Arundell), 2 A martlet Or (for Monckton). Escutcheon Quarterly, 1st and 4th, Sable six swallows, three, two and one, Argent (for Arundell); 2nd and 3rd, Sable on a chevron, between three martlets Or, as many mullets of the field (for Monckton). Supporters Two unicorns Ermine, crined, armed and unguled, each gorged with an Eastern diadem Or. Motto Certus et Constans ("Sure and Constant")

References

1. Lundy, Darryl. "George Vere Arundell Monckton-Arundell, 8th Viscount Galway". The Peerage.com. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
2. Lundy, Darryl. "George Edward Milnes Monckton-Arundell, 7th Viscount Galway". The Peerage.com. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
3. "Lord Galway". Evening Post. CXVIII (108). 3 November 1934. p. 11. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
4. "Biography of George Vere Arundell Monckton-Arundell, 8th Viscount Galway (1882–1943)". University of Nottingham. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
5. "Lord Galway". Evening Post. CXIX (87). 12 April 1935. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
6. "No. 27441". The London Gazette. 10 June 1902. p. 3756.
7. "No. 33917". The London Gazette. 3 March 1933. p. 1430.
8. Page 351-353, Regimental Fire, A History of the HAC in World war II, Author: Brigadier RF Johnson
9. A. H. McLintock, ed. (22 April 2009) [originally published in 1966]. "Galway, Sir George Vere Arundell Monckton-Arundell, Eighth Viscount". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manatū Taonga. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
10. Army List.
11. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage.
12. "Biography of George Vere Arundell Monckton-Arundell, 8th Viscount Galway (1882–1943)". Manuscripts and Special Collections. The University of Nottingham. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
13. "Collection items associated with Viscount Galway, GCMG, DSO, OBE, PC". Collections Online. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Viscount Galway
• Short biography by the office of the Governor-General

Military offices
Preceded by Earl of Denbigh	Colonel Commandant and President, Honourable Artillery Company 1933–1935	Succeeded by Earl Fortescue
Government offices
Preceded by The Viscount Bledisloe	Governor-General of New Zealand 1935–1941	Succeeded by Sir Cyril Newall
Peerage of Ireland
Preceded by George Monckton-Arundell	Viscount Galway 1931–1943	Succeeded by Simon Monckton-Arundell