1945 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours
Encyclopedia
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, following the success of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
in the 1945 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
.
The list was particularly notable for four recommendations outside party politics which had the approval of the new Prime Minister, Clement Attlee
Clement Attlee
Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC, FRS was a British Labour politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951, and as the Leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955...
. These were to the Chiefs of Staff of the armed services and the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, honouring what The Times called "the most remarkable achievement of team work in British military history ... followed with conspicuous mastery to its consummation in the most absolute of all victories."
Other nominations followed the usual convention of Prime Minister's Resignation Honours
Prime Minister's Resignation Honours
The Prime Minister's Resignation Honours in the United Kingdom are honours granted at the behest of an outgoing Prime Minister following his or her resignation. In such a list, a Prime Minister may ask the monarch to bestow peerages, or other lesser honours, on any number of people of his or her...
, rewarding loyal service to the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
and political and personal service to the retiring Prime Minister. Amongst these honours, The Times noted in particular the knighthood for A. P. Herbert
A. P. Herbert
Sir Alan Patrick Herbert, CH was an English humorist, novelist, playwright and law reform activist...
, "who has his individual niche in the parliamentary temple as the doughty vindicator of the private member's rights, including not least the right to legislate."
The list included the first awards of the newly inaugurated Defence Medal, intended to honour members of the Home Guard, Civil Defence, and troops serving in non-operational areas. However, these four awards were to people who went with Churchill into operational areas, and were noted as being in a special category.
The recipients are displayed below as they were styled before their new honour.
Baron
- Field Marshal Sir Alan BrookeAlan Brooke, 1st Viscount AlanbrookeField Marshal The Rt. Hon. Alan Francis Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, KG, GCB, OM, GCVO, DSO & Bar , was a senior commander in the British Army. He was the Chief of the Imperial General Staff during the Second World War, and was promoted to Field Marshal in 1944...
, Chief of the Imperial General Staff since 1941 - Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew CunninghamAndrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of HyndhopeAdmiral of the Fleet Andrew Browne Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope KT, GCB, OM, DSO and two Bars , was a British admiral of the Second World War. Cunningham was widely known by his nickname, "ABC"....
, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff since 1943 - Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Charles PortalCharles Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of HungerfordMarshal of the Royal Air Force Charles Frederick Algernon Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford KG GCB OM DSO & Bar MC was a senior Royal Air Force officer and an advocate of strategic bombing...
, Chief of the Air Staff since 1940
Companion of Honour
- General Sir Hastings IsmayHastings Ismay, 1st Baron IsmayGeneral Hastings Lionel "Pug" Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay, KG, GCB, CH, DSO, PC was a British Indian Army officer and diplomat, remembered primarily for his role as Winston Churchill's chief military assistant during the Second World War and his service as the first Secretary General of NATO from 1952...
, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence since 1940
KBE
- Major General Millis JefferisMillis JefferisMajor-General Sir Millis Rowland Jefferis KBE MC was, during the Second World War, the founder of a special unit of the British Ministry of Supply which developed unusual weapons.-Early career:...
, for original work in connection with the development of special war weapons
CBE
- Colonel Kenneth Grant Post, for work in connection with defence against the V weapons
Knighthood
- Captain Richard Pike Pim, RNVR, lately supervisor of the Defence Map Room and head of the Upper War Room, Admiralty
Defence Medal
- Marian Lumley-Holmes; Elizabeth Shakespear Layton; Frank Sawyers; Nina Edith Sturdee
Viscount
- Gomer Kemsley, 1st Baron Kemsley, newspaper proprietor
- Frederick Penny, 1st Baron MarchwoodFrederick Penny, 1st Viscount MarchwoodFrederick George Penny, 1st Viscount Marchwood KCVO, JP was a British Conservative Party politician.The second son of Frederick James Penny of Bitterne in Hampshire, Penny was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, Southampton.He was a senior partner Fraser & Co., Government brokers,...
, treasurer of the Conservative Party
Baron
- Sir George BroadbridgeGeorge Broadbridge, 1st Baron BroadbridgeGeorge Thomas Broadbridge, 1st Baron Broadbridge KCVO FRGS FCIS was a British Conservative Party politician, most prominently in the City of London....
, retired member of parliament - Sir William DavisonWilliam Davison, 1st Baron BroughshaneWilliam Henry Davison, 1st Baron Broughshane KBE FSA JP DL was a British peer and Conservative Member of Parliament for Kensington South for twenty-four years....
, retired member of parliament - John LlewellinJohn Jestyn Llewellin, 1st Baron LlewellinColonel John Jestyn Llewellin, 1st Baron Llewellin GBE, PC, MC, TD was a British army officer, Conservative Party politician and minister in Winston Churchill's war government.-Background:...
, defeated member of parliament, outgoing Minister of FoodMinister of FoodThe Minister of Food Control and the Minister of Food were British government ministerial posts separated from that of the Minister of Agriculture. A major task of the latter office was to oversee rationing in the United Kingdom arising out of World War II... - Sir Charles Lyle, BtLeonard Lyle, 1st Baron Lyle of WestbourneLeonard Lyle, 1st Baron Lyle of Westbourne was a British industrialist and Conservative Party politician.He was born in London, the only son of Charles Lyle and his wife, Mary, née Brown...
, defeated member of parliament
Privy Councillor
- Sir Cuthbert Headlam, Bt, MP
- Malcom McCorquodaleMalcolm McCorquodale, 1st Baron McCorquodale of NewtonMalcolm Stewart McCorquodale, 1st Baron McCorquodale of Newton PC was a British businessman and Conservative politician.-Background and education:...
, defeated member of parliament
Baronet
- Ralph Cokayne Assheton, "For public services in LancashireLancashireLancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
over a period of fifty years" [He was the father of Ralph Assheton MPRalph Assheton, 1st Baron ClitheroeRalph Assheton, 1st Baron Clitheroe PC was a British Conservative Party politician.He was Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe from 1934 to 1945, for the City of London from 1945 to 1950, and for Blackburn West from 1950 to 1955.In the wartime government under Winston Churchill, he was Minister of...
, Chairman of the Conservative PartyConservative Party (UK)The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...] - Harold MitchellSir Harold Paton Mitchell, 1st BaronetSir Harold Paton Mitchell, 1st Baronet was a politician, British peer and businessman. He was born in Carnock, Fife, UK, the eldest son of Alexander Mitchell and Meta Mary Graham Paton....
, defeated member of parliament, Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party - Walter Womersley, defeated member of parliament, outgoing Minister of PensionsSecretary of State for Work and PensionsThe Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is a post in the British Cabinet, responsible for the Department for Work and Pensions. It was created on 8 June 2001 by the merger of the Employment part of the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security.The Ministry...
- Arthur Young, MP, outgoing Vice-Chamberlain of the HouseholdVice-Chamberlain of the HouseholdThe Vice-Chamberlain of the Household is usually a junior government whip in the British House of Commons and is an officer of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. He or she is the Deputy to the Lord Chamberlain of the Household. The Vice-Chamberlain's main role is to compile...
(Junior government whip)
Knight
- Robert CarySir Robert Cary, 1st BaronetSir Robert Archibald Cary, 1st Baronet was a British Conservative politician.The son of Robert Cary and Alice Day, he was educated at Ardingly College and at the Royal Military College Sandhurst. Serving to the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, Cary fought in the First World War and Second World War...
, MP - Alan Patrick HerbertA. P. HerbertSir Alan Patrick Herbert, CH was an English humorist, novelist, playwright and law reform activist...
, MP - David RobertsonDavid Robertson (UK politician)Sir David Robertson was a British accountant, company director and politician. From a Scottish family, he represented first a constituency in London and then the Scottish highlands constituency of Caithness and Sutherland...
, MP - Brigadier-General Edward Riddell CMGOrder of St Michael and St GeorgeThe Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
DSO - Basil Neven-SpenceBasil Neven-SpenceSir Basil Hamilton Hebden Neven-Spence was a Scottish Unionist Party politician and military physician....
, MP
Order of the Companions of HonourOrder of the Companions of HonourThe Order of the Companions of Honour is an order of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded by King George V in June 1917, as a reward for outstanding achievements in the arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry or religion....
- Rt Hon Leopold Stennett Amery, MP, Secretary of State for India and Burma
- Rt Hon Alfred Ernest BrownErnest BrownAlfred Ernest Brown CH was a British politician who served as leader of the Liberal Nationals from 1940 until 1945.-Biography:...
, MP
See also
- 1951 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours1951 Prime Minister's Resignation HonoursThe 1951 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours were officially announced in a supplement to the London Gazette of 27 November 1951, published on 30 November 1951, to mark the resignation of Prime Minister Clement Attlee.-Baron:*David Kirkwood, MP...
- 1955 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours
- 1976 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours1976 Prime Minister's Resignation HonoursThe 1976 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours were announced on 27 May 1976 to mark the resignation of Prime Minister Harold Wilson. The list of honours became known satirically as the "Lavender List".-Controversy:...
- 1979 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours1979 Prime Minister's Resignation HonoursThe 1979 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours were officially announced in the London Gazette of 14 June 1979 and marked the May 1979 resignation of Prime Minister James Callaghan.-Life Peers:...
- 1990 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours1990 Prime Minister's Resignation HonoursThe 1990 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours were officially announced in the London Gazette of 21 December 1990 and marked the resignation of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who had stepped down from the role on 22 November that year after more than 11 years in office and nearly 16 years as...
- 1997 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours1997 Prime Minister's Resignation HonoursThe 1997 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours were officially announced in two supplements to the London Gazette of 1 August 1997 and marked the May 1997 resignation of Prime Minister John Major....