Sir Basil Alexander Talbot McFarland, 2nd Baronet, CBE

Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

, ERD

Emergency Reserve Decoration

The Emergency Reserve Decoration is a British military decoration, instituted in 1952. It has a dark blue ribbon, with a yellow central stripe.Recipients may use the letters ERD after their name....

(1898 - 1986) was a Northern Irish

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...

 soldier, businessman and politician.

The son of Sir John McFarland, 1st Baronet, he was a businessman, a Senator of Northern Ireland

Senate of Northern Ireland

The Senate of Northern Ireland was the upper house of the Parliament of Northern Ireland created by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. It was abolished with the passing of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.-Powers:...

, Mayor of Londonderry (1939 and 1945-1950), Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry

Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry

This is a list of people to have been Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry. The office was created on 23 August 1831.-County Londonderry:*George Canning, 1st Baron Garvagh 7 October 1831 – 20 August 1840*Sir Robert Ferguson, 2nd Baronet 1840 – 13 March 1860...

 (1939-1975) and an Ireland rugby union

Rugby union

Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

 international (1920 - 1922). He succeeded to his father's title in 1926.

Born in County Londonderry, Sir Basil was educated at Bedford School

Bedford School

Bedford School is not to be confused with Bedford Modern School or Bedford High School or Old Bedford School in Bedford, TexasBedford School is an HMC independent school for boys located in the town of Bedford, England, United Kingdom...

 and also in Brussels

Brussels

Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...

 and Neuwied-on-Rhine, Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

.

Public service

Sir Basil was High Sheriff of the City of Londonderry, 1930-1938 and 1952, High Sheriff of County Londonderry

High Sheriff of County Londonderry

The High Sheriff of County Londonderry, is the Sovereign's judicial representative in County Londonderry. Initially an office for lifetime, assigned by the Sovereign, the High Sheriff became annually appointed from the Provisions of Oxford in 1258. Besides his judicial importance, he has ceremonial...

, 1952. He served in 1918 with the Artists Rifles, and in the Second World War served overseas, mainly in North Africa, with the 9th Londonderry HAA Regiment and was Mentioned in Dispatches

Mentioned in Dispatches

A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...

. He was Commanding Officer of the Londonderry City Battalion of the Home Guard, Chairman of the Territorial Army and Auxiliary Force Association (Co. Londonderry), 1947-1962, and a member of its national Council. McFarland was Hon. Colonel of the 9th Londonderry HAA Regiment of the Royal Artillery (TA), and President of the Northern Ireland TA and Volunteer Reserve Association, 1968-1971.

He was a Commissioner of Irish Lights, an original member of the Northern Ireland Unemployment Assistance Board (to 1939), a Senator in the Parliament of Northern Ireland

Parliament of Northern Ireland

The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which sat from 7 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended...

, 1945-1950, a member of the Northern Ireland Air Advisory Council, 1946-1965, Chairman of the Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners, 1952-1967, a member of the London Midland Area Board of the British Transport Commission, 1955-1961, and a trustee of Magee University College, Londonderry, 1962-1965.

Business Interests

His directorships and business interests included: directorships of the Belfast Banking Company Ltd, 1930-1970, the Belfast Bank Executors Trustee Company, and the Donegal Railways Company, a local directorship of the Commercial Union Assurance Co., and the chairmanship of Sir Alfred McAlpine & Son (Northern Ireland) Ltd, the Londonderry and Lough Swilly

Lough Swilly

Lough Swilly in Ireland is a glacial fjord or sea inlet lying between the western side of the Inishowen Peninsula and the Fanad Peninsula, in County Donegal. Along with Carlingford Lough and Killary Harbour it is one of three known glacial fjords in Ireland....

 Railway Co., Lanes (Derry) Ltd, Lanes (Fuel Oils) Ltd, Lanes (Business Equipment) Ltd, John W. Corbett & Sons, R.C. Malseed & Co. Ltd, Alexander Thompson & Co. Ltd, and the Londonderry Gaslight Co.

Personal life

Sir Basil was married to Annie Kathleen Henderson (d. 1952), daughter of Andrew Henderson, JP, of Parkville, Whiteabbey

Whiteabbey

Whiteabbey is a townland in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is within the urban area called Newtownabbey and the wider Newtownabbey Borough...

, Belfast

Belfast

Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...

. Sir Basil had two children, including Sir John McFarland, 3rd Baronet - who lives in County Donegal

County Donegal

County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...

. His second marriage took place in 1955 to Mary Eleanor Dougan. He lived at Aberfoyle, Co. Londonderry.