Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1941
Encyclopedia
The Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1941 was a parliamentary by-election
held on 18 August 1941 for the British House of Commons
constituency
of Berwick-upon-Tweed
.
(2 October 1898 - 1 April 1970), was elevated to the peerage as the 1st Baron Sherwood in July 1941.
Seely had become the Liberal MP for the constituency, when he defeated the previous Conservative MP in the United Kingdom general election, 1935
. He had contested East Norfolk
in 1922, before becoming its MP 1923 - 1924. He also stood at Kensington South
in 1929.
As only one candidates were nominated, he was returned unopposed with no poll being necessary.
George Charles Grey
(2 December 1918 – 30 July 1944), the son of a Major-General, had joined the British Army in 1938 before the outbreak of the Second World War the following year.
Between his election and his death, he was the youngest member
of the House of Commons
, having been elected at the age of 22 years 259 days.
A captain in the 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards
, Grey was killed at Le Repas in Normandy
, France
, on the first day of Operation Bluecoat
. He was buried on the battlefield by his men, on the site of which his family later erected a memorial. The site is now recognised as a war grave
, designated the Livry Isolated Grave.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held on 18 August 1941 for the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
constituency
United Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
of Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed (UK Parliament constituency)
Berwick-upon-Tweed is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
.
Previous MP
The seat had become vacant when the constituency's Member of Parliament (MP), Sir Hugh Michael Seely, BtHugh Seely, 1st Baron Sherwood
Hugh Michael Seely, 1st Baron Sherwood was a British Liberal politician. He was the third baronet of the Seely family, of Sherwood Lodge, Nottinghamshire....
(2 October 1898 - 1 April 1970), was elevated to the peerage as the 1st Baron Sherwood in July 1941.
Seely had become the Liberal MP for the constituency, when he defeated the previous Conservative MP in the United Kingdom general election, 1935
United Kingdom general election, 1935
The United Kingdom general election held on 14 November 1935 resulted in a large, though reduced, majority for the National Government now led by Conservative Stanley Baldwin. The greatest number of MPs, as before, were Conservative, while the National Liberal vote held steady...
. He had contested East Norfolk
East Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)
East Norfolk was a parliamentary constituency in the county of Norfolk. It returned two Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1868. Another Eastern division was created in 1885, when its representation was reduced to one member...
in 1922, before becoming its MP 1923 - 1924. He also stood at Kensington South
Kensington South (UK Parliament constituency)
Kensington South was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Kensington district of west London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
in 1929.
Candidates
The election took place during the Second World War. Under an agreement between the Conservative, Labour and Liberal parties; who were participating in a wartime coalition, the party holding a seat would not be opposed by the other two at a by-election. Accordingly the Liberal Party nominated a candidate, but no Labour or Conservative representative was put forward.As only one candidates were nominated, he was returned unopposed with no poll being necessary.
George Charles Grey
George Charles Grey
George Charles Grey was Liberal Member of Parliament for the Berwick-upon-Tweed constituency in England from August 1941 until his death in action in July 1944....
(2 December 1918 – 30 July 1944), the son of a Major-General, had joined the British Army in 1938 before the outbreak of the Second World War the following year.
Between his election and his death, he was the youngest member
Baby of the House
Baby of the House is the unofficial title given to the youngest member of a parliamentary house. The term is most often applied to members of the British parliament.-Australia:In Australia the term is rarely used...
of the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
, having been elected at the age of 22 years 259 days.
A captain in the 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards
Grenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
, Grey was killed at Le Repas in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, on the first day of Operation Bluecoat
Operation Bluecoat
Operation Bluecoat was an attack by the British Second Army at the Battle of Normandy during the Second World War, from 30 July – 7 August 1944. The geographical objectives of the attack were to secure the key road junction of Vire and the high ground of Mont Pinçon...
. He was buried on the battlefield by his men, on the site of which his family later erected a memorial. The site is now recognised as a war grave
War grave
A war grave is a burial place for soldiers or civilians who died during military campaigns or operations. The term does not only apply to graves: ships sunk during wartime are often considered to be war graves, as are military aircraft that crash into water...
, designated the Livry Isolated Grave.
Votes
See also
- Berwick-upon-Tweed constituencyBerwick-upon-Tweed (UK Parliament constituency)Berwick-upon-Tweed is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
- List of United Kingdom by-elections (1931–1950)
- United Kingdom by-election recordsUnited Kingdom by-election recordsUK by-election records is an annotated list of notable records from UK Parliamentary by-elections. A by-election occurs when a Member of Parliament resigns, dies, or is disqualified or expelled, and an election is held to fill the vacant seat...