George Doland
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel George Frederick Doland OBE
(1 May 1872 - 26 November 1946) was a British
businessman and Conservative
politician.
A native of the Wandsworth
area, Doland was a merchant tailor, who established a chain of shops in south-west London. In 1912 he entered local politics, when he was elected as a Municipal Reform Party
member of Wandsworth Borough Council
for Balham
ward. He served on Wandsworth council for more than a quarter of a century, and was mayor of the borough in 1928-29 and 1933-34. In 1934 he was elected to the London County Council
as a Municipal Reform councillor for Balham and Tooting, and retained the seat in 1937. He was appointed a deputy lieutenant for the County of London
in 1938.
Doland was too old for active service in World War I
, but became a member of the Volunteer Training Force. He was granted a commission as a temporary major in the County of London Motor Volunteer Corps in 1917, and was promoted to temporary lieutenant-colonel. He was subsequently a member of the Royal Army Service Corps
Motor Transport (Volunteers), and resigned his commission in 1921. He was permitted to retain the honorary rank of "lieutenant-colonel".
In June 1936, Sir Alfred Butt
, the sitting Conservative Member of Parliament
(MP) for Balham and Tooting
resigned following a scandal concerning the leak of details of the budget. Doland was chosen to be Conservative candidate for the resulting by-election, and was unopposed by the other parties forming the Coalition Government
. In a straight fight with W G Miller of the Labour Party
, he retained the seat with a majority of 2,070 votes.
Doland was a member of the Commons for nine years. Elections were cancelled on the outbreak of World War II
in 1939, and the next general election was not called until 1945. As he was over seventy years of age, Doland chose to retire from parliament.
He died in November 1946, aged 74, from complications following a medical operation. He was cremated at Putney Vale Cemetery
.
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...
(1 May 1872 - 26 November 1946) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
businessman and Conservative
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...
politician.
A native of the Wandsworth
Wandsworth
Wandsworth is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Toponymy:...
area, Doland was a merchant tailor, who established a chain of shops in south-west London. In 1912 he entered local politics, when he was elected as a Municipal Reform Party
Municipal Reform Party
The Municipal Reform Party was a local party allied to the parliamentary Conservative Party in the County of London. The party contested elections to both the London County Council and metropolitan borough councils of the county from 1906 to 1945.-Formation:...
member of Wandsworth Borough Council
Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth
The Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth was a Metropolitan borough under the London County Council, from 1900 to 1965.The borough was formed from five civil parishes: Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting Graveney and Wandsworth...
for Balham
Balham
Balham is a district of London, EnglandBalham can also refer to:*Balham, Ardennes, a commune in France*Balham station, railway and tube station in Balham, London*Balaam, a Biblical figure...
ward. He served on Wandsworth council for more than a quarter of a century, and was mayor of the borough in 1928-29 and 1933-34. In 1934 he was elected to the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
as a Municipal Reform councillor for Balham and Tooting, and retained the seat in 1937. He was appointed a deputy lieutenant for the County of London
County of London
The County of London was a county of England from 1889 to 1965, corresponding to the area known today as Inner London. It was created as part of the general introduction of elected county government in England, by way of the Local Government Act 1888. The Act created an administrative County of...
in 1938.
Doland was too old for active service in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, but became a member of the Volunteer Training Force. He was granted a commission as a temporary major in the County of London Motor Volunteer Corps in 1917, and was promoted to temporary lieutenant-colonel. He was subsequently a member of the Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
Motor Transport (Volunteers), and resigned his commission in 1921. He was permitted to retain the honorary rank of "lieutenant-colonel".
In June 1936, Sir Alfred Butt
Alfred Butt
Sir Alfred Butt, 1st Baronet was a British theatre entrepreneur, Conservative politician and racehorse owner and breeder...
, the sitting Conservative Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Balham and Tooting
Balham and Tooting (UK Parliament constituency)
Balham and Tooting was a constituency in South London, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
resigned following a scandal concerning the leak of details of the budget. Doland was chosen to be Conservative candidate for the resulting by-election, and was unopposed by the other parties forming the Coalition Government
Fourth National Ministry
The Fourth National Ministry was formed by Neville Chamberlain on his appointment as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on May 28, 1937. As a National Government it contained members of the Conservative Party, Liberal Nationals and National Labour, as well as a number of individuals who belonged...
. In a straight fight with W G Miller 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...
, he retained the seat with a majority of 2,070 votes.
Doland was a member of the Commons for nine years. Elections were cancelled on the outbreak of 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...
in 1939, and the next general election was not called until 1945. As he was over seventy years of age, Doland chose to retire from parliament.
He died in November 1946, aged 74, from complications following a medical operation. He was cremated at Putney Vale Cemetery
Putney Vale Cemetery
Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium in London is surrounded by Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park, and is located within forty-seven acres of parkland. The cemetery was opened in 1891 and the crematorium in 1938...
.