Harry Llewellyn
Encyclopedia
Sir Harry Morton Llewellyn, 3rd Baronet, CBE
(18 July 1911
– 15 November 1999
) was a British
equestrian
champion. He was born in Aberdare
, South Wales
, the son of a colliery owner, Sir David Llewellyn, 1st Baronet.
politician.
and at Trinity College, Cambridge
, before going into the army.
steeplechase, coming second in 1936.
he saw action in Italy
and after D Day in Normandy
and served as a liaison officer to Field Marshal Montgomery, eventually rising to the rank of Colonel
in the British Army
.
Olympic Games for the British equestrian team, riding the legendary "Foxhunter
". Foxhunter died in 1959. After Sir Harry's death, his own ashes were scattered near Foxhunter's grave on the Blorenge
mountain above Abergavenny
.
in Monmouthshire
. In 1990 he was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame
.
He was married to Christine Saumarez, a daughter of the 5th Baron de Saumarez
.
Their sons, Dai and Roddy
, became well-known media personalities from the 1960s onwards, the former because of highly publicized relationships with Tessa Dahl and Orson Welles
's daughter Beatrice, and the latter because of an eight-year affair with Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
.
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...
(18 July 1911
1911 in Wales
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1911 to Wales and its people.-Incumbents:*Prince of Wales - Edward, Prince of Wales, son of King King George V*Princess of Wales - vacant...
– 15 November 1999
1999 in Wales
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1999 to Wales and its people.-Incumbents:*Prince of Wales - Charles, Prince of Wales*Princess of Wales - vacant*First Minister - Alun Michael...
) was a British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
champion. He was born in Aberdare
Aberdare
Aberdare is an industrial town in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Dare and Cynon. The population at the census was 31,705...
, South Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, the son of a colliery owner, Sir David Llewellyn, 1st Baronet.
Background
A younger son, he only inherited the baronetcy on the death of his brother in 1978. His younger brother Sir David Llewellyn was a ConservativeConservative 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.
Cambridge University & the Army
Llewellyn was educated at Oundle SchoolOundle School
Oundle School is a co-educational British public school located in the ancient market town of Oundle in Northamptonshire. The school has been maintained by the Worshipful Company of Grocers of the City of London since its foundation in 1556. Oundle has eight boys' houses, five girls' houses, a day...
and at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, before going into the army.
Early career
He achieved some success as a show-jumping champion during the 1930s, and competed in the Grand NationalGrand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
steeplechase, coming second in 1936.
World War II
During World War IIWorld 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...
he saw action in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and after D Day 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:...
and served as a liaison officer to Field Marshal Montgomery, eventually rising to the rank of Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.
Olympic Gold Medal, Fame & Foxhunter
In 1952 he secured a gold medal in show jumping, at the HelsinkiHelsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
Olympic Games for the British equestrian team, riding the legendary "Foxhunter
Foxhunter
Foxhunter was a champion show jumping horse ridden by Harry Llewellyn, best known for their part in securing Great Britain's only gold medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics ....
". Foxhunter died in 1959. After Sir Harry's death, his own ashes were scattered near Foxhunter's grave on the Blorenge
Blorenge
The Blorenge or simply Blorenge is a prominent hill which overlooks the valley of the River Usk in Monmouthshire, southeast Wales. It is situated in the southeastern corner of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The summit plateau reaches a height of ....
mountain above Abergavenny
Abergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
.
Family & Personal Life
Sir Harry Llewellyn lived near AbergavennyAbergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
in Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
. In 1990 he was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame
Welsh Sports Hall of Fame
The Welsh Sports Hall of Fame is a charitable organization created to commemorate the sporting achievements and preserve the artifacts of Welsh athletes. It was established in 1980 from the memorabilia collection of Welsh radio announcer G. V. Wynne-Jones...
.
He was married to Christine Saumarez, a daughter of the 5th Baron de Saumarez
Baron de Saumarez
Baron de Saumarez, in the Island of Guernsey, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 15 September 1831 for the prominent naval commander Admiral Sir James Saumarez, 1st Baronet. He had already been created a Baronet, of Guernsey, on 13 June 1801. Lord de Saumarez was...
.
Their sons, Dai and Roddy
Roddy Llewellyn
Sir Roderic Victor Llewellyn, 5th Baronet is a British baronet, landscape gardener, gardening journalist, author and television presenter...
, became well-known media personalities from the 1960s onwards, the former because of highly publicized relationships with Tessa Dahl and Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
's daughter Beatrice, and the latter because of an eight-year affair with Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon was the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II and the younger daughter of King George VI....
.
External links
- BBC article
- http://www.oundlesociety.org/SirHarryLlewellyn.asp Biography of Sir Harry from Oundle School Society
- http://www.times-olympics.co.uk/historyheroes/stgbo03.html The Times Great British Olympians