William Onslow, 6th Earl of Onslow
Encyclopedia
William Arthur Bampfylde Onslow, 6th Earl of Onslow KBE MC
TD, DL
(11 June 1913 – 3 June 1971) was a British peer
and officer in the British Army
.
Onslow was the eldest son of Richard William Alan Onslow, 5th Earl of Onslow and the Hon. Violet Marcia Catherine Warwick Bampfylde, daughter of Coplestone Richard George Warwick Bampfylde, 3rd Baron Poltimore, and was educated at Winchester College
and Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
.
He was commissioned into the Life Guards
as a second lieutenant
on 1 February 1934, and promoted lieutenant
on 30 November 1938 (with seniority from 1 February 1937). During the Second World War he transferred to 4th County of London Yeomanry
, winning the Military Cross
as a captain
and temporary major for his actions on 19 and 23 November during Operation Crusader
in the Western Desert. The citation describes how on 19 November he continued fighting his tank after it had been immobilised, and on 23 November, led two troop
s of tanks into battle standing on his scout car
waving the tanks on with his handkerchief; the award was gazetted on 12 February 1942. As an acting lieutenant-colonel, he commanded the regiment in the Battle of Villers-Bocage
during the Normandy Campaign in 1944. His unit was decimated by Michael Wittman who attacked with 6 tanks, he was subsequently captured by the Germans and was a POW until the end of the war.
He continued in part-time service with the Territorial Army after the war, now with 3rd County of London Yeomanry, and was promoted to substantive lieutenant-colonel on 1 May 1947. He was promoted brevet colonel on 21 March 1950, awarded the Territorial Efficiency Decoration on 21 April 1950, and transferred to the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers on 4 July 1951. He was appointed Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
on 5 November 1951, and Honorary Colonel of 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) on 21 June 1956. As Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard he took part in the funeral of King George VI
, and the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
On 4 August 1936, he had married Hon. Pamela Louisa Eleanor Dillon, the only daughter of Eric Dillon, 19th Viscount Dillon
and they had two children, Michael William Coplestone Dillon Onslow, Viscount Cranley
(1938 – 2011) and Lady Teresa Lorraine Onslow
(b. 1940). He inherited his father's titles in 1945 and was a county councillor for the County of London
from 1940–46 and for Surrey
from 1949–42. Lord Onslow was appointed a Commander of the Venerable Order of Saint John
on 8 July 1947, and Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 31 October 1960. He divorced his wife in 1962 and remarried, to Nina Edith Jo Sturdee, on 30 June that year. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant
of Surrey, resigning on 13 April 1962. He died in 1971 and was succeeded by his only son. His grandchildren include Daisy
and Alexander Waugh
.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
TD, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(11 June 1913 – 3 June 1971) was a British peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
and officer 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...
.
Onslow was the eldest son of Richard William Alan Onslow, 5th Earl of Onslow and the Hon. Violet Marcia Catherine Warwick Bampfylde, daughter of Coplestone Richard George Warwick Bampfylde, 3rd Baron Poltimore, and was educated at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
.
He was commissioned into the Life Guards
Life Guards (British Army)
The Life Guards is the senior regiment of the British Army and with the Blues and Royals, they make up the Household Cavalry.They originated in the four troops of Horse Guards raised by Charles II around the time of his restoration, plus two troops of Horse Grenadier Guards which were raised some...
as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
on 1 February 1934, and promoted lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
on 30 November 1938 (with seniority from 1 February 1937). During the Second World War he transferred to 4th County of London Yeomanry
County of London Yeomanry
Several British Army regiments have born the title County of London Yeomanry . Most have been mounted, then armoured regiments.-1st County of London Yeomanry:...
, winning the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
as a captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
and temporary major for his actions on 19 and 23 November during Operation Crusader
Operation Crusader
Operation Crusader was a military operation by the British Eighth Army between 18 November–30 December 1941. The operation successfully relieved the 1941 Siege of Tobruk....
in the Western Desert. The citation describes how on 19 November he continued fighting his tank after it had been immobilised, and on 23 November, led two troop
Troop
A troop is a military unit, originally a small force of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron and headed by the troop leader. In many armies a troop is the equivalent unit to the infantry section or platoon...
s of tanks into battle standing on his scout car
Scout car
A scout car is a of military armored reconnaissance vehicle, capable of off-road mobility and often carrying mounted weapons such as machine guns for offensive capabilities and crew protection...
waving the tanks on with his handkerchief; the award was gazetted on 12 February 1942. As an acting lieutenant-colonel, he commanded the regiment in the Battle of Villers-Bocage
Battle of Villers-Bocage
The Battle of Villers-Bocage took place during the Second World War on 13 June 1944, one week after the Allies landed in Normandy to begin the liberation of German-occupied France. The battle was the result of a British attempt to improve their position by exploiting a temporary vulnerability in...
during the Normandy Campaign in 1944. His unit was decimated by Michael Wittman who attacked with 6 tanks, he was subsequently captured by the Germans and was a POW until the end of the war.
He continued in part-time service with the Territorial Army after the war, now with 3rd County of London Yeomanry, and was promoted to substantive lieutenant-colonel on 1 May 1947. He was promoted brevet colonel on 21 March 1950, awarded the Territorial Efficiency Decoration on 21 April 1950, and transferred to the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers on 4 July 1951. He was appointed Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
The Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard is a UK government post usually held by the Government Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords...
on 5 November 1951, and Honorary Colonel of 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) on 21 June 1956. As Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard he took part in the funeral of King George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
, and the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
On 4 August 1936, he had married Hon. Pamela Louisa Eleanor Dillon, the only daughter of Eric Dillon, 19th Viscount Dillon
Eric Dillon, 19th Viscount Dillon
Brigadier Eric FitzGerald Dillon, 19th Viscount Dillon, CMG, DSO was an Irish peer and British Army officer who served in World War I....
and they had two children, Michael William Coplestone Dillon Onslow, Viscount Cranley
Michael Onslow, 7th Earl of Onslow
Michael William Coplestone Dillon Onslow, 7th Earl of Onslow , styled Viscount Cranley from 1945 to 1971, was a British Conservative politician.-Background and education:...
(1938 – 2011) and Lady Teresa Lorraine Onslow
Lady Teresa Waugh
Lady Teresa Lorraine Waugh is a British novelist and translator.Lady Teresa was born in 1940, the daughter of the 6th Earl of Onslow and his first wife, Pamela . On 1 July 1961, she married the author, Auberon Waugh...
(b. 1940). He inherited his father's titles in 1945 and was a county councillor 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...
from 1940–46 and for Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
from 1949–42. Lord Onslow was appointed a Commander of the Venerable Order of Saint John
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
on 8 July 1947, and Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 31 October 1960. He divorced his wife in 1962 and remarried, to Nina Edith Jo Sturdee, on 30 June that year. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Surrey, resigning on 13 April 1962. He died in 1971 and was succeeded by his only son. His grandchildren include Daisy
Daisy Waugh
Daisy Louisa Dominica Waugh , known as Daisy Waugh, is an English journalist, travel writer, novelist and television presenter.She has also worked as a restaurant critic and as an agony aunt for The Independent...
and Alexander Waugh
Alexander Waugh
Alexander Waugh is an English writer, critic, composer, cartoonist, record producer and television presenter. He is most known for his biography of Paul Wittgenstein published in 2009....
.