Allen Bathurst, Lord Apsley

Allen Algernon Bathurst, Lord Apsley, DSO, MC, TD, DL (3 August 1895 – 17 December 1942) was a British Army officer and Conservative Party politician.

Early life

Apsley was the eldest son of Seymour Bathurst, 7th Earl Bathurst and his wife Lilias Margaret Frances née Borthwick, daughter of Algernon Borthwick, 1st Baron Glenesk. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford.

Career

During World War I, he served overseas with the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars. He was promoted to temporary lieutenant in April 1916,^[1] acting captain in June 1917,^[2] receiving a substantive promotion to lieutenant from the same date,^[3] and to substantive captain in 1918.^[4] He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his actions in Egypt:^[5][6]

“

Awarded the Distinguished Service Order. [...] Capt. Allen Algernon, Lord Apsley,. M.C., 1/1st Glouc. Yeo. (EGYPT) On 30 September 1918, near Damascus, he was sent out with a troop of 20 men. and a Hotchkiss gun to seize the Kadem wireless station. Near Kadem Station he was held up by a body of the enemy, whose strength was double his own. He charged, killing 12 with his sword, the remainder being put to flight. On arrival at his objective the wireless station was found to have been already destroyed, and the enemy, who had been strongly reinforced, was threatening to cut off his troop. This officer carried out the retirement of the troop in perfect order, and, when attacked by the enemy from a flank, another charge was made, inflicting loss and enabling him to get away intact. Throughout this mission he showed splendid gallantry and marked ability to command.

”

He was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Southampton in 1922^[7] and for Bristol Central in 1931,^[8] seats he held until 1929^[9][10] and 1942^[11] respectively. In 1923 he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the "County of Gloucester, and of the City and County of the City of Gloucester, and the City and County of the City of Bristol."^[12]

During this time, he was Parliamentary Private Secretary to: the Under-Secretary of State for the Overseas Trade Department 1922-24, the Minister of Transport 1925-29 and the Minister for Co-ordination Defence 1936. He had also been President of the UK Pilot's Association in 1925 and sometime chairman of Western Airways, Western Air Transport Company and a director of Morning Post.

He remained a member of the Territorial Army between the wars,^[13] and was awarded the Territorial Decoration (TD) in 1929,^[14] promoted to brevet major in 1930,^[15] and promoted to substantive major in 1938.^[16] During World War II, he served overseas again and died on active service, commanding the Arab Legion in Malta, in 1942.^[17]

Marriage

On 27 February 1924, Lord Apsley had married Viola Meeking (who succeeded him as MP for Bristol Central)^[18] and they had two sons: Henry Allen John (1927–2011) and George Bertram (1929–2010). As Lord Apsley predeceased his father, the latter's earldom later passed to Lord Apsley's eldest son, Henry.

References

1. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29622. p. 5912. 13 June 1916. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
2. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30379. p. 11775. 13 November 1917. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
3. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30148. p. 6269. 22 June 1917. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
4. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30558. p. 2861. 5 March 1918. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
5. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31219. p. 3225. 7 March 1919. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
6. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31583. p. 12219. 3 October 1919. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
7. The London Gazette: no. 32775. p. 8710. 8 December 1922. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
8. The London Gazette: no. 33769. p. 7137. 6 November 1931. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
9. The London Gazette: no. 32897. p. 366. 11 January 1924. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
10. The London Gazette: no. 32996. p. 8531. 25 November 1924. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
11. The London Gazette: no. 34223. p. 7496. 26 November 1935. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
12. The London Gazette: no. 32874. p. 7215. 26 October 1923. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
13. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 32731. p. 5434. 21 July 1922. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
14. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 33548. p. 6991. 1 November 1929. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
15. The London Gazette: no. 33565. p. 8505. 31 December 1929. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
16. The London Gazette: no. 34589. p. 289. 13 January 1939. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
17. "Commonwealth War Graves Commission - casualty details". Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
18. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35916. p. 937. 23 February 1943. Retrieved 15 January 2008.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Lord Apsley