William Sydney Marchant

William Sydney Marchant
In office
1939–1943
Preceded by Francis Noel Ashley
Succeeded by Owen Cyril Noel
Personal details
Born 10 December 1894
Died 1 February 1953

William Sydney Marchant, CMG, OBE (10 December 1894 1 February 1953), was the United Kingdom's Resident Commissioner of the Solomon Islands Protectorate from 1939 to 1943.[1] As commissioner, he directed the evacuation of European settlers from the Solomon Islands prior to the Japanese occupation of the islands during World War II as well as leading the organisation of coastwatcher units throughout the islands.[2] Marchant relocated from this headquarters at Tulagi to Malaita about two months before the Japanese occupied Tulagi in May, 1942. On Malaita he helped operate a coastwatcher radio relay station in support of the Allied Solomon Islands campaign until the end of his appointment in 1943.

Marchant was then appointed as Chief Native Commissioner for the Kenya Colony from 1943 until 1947. Marchant died in 1953.[3]

References

Notes
  1. WorldStatesmen.org
  2. Rentz, Marines in the Central Solomons, p. 5.
  3. Gillison, p. 516.
Books
Web
Government offices
Preceded by
Francis Noel Ashley
Resident Commissioner of the
Solomon Islands Protectorate

1939–1943
Succeeded by
Owen Cyril Noel


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