Ronald Waterhouse (civil servant)
Sir Ronald Waterhouse | |
|---|---|
| Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister | |
| In office 1922–1928 Serving with Sir Patrick Gower | |
| Prime Minister | Bonar Law Stanley Baldwin Ramsay MacDonald |
| Preceded by | Sir Edward Grigg |
| Succeeded by | Robert Vansittart |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ronald Dockray Waterhouse 28 December 1878 |
| Died | 28 November 1942 (aged 63) Devonshire |
| Spouse(s) |
Violet Goldingham
(m. 1904; died 1928)Nourah Chard (m. 1928) |
| Education | Marlborough College, (Preshute) |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford |
| Civilian awards | CB CMG KCB (1921) CVO (1923) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | British Army, R.A.F.V.R |
| Years of service | 1896–1910; 1914–1918; 1939–1942 |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel Wing Commander |
| Unit | Lincolnshire Regiment 6th Dragoon Guards, Courier Service |
| Battles/wars | Mashonaland Second Boer War First World War |
| Military awards | Matabele Medal Queen's Medal with four clasps King's Medal with two clasps Mons Star |
Wing Commander Sir Ronald Dockray Waterhouse KCB CMG CVO (28 December 1878 – 28 November 1942) was a British Army, Royal Air Force officer and civil servant. During his career, he was private secretary to the Duke of York (later George VI), and to three prime ministers: Bonar Law, Stanley Baldwin, and Ramsay MacDonald.[1]
Early life
Ronald Waterhouse, the son of J.D. Waterhouse of Aigburth, Lancashire was educated at Marlborough College (Preshute) and Oxford. On leaving he joined the army and served in several campaigns across the world, including the Second Matabele War and the Second Boer War.[2] He retired from the Army in 1910 and was granted a wound pension. He rejoined at the outbreak of the First World War and went on to be awarded the Mons Star.[1]
Career
After leaving 10 Downing St in February 1928 he took up a directorship with the Canadian General Investment Trust Ltd. He was a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society.[1]
He was awarded Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 1921 Birthday Honours list[3] and Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the 1923 New Year Honours list.[4]
Although aged 60, Waterhouse joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve to serve in the Second World War, achieving rank of Wing Commander.[5]
Personal life
His first wife Violet Goldingham died in June 1928 and he wasted no time, remarrying in secret at the Savoy Chapel in the Strand to Miss Nourah Chard, private secretary to Mrs Baldwin on 3 August 1928.[2] She published a biography of her husband entitled Private and Official in 1942.[1]
Waterhouse died on 28 November 1942 due to illness caused by war service and was cremated at Plymouth City Crematorium, Devon.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d "OBITUARY: Wing CDR Sir Ronald Waterhouse". The Times. 30 November 1942. p. 6. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Cupid Calls at "Number Ten"". Daily Mirror. 31 October 1928. p. 2. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ "Page 4533 | Supplement 32346, 4 June 1921 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ "Page 6 | Supplement 32782, 29 December 1922 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Sir Ronald Dockray Waterhouse, casualty record". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- 1878 births
- 1942 deaths
- Principal Private Secretaries to the Prime Minister
- Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
- Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order
- People educated at Marlborough College
- Alumni of the University of Oxford
- British Army personnel of the Second Boer War
- British Army personnel of World War I
- Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II
- Equerries
- Royal Air Force personnel killed in World War II