William Campion (governor)

For other people named William Campion (governor), see William Campion (governor) (disambiguation).

Colonel Sir William Campion KCMG, DSO, TD, DL
Campion in 1924
21st Governor of Western Australia
In office 28 October 1924 – 9 June 1931
Monarch	George V
Preceded by	Sir Francis Newdegate
Succeeded by	Sir James Mitchell (from 1948)
Personal details
Born	(1870-07-03)3 July 1870 London, England
Died	2 January 1951(1951-01-02) (aged 80) Hassocks, Sussex, England
Political party	Conservative
Spouse	Katherine Mary Byron
Military service
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch/service	British Army
Rank	Colonel
Unit	Royal Sussex Regiment
Battles/wars	First World War
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Territorial Decoration Mentioned in Despatches

Sir William Robert Campion, KCMG, DSO, TD, DL (3 July 1870 – 2 January 1951) was a British soldier, politician, and the 21st Governor of Western Australia from 1924 to 1931.

Early years

Born in London, England on 3 July 1870, Campion was educated at Eton College and the University of Oxford, and was the Conservative MP for Lewes from 1910 to 1924.

Military career

Campion was commissioned into the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment in 1888. He served in the First World War, at Gallipoli then later in France in 1916, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1918.

Governor of Western Australia

Campion (left of centre) at Western Australia's centenary celebrations in 1929.

In June 1924 Campion was appointed Governor of Western Australia. From October 1924 to June 1931 Campion worked with Labor and Nationalist premiers alike in harmony during a period without major political crises. He presided with dignity over the state's centennial celebrations in 1929.

Later years

Campion returned to England in 1931 and retired to his country house in Sussex, but spoke frequently in favour of organized migration to Australia. He was a member of the Empire Settlement Committee in 1935. He accepted appointment as chairman of two Australian based gold-mining companies. He visited Australia in 1935–36 to inspect properties and again in 1939.

Campion died in Sussex on 2 January 1951, survived by his wife and three children.

References

• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by William Campion