Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1944
Encyclopedia
The Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1944 was a parliamentary by-election
held on 17 October 1944 for the British House of Commons
constituency
of Berwick-upon-Tweed
.
, was killed in action. Grey (2 December 1918 – 30 July 1944), the son of a Major-General, had joined the British Army in 1938 before the outbreak of the Second World War the following year.
Grey had become the Liberal MP for the constituency, when he was returned unopposed at a by-election on 18 August 1941
, to fill a vacancy caused by the elevation to the peerage of the previous Liberal MP.
Between his election and his death, he was the youngest member
of the House of Commons
, having been elected at the age of 22 years 259 days.
A captain in the 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards
, Grey was killed at Le Repas in Normandy
, France
, on the first day of Operation Bluecoat
. He was buried on the battlefield by his men, on the site of which his family later erected a memorial. The site is now recognised as a war grave
, designated the Livry Isolated Grave.
Two candidates were nominated. The list below is set out in descending order of the number of votes received at the by-election.
1. The Liberal Party candidate was Sir William Henry Beveridge
(5 March 1879 – 16 March 1963), who was a British economist
and social reformer. He is perhaps best known for his 1942 report Social Insurance and Allied Services (known as the Beveridge Report) which served as the basis for the post-World War II
Labour government's Welfare State
, including especially the National Health Service
.
Beveridge was defeated by a Conservative candidate in the United Kingdom general election, 1945
. He was created the 1st Baron Beveridge in 1946.
2. William.D. Clark, a local farmer, was an Independent candidate.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held on 17 October 1944 for the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
constituency
United Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
of Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed (UK Parliament constituency)
Berwick-upon-Tweed is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
.
Previous MP
The seat had become vacant when the constituency's Member of Parliament (MP), George Charles GreyGeorge Charles Grey
George Charles Grey was Liberal Member of Parliament for the Berwick-upon-Tweed constituency in England from August 1941 until his death in action in July 1944....
, was killed in action. Grey (2 December 1918 – 30 July 1944), the son of a Major-General, had joined the British Army in 1938 before the outbreak of the Second World War the following year.
Grey had become the Liberal MP for the constituency, when he was returned unopposed at a by-election on 18 August 1941
Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1941
The Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1941 was a parliamentary by-election held on 18 August 1941 for the British House of Commons constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed.- Previous MP :...
, to fill a vacancy caused by the elevation to the peerage of the previous Liberal MP.
Between his election and his death, he was the youngest member
Baby of the House
Baby of the House is the unofficial title given to the youngest member of a parliamentary house. The term is most often applied to members of the British parliament.-Australia:In Australia the term is rarely used...
of the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
, having been elected at the age of 22 years 259 days.
A captain in the 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards
Grenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
, Grey was killed at Le Repas in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, on the first day of Operation Bluecoat
Operation Bluecoat
Operation Bluecoat was an attack by the British Second Army at the Battle of Normandy during the Second World War, from 30 July – 7 August 1944. The geographical objectives of the attack were to secure the key road junction of Vire and the high ground of Mont Pinçon...
. He was buried on the battlefield by his men, on the site of which his family later erected a memorial. The site is now recognised as a war grave
War grave
A war grave is a burial place for soldiers or civilians who died during military campaigns or operations. The term does not only apply to graves: ships sunk during wartime are often considered to be war graves, as are military aircraft that crash into water...
, designated the Livry Isolated Grave.
Candidates
The election took place during the Second World War. Under an agreement between the Conservative, Labour and Liberal parties; who were participating in a wartime coalition, the party holding a seat would not be opposed by the other two at a by-election. Accordingly the Liberal Party nominated a candidate, but no Labour or Conservative representative was put forward.Two candidates were nominated. The list below is set out in descending order of the number of votes received at the by-election.
1. The Liberal Party candidate was Sir William Henry Beveridge
William Beveridge
William Henry Beveridge, 1st Baron Beveridge KCB was a British economist and social reformer. He is best known for his 1942 report Social Insurance and Allied Services which served as the basis for the post-World War II welfare state put in place by the Labour government elected in 1945.Lord...
(5 March 1879 – 16 March 1963), who was a British economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
and social reformer. He is perhaps best known for his 1942 report Social Insurance and Allied Services (known as the Beveridge Report) which served as the basis for the post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Labour government's Welfare State
Welfare State
The Welfare State is a commitment to health, education, employment and social security in the United Kingdom.-Background:The United Kingdom, as a welfare state, was prefigured in the William Beveridge Report in 1942, which identified five "Giant Evils" in society: squalor, ignorance, want, idleness...
, including especially the National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
.
Beveridge was defeated by a Conservative candidate in the United Kingdom general election, 1945
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
. He was created the 1st Baron Beveridge in 1946.
2. William.D. Clark, a local farmer, was an Independent candidate.
Votes
See also
- Berwick-upon-Tweed constituencyBerwick-upon-Tweed (UK Parliament constituency)Berwick-upon-Tweed is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
- List of United Kingdom by-elections (1931–1950)
- United Kingdom by-election recordsUnited Kingdom by-election recordsUK by-election records is an annotated list of notable records from UK Parliamentary by-elections. A by-election occurs when a Member of Parliament resigns, dies, or is disqualified or expelled, and an election is held to fill the vacant seat...