John Warburton Paul
Encyclopedia
Sir John Warburton Paul, GCMG
, OBE
, MC
(29 March 1916 – 31 March 2004) was a British government official, best known as a prolific administrator for 20 years of various British overseas territories around the world. He is probably most notable for being the last British administrator of the Gambia and the Bahamas as they gained independence during his service in those countries.
and Selwyn College, Cambridge
. He was commissioned into the Royal Tank Corps Supplementary Reserve in 1937 and into the regular Royal Tank Regiment
in 1938. He won a Military Cross
for his bravery during the German invasion of France in 1940. However, he was captured by the Germans in 1940 and was a prisoner of war
until the end of the war in 1945. He was promoted Lieutenant in 1941 and Captain
in 1946 and resigned his commission in 1947. He then entered colonial administration, serving in Sierra Leone
in various positions until that country’s independence in 1961. He was knighted in 1962.
He served as governor of the Gambia from 1962 to 1965, when it gained independence, and then served as the first governor-general of the Gambia until 1966 when he was replaced by a Gambian. He then went to British Honduras
(now Belize
) of which he served as governor until 1972. He dealt with demonstrations which were sparked by rumours that the territory would be annexed by Guatemala
.
Paul then went to the Bahamas where he worked for one year. He served as governor until that country gained independence on 10 July 1973. He then served as acting governor-general of the Bahamas until the end of that month.
Finally, Paul served as lieutenant governor of the Isle of Man
from 1974 to 1980. He then retired from colonial administration.
Paul married (Kathleen) Audrey Weeden in 1946. They had three daughters and were married for 58 years, until he died in March 2004. Audrey died in December 2004.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(29 March 1916 – 31 March 2004) was a British government official, best known as a prolific administrator for 20 years of various British overseas territories around the world. He is probably most notable for being the last British administrator of the Gambia and the Bahamas as they gained independence during his service in those countries.
Career
Paul was educated at Weymouth CollegeWeymouth College
Weymouth College is a Further Education college located in Weymouth, England.The college has over 7,000 students, studying on a wide range of practical and academic courses in many different subjects...
and Selwyn College, Cambridge
Selwyn College, Cambridge
Selwyn College is a constituent college in the University of Cambridge in England, United Kingdom.The college was founded by the Selwyn Memorial Committee in memory of the Rt Reverend George Selwyn , who rowed on the Cambridge crew in the first Varsity Boat Race in 1829, and went on to become the...
. He was commissioned into the Royal Tank Corps Supplementary Reserve in 1937 and into the regular Royal Tank Regiment
Royal Tank Regiment
The Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
in 1938. He won a Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for his bravery during the German invasion of France in 1940. However, he was captured by the Germans in 1940 and was a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
until the end of the war in 1945. He was promoted Lieutenant in 1941 and Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
in 1946 and resigned his commission in 1947. He then entered colonial administration, serving in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
in various positions until that country’s independence in 1961. He was knighted in 1962.
He served as governor of the Gambia from 1962 to 1965, when it gained independence, and then served as the first governor-general of the Gambia until 1966 when he was replaced by a Gambian. He then went to British Honduras
British Honduras
British Honduras was a British colony that is now the independent nation of Belize.First colonised by Spaniards in the 17th century, the territory on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, became a British crown colony from 1862 until 1964, when it became self-governing. Belize became...
(now Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
) of which he served as governor until 1972. He dealt with demonstrations which were sparked by rumours that the territory would be annexed by Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
.
Paul then went to the Bahamas where he worked for one year. He served as governor until that country gained independence on 10 July 1973. He then served as acting governor-general of the Bahamas until the end of that month.
Finally, Paul served as lieutenant governor of the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
from 1974 to 1980. He then retired from colonial administration.
Paul married (Kathleen) Audrey Weeden in 1946. They had three daughters and were married for 58 years, until he died in March 2004. Audrey died in December 2004.