Nevile Bland
Encyclopedia
Sir George Nevile Maltby Bland, KCMG
, KCVO
(6 December 1886 – 19 August 1972) was a British diplomat who served as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Netherlands
from 1938 through the war years until 1948. He also authored or edited several legal books and articles.
Bland was born the youngest son of Francis Maltby Bland, DL, JP and his wife Edith Richenda Bland (née Barclay). His maternal uncle Sir George Barclay had been the British Minister in Bucharest
during the First World War. His siblings included brothers Hugh Michael and Francis Lawrence Bland, and sisters Chenda (Richenda?) and Esther. Bland was educated at Eton
, and then at King's College
, Cambridge
, graduating with a BA in 1908, and an MA 1912. He entered the Foreign Office in 1911.
After a long spell serving as Private Secretary to various senior diplomats and then as Counsellor, Nevile Bland received his KCVO
in 1937. He was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Netherlands in 1938, and narrowly escaped internment by the Nazis by escaping in 1940. He remained ambassador or minister to the government-in-exile, and served as Minister from September 1942 until March 1948. From 1952 to 1962, he was also King of Arms
of the Order of St Michael and St George
.
who most recently represents junior royals at memorial services.
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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....
, KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(6 December 1886 – 19 August 1972) was a British diplomat who served as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
from 1938 through the war years until 1948. He also authored or edited several legal books and articles.
Bland was born the youngest son of Francis Maltby Bland, DL, JP and his wife Edith Richenda Bland (née Barclay). His maternal uncle Sir George Barclay had been the British Minister in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
during the First World War. His siblings included brothers Hugh Michael and Francis Lawrence Bland, and sisters Chenda (Richenda?) and Esther. Bland was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, and then at King's College
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, graduating with a BA in 1908, and an MA 1912. He entered the Foreign Office in 1911.
After a long spell serving as Private Secretary to various senior diplomats and then as Counsellor, Nevile Bland received his KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in 1937. He was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Netherlands in 1938, and narrowly escaped internment by the Nazis by escaping in 1940. He remained ambassador or minister to the government-in-exile, and served as Minister from September 1942 until March 1948. From 1952 to 1962, he was also King of Arms
King of Arms
King of Arms is the senior rank of an officer of arms. In many heraldic traditions, only a king of arms has the authority to grant armorial bearings. In other traditions, the power has been delegated to other officers of similar rank.-Heraldic duties:...
of the Order of St Michael and St George
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....
.
Honours
- Commander, Order of St Michael and St GeorgeOrder of St Michael and St GeorgeThe 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....
, 1927 - Knight Commander, Royal Victorian OrderRoyal Victorian OrderThe Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, 1937 - Knight Commander, Order of St Michael and St George, 1947
- Knight Grand Cross, Order of Orange-Nassau, 1950
- King of Arms, Order of St Michael and St George, 1952-1961
Family
In 1919, Nevile Bland became engaged and then married Portia Christabel Irene Ottley. They had at least three children, of whom a baby daughter Corinna died in late 1924, and a son David was killed in action in Tunisia in 1943. Another son Simon survived the Second World War and a spell of duty in British Malaya to marry and father children; he was a former royal equerryEquerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
who most recently represents junior royals at memorial services.
External links
- Churchill Archives Centre. The Papers of Sir (George) Nevile (Maltby) Bland have been deposited in 1992 and 1994 by his son Sir Simon Bland at the Churchill Archives CentreChurchill Archives CentreThe Churchill Archives Centre is one of the largest repositories in the United Kingdom for the preservation and study of modern personal papers. It is best known for housing the Churchill Papers, the massive archive of Sir Winston Churchill, as well as the private papers of Baroness Thatcher...
, University of CambridgeUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, UK.
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