Somerset Arthur Maxwell
Encyclopedia
Hon. Somerset Arthur Maxwell (20 January 1905 – 30 December 1942) was a Conservative Party
politician in the United Kingdom
.
. He married 1930 (Angela) Susan Roberts and had issue:
(MP) for the King's Lynn constituency
in Norfolk
at the 1935 general election
, succeeding the Conservative MP Lord Fermoy
, who had held the seat since the 1924 election
. In December 1942, Lieutenant Colonel
Maxwell died of wounds received in action at El Alamein
on active service in World War II
, aged 37. At the resulting by-election in February 1943
, Lord Fermoy was re-elected.
to the Minister for War, and M.P. for Kings Lynn had died at 2030 hrs. the previous night following wounds sustained in action. The funeral was to be the same afternoon and as the cemetery was nearby we old originals turned out. When we arrived our party brought the M.Y. contingent up to 30 exclusive of bearer party and officers. The plain coffin was slid off the ambulance on to the shoulders of 8 NCOs and OCTU cadets and preceded by the chaplain passed through the ranks of the firing party who stood at the Present. Behind followed General Penney, CSO.ME., Colonel Messel, former C.O. of the unit and several other officers of ours, after them came ourselves who have served under him for so long, the journey was short but at the slow march it seemed a long way, we formed up round the coffin on which the flag trembled in the wind. The service was almost inaudible as planes taking off nearby drowned everything, except the words of the 23rd. Psalm
. They lowered the coffin into the grave, and the escort fired three rounds into the air and the bugler's sobbing notes ran from Last Post
to Reveille
. The wreaths were placed and one by one we stepped up to the grave and made our last salutes. .. .. .
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Family
Eldest son of Arthur Kenlis Maxwell, 11th Baron FarnhamArthur Maxwell, 11th Baron Farnham
Arthur Kenlis Maxwell, 11th Baron Farnham was an Irish Representative peer and a Nova Scotia baronet.He was the son of Somerset Maxwell, 10th Baron Farnham and Lady Florence Jane Taylour. On his father's death, he succeeded as 11th Baron Farnham and 14th Baronet of Calderwood on the 22 November 1900...
. He married 1930 (Angela) Susan Roberts and had issue:
- Barry Owen Somerset Maxwell, 12th Baron FarnhamBarry Maxwell, 12th Baron FarnhamThe Rt. Hon. Barry Owen Somerset Maxwell, 12th Baron Farnham , was an Irish peer and a Nova Scotia baronet.The 12th Lord Farnham was the son of Somerset Arthur Maxwell, and grandson of Arthur Maxwell, 11th Baron Farnham. He was educated at Eton and Harvard Business School...
. - Simon Kenlis Maxwell, 13th Baron FarnhamSimon Maxwell, 13th Baron FarnhamThe Rt. Hon. Simon Kenlis Maxwell, 13th Baron Farnham , holds an Irish peerage title.The current Lord Farnham is the son of Somerset Arthur Maxwell, and grandson of Arthur Maxwell, 11th Baron Farnham. He married on the 5 May 1964 to Karol Ann Prior-Palmer , daughter of Maj.-Gen. George Erroll...
- Sheelin Virginia Maxwell.
Political career
He was elected as Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for the King's Lynn constituency
King's Lynn (UK Parliament constituency)
King's Lynn was a constituency in Norfolk, known as Lynn or Bishop's Lynn prior to 1537, which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1885, and one member thereafter. Until 1918 it was a parliamentary borough, after which the name...
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
at the 1935 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1935
The United Kingdom general election held on 14 November 1935 resulted in a large, though reduced, majority for the National Government now led by Conservative Stanley Baldwin. The greatest number of MPs, as before, were Conservative, while the National Liberal vote held steady...
, succeeding the Conservative MP Lord Fermoy
Edmund Burke Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy
Edmund Maurice Burke Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy was an Irish peer, British Conservative Party politician and the maternal grandfather of Diana, Princess of Wales.-Life and career:...
, who had held the seat since the 1924 election
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
. In December 1942, Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Maxwell died of wounds received in action at El Alamein
El Alamein
El Alamein is a town in the northern Matrouh Governorate of Egypt. Located on the Mediterranean Sea, it lies west of Alexandria and northwest of Cairo. As of 2007, it has a local population of 7,397 inhabitants.- Climate :...
on active service in 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...
, aged 37. At the resulting by-election in February 1943
King's Lynn by-election, 1943
The King's Lynn by-election, 1943 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of King's Lynn in Norfolk on 12 February 1943...
, Lord Fermoy was re-elected.
Death and Funeral
In the morning of the new Year's Eve we had news that Lt. Colonel The Honorable Somerset A. Maxwell, O.C. Middlesex Yeomanry, sometime Parliamentary SecretaryParliamentary Secretary
A Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...
to the Minister for War, and M.P. for Kings Lynn had died at 2030 hrs. the previous night following wounds sustained in action. The funeral was to be the same afternoon and as the cemetery was nearby we old originals turned out. When we arrived our party brought the M.Y. contingent up to 30 exclusive of bearer party and officers. The plain coffin was slid off the ambulance on to the shoulders of 8 NCOs and OCTU cadets and preceded by the chaplain passed through the ranks of the firing party who stood at the Present. Behind followed General Penney, CSO.ME., Colonel Messel, former C.O. of the unit and several other officers of ours, after them came ourselves who have served under him for so long, the journey was short but at the slow march it seemed a long way, we formed up round the coffin on which the flag trembled in the wind. The service was almost inaudible as planes taking off nearby drowned everything, except the words of the 23rd. Psalm
Psalm 23
In the 23rd Psalm in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, the writer describes God as his Shepherd. The text, beloved by Jews and Christians alike, is often alluded to in popular media and has been set to music....
. They lowered the coffin into the grave, and the escort fired three rounds into the air and the bugler's sobbing notes ran from Last Post
Last Post
The "Last Post" can be either a B♭ bugle call within British Infantry regiments or an E♭ cavalry trumpet call in British Cavalry and Royal Regiment of Artillery used at Commonwealth military funerals and ceremonies commemorating those who have been killed in war.The two regimental traditions have...
to Reveille
Reveille
"Reveille" is a bugle call, trumpet call or pipes call most often associated with the military or summer camp; it is chiefly used to wake military personnel at sunrise...
. The wreaths were placed and one by one we stepped up to the grave and made our last salutes. .. .. .