Wyndham Portal, 1st and last Viscount Portal

Wyndham Raymond Portal, 1st and last Viscount Portal

• Born on 9 April 1885.
• Son of Sir William Wyndham Portal, 2nd Bt. and Florence Elizabeth Mary Glyn.
• Married Lady Louise Rosemary Kathleen Virginia Cairns, daughter of Arthur William Cairns, 2nd Earl Cairns and Olivia Elizabeth Berens, on 20 April 1909.
• Died on 6 May 1949 at age 64, without issue, when his peerages expired.
• Gained the rank of Lieutenant in the service of the Hampshire Carabiniers.
• Educated at Eton College, Windsor, Berkshire
• Gained the rank of officer in the service of the 9th Lancers.
• Educated at Christ Church, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England.
• Gained the rank of Lieutenant in the service of the 1st Life Guards.
• Chairman of Portals Limited.
• Fought in the First World War, he was mentioned in despatches.
• Lieutenant-Colonel of the Household Battalion and Machine Gun Battalion.
• Decorated with the award of the Companion, Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) in 1917.
• Invested as a Member, Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) in 1917.
• Chairman of the Bacon Development Board.
• Director of the Great Western Railway between 1927 and 1940.
• Held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.)
• Chief Industrial Advisor to the Government for four special areas.
• Succeeded to the title of 3rd Baronet Portal, of Malshanger, Church Oakley, co. Southampton [U.K., 1901] on 30 September 1931.
• Vice-chairman of the King George V Jubilee Trust.
• Created 1st Baron Portal, of Laverstoke, co. Southampton [U.K.] on 26 January 1935.
• Awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) in 1937.
• Held the office of Regional Commissioner of Wales (Civil Defence) in 1939.
• Parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Supply between 1940 and 1942.
• Invested as a Privy Counsellor (P.C.) in 1942.
• Held the office of First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings between 1942 and 1944 and Minister of Works and Planning.
• Chairman of the Great Western Railway between 1944 and 1947.
• Created 1st Viscount Portal, of Laverstock, co. Southampton [U.K.] on 1 February 1945.
• Invested as a Knight Grand Cross, Order of St. Michael and St. George (G.C.M.G.)
• Held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire between 1947 and 1949.
• Chairman of the 14th Olympic Games in 1948. The Peerage

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Gazetted Awards and Mentions in Despatches

• First Name: Wyndham Raymond
• Initials: W
• Surname: Portal
• Nationality: British
• Rank: Captain
• Rank (2nd): T/Ltcol
• Gallantry Awards: Distinguished Service Order
• Award Details: Distinguished Service
• Gazette Info: 12316
• Gazette Date: 26/11/1917
• Service: British Army
• Regiment: Life Guards
• Service: BA

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• Updated from MyHeritage Family Trees via father William Wyndham Portal by SmartCopy: Feb 22 2015, 9:16:00 UTC