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Biography of George Vere Arundell Monckton-Arundell, 8th Viscount Galway (1882-1943)

George Vere Arundell Monckton-Arundell, GCMG, DSO, OBE, PC, was the only son of George Edmund Milnes Monckton-Arundell, 7th Viscount Galway, and succeeded his father in 1931. He was educated at Eton (1895-1900) and at Christ Church College, Oxford (1900-1904), where he studied modern history.

He joined the 1st Life Guards in 1904, and fought in the First World War, reaching the rank of Colonel. His military career culminated in his appointments as Colonel-Commandant of the Life Guards, 1925-1929, and of the Royal Artillery Company, 1933-1935.

He stood as Conservative M.P. for Scarborough in 1910 but was not elected. In 1935 he was appointed as Governor-General of New Zealand. He retired in 1941 and returned to Britain. As a major landowner in Nottinghamshire he was a magistrate for the county, and served as Deputy Lieutenant of the county 1941-1943.

The Dowager Viscountess Galway continued to live at Serlby Hall and manage the estate from the 8th Viscount's death in 1943 until the house was sold in 1980. She was a magistrate and chairman of the Grove and Rufford Hunt, and a member of the Council of the RSPCA.

Various photographic portraits of the 8th Viscount are available on the National Portrait Gallery website. A photographic portrait of Viscountess Galway and her three daughters, taken in 1927, is also available.

Family

He married in 1922 the Hon. Lucia Emily Margaret White (d 1983), younger daughter of the 3rd Baron Annaly, and had:

• Simon George Robert Monckton-Arundell (1929-1971), later 9th Viscount Galway
• Mary Victoria Monckton (1924-2010)
• Celia Ella Vere Monckton (1925-1997)
• Isabel Cynthia Monckton (1926-2010)

Archive Collections

• Correspondence relating to the 8th Viscount and Viscountess Galway is present in the second and third accruals of Galway papers (Ga C and Ga 2) held in Manuscripts and Special Collections at the University of Nottingham. Papers relating to the 8th Viscount as Governor-General of New Zealand are part of the first deposit (Ga 9201-13257)
• Title deeds, settlements, estate and legal papers relating to the 8th Viscount's ownership of his estates, and the Viscountess's administration of the estate after his death, are also part of the Galway papers, but are restricted. Prospective readers should contact the department for advice
• Cambridge University, Churchill Archives Centre holds correspondence of the 8th Viscount and Viscountess with Sir El Spears, 1939-1973 (Reference: SPRS)
• Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies hold letters from the 8th Viscount and Viscountess to Lady Desborough, 1912-1969

Published sources

• There do not appear to be any published works about the 8th Viscount Galway