William Campion

Sir William Robert Campion, KCMG, DSO, TD, DL (3 July 1870 – 2 January 1951) was a British soldier, politician, and the 21st Governor of Western Australia from 1924 to 1931.

For other people named William Campion, see William Campion (disambiguation).

Colonel

Sir William Campion

KCMG, DSO, TD, DL
Campion in 1924
21st Governor of Western Australia
In office
28 October 1924 – 9 June 1931
MonarchGeorge V
Preceded bySir Francis Newdegate
Succeeded bySir James Mitchell (from 1948)
Personal details
Born(1870-07-03)3 July 1870
London, England
Died2 January 1951(1951-01-02) (aged 80)
Hassocks, Sussex, England
NationalityBritish
Political partyConservative
Spouse(s)Katherine Mary Byron
Military service
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Branch/serviceBritish Army
RankColonel
UnitRoyal Sussex Regiment
Battles/warsFirst World War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Distinguished Service Order
Territorial Decoration
Mentioned in Despatches

Early years

Born in London, England on 3 July 1870, Campion was educated at Eton College and the University of Oxford, and was the Conservative MP for Lewes from 1910 to 1924.

Military career

Campion was commissioned into the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment in 1888. He served in the First World War, at Gallipoli then later in France in 1916, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1918.

Governor of Western Australia
Campion (left of centre) at Western Australia's centenary celebrations in 1929.

In June 1924 Campion was appointed Governor of Western Australia. From October 1924 to June 1931 Campion worked with Labor and Nationalist premiers alike in harmony during a period without major political crises. He presided with dignity over the state's centennial celebrations in 1929.

Later years

Campion returned to England in 1931 and retired to his country house in Sussex, but spoke frequently in favour of organized migration to Australia. He was a member of the Empire Settlement Committee in 1935. He accepted appointment as chairman of two Australian based gold-mining companies. He visited Australia in 1935–36 to inspect properties and again in 1939.

Campion died in Sussex on 2 January 1951, survived by his wife and four children: William Simon Campion (1895–1976) – married, with issue; Countess Dorothy Mary Campion Carnegie (1897–1967), married with issue; Wilfred Edward Campion (1899–1972) – married with issue (divorced); Barbara Campion Willis Fleming (1903–1999) – married with issue (divorced).

References
    Parliament of the United Kingdom
    Preceded by
    Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, 4th Baronet    		 Member of Parliament for Lewes
    1910–1924    		 Succeeded by
    Tufton Beamish
    Government offices
    Preceded by
    Sir Francis Newdegate    		 Governor of Western Australia
    1924–1931    		 Vacant
    Title next held by
    Sir James Mitchell


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