Godfrey Harold Alfred Wilson (29 October 1871 – 13 July 1958) was an Australian-born academic at

Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

. He was a decorated army officer during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, and was MP for the university from 1929 to 1935.

Life

Godfrey Wilson was born in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

, the son of Daniel Wilson. He was educated at

Melbourne Grammar School (Pray and Work) , established = 1849 (on present site since 1858 - the celebrated date of foundation) , type = Independent, co-educational primary, single-sex boys secondary, day and boarding , denominatio ...

and at the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...

where he was resident at

Trinity College Trinity College may refer to: Australia * Trinity Anglican College, an Anglican coeducational primary and secondary school in , New South Wales * Trinity Catholic College, Auburn, a coeducational school in the inner-western suburbs of Sydney, New ...

from 1889, and later at

Clare College, Cambridge Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college was founded in 1326 as University Hall, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. It was refounded ...

, where he graduated BA as 5th Wrangler in 1895. From 1897 to 1929 he was a Fellow of Clare College. In 1899 he married Margaret Bartlett, eldest daughter of the Rev. John Edward Parker Bartlett, Rector of

Barnham Broom Barnham Broom is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is situated on the River Yare, 9 miles (15 km) West of Norwich. and 4 miles (6 km) North-West of Wymondham. The villages name means 'Beorn's hom ...

. He served in the

War Office The War Office was a department of the British Government responsible for the administration of the British Army between 1857 and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the new Ministry of Defence (MoD). This article contains text from ...

during

, gaining two mentions in the Secretary of State's List for 'valuable services'. In the

1918 New Year Honours The 1918 New Year Honours were appointments by King George V to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the British Empire. The appointments were published in ''The London Gazette'' and ''The Times'' in Ja ...

, he was made a Member of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(MBE) and was later appointed an Officer of the Order. Following the

1919 New Year Honours The 1919 New Year Honours were appointments by King George V to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the British Empire. The appointments were published in ''The London Gazette'' and ''The Times'' in Jan ...

in which Wilson was promoted from Major to

Brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

Lieutenant-Colonel, General Earle stated that:

Lieut.-Colonel Wilson has been concerned in the vast organisation for raising the corps of officers for the army, which now amounts to about a quarter of a million, the whole of which has been dependent on him. It is not too much to say that practically every officer that one sees now has been through his hands.

From 1920 to 1926, he was secretary of Cambridge University's financial board, and served as its treasurer from 1926 to 1929. In 1929, he became Master of Clare, retiring from the mastership in 1939. From 1929 to 1935, he was also an MP for

in the House of Commons. He resigned from Parliament on being appointed

vice-chancellor A chancellor is a leader of a college or university, usually either the executive or ceremonial head of the university or of a university campus within a university system. In most Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth and former Commonwealth n ...

of Cambridge University, a position he held from 1935 to 1937."Personal", ''The Advertiser'' delaide 31 Jan. 1935, p. 9.

References

External links

* 1871 births 1958 deaths People educated at Trinity College (University of Melbourne) Alumni of Clare College, Cambridge UK MPs 1929–1931 UK MPs 1931–1935 Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for the University of Cambridge Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Fellows of Clare College, Cambridge British Army personnel of World War I Masters of Clare College, Cambridge Vice-Chancellors of the University of Cambridge Officers of the Order of the British Empire Politicians from Melbourne University of Melbourne alumni politicians Australian emigrants to the United Kingdom {{England-Conservative-UK-MP-1870s-stub