Walter Horace Samuel - 2nd Viscount Bearsted

Colonel Walter Horace Samuel - 2nd Viscount Bearsted of Maidstone, M.C
13 Mar 1882 - 08 Nov 1948
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Walter Horace Samuel-2nd Viscount Bearsted (from National Portraits Gallery)
Biography

Anglo-Jewish he was born in Marylebone, London to Marcus Samuel, Viscount Bearsted and his wife Fanny Elizabeth Benjamin. Walter became the 2nd Viscount Bearsted, along with a Barony and Baronetcy, upon his father's death in 1927 as his other brothers had been killed during WW1. His father was the founder of Shell Transport and Trading and Walter was second Chairman. Walter Horace Samuel married Dorotha Montefiore Micholls on 23 July 1908 in West End Synagogue, West End, London. At the time of his death he was reported to be on the Boards of 63 companies and a Director of Lloyds Bank. He was one of the riches men in the country leaving an estimated £4 million. He donated his home, Upton House, and his paintings to The National Trust before he died.

A great patron of the arts and good causes, he was President for the Home and Hospital of Jewish Incurables and he paid the building costs of Bearsted Memorial Hospital. He was also a trustee for The National Gallery, National Art Collection Fund, Tate Gallery and Whitechapel Art Gallery.

Postings
Unit or location Role Posted from until
Coleshill House, GHQ Commanding Officer Special Duties 1940 Unknown
Education

Eton College, Windsor 1895-1901

New College, Oxford 1901-1905

National ID
QFIB 42/1
Regiment
The Intelligence Corps
Occupation

Industrialist and Banking.

Career

During the First World War he was 2nd Lieutenant later Captain 7491, Queens Own West Kent Yeomanry. He was awarded the Military Cross and Mentioned in Despatches twice.

In WW2 he worked for Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) Section D. He oversaw the transfer of Home Defence Organisation network to Auxiliary Units Special Duties. In files covering the early history of Section D it states; "Colonel Viscount Bearsted continued his organisation en bloc under the name of 'Auxiliary Units (Special Duties)'. It was not until the danger of invasion was relatively past that the organisation as originally planned by D Section was dissolved".

After the fall of France in May 1940, the German Gestapo prepared for the invasion of Britain by compiling an arrest list of more than 2,300 names. Bearsted was on this list.

2 Dec 1942 he departed for America.

10 Nov 1943 Relinquished his commission and granted the Honorary rank of Colonel.

Address
(1940) C/o The Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London W1. Telephone Mayfair 8888. (Home) Upton House, Edgehills, near Banbury, Warwickshire.
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Walter Horace Samuel-2nd Viscount Bearsted (from National Portrait Gallery)
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Walter Horace Samuel-2nd Viscount Bearsted (from National Portrait Gallery)
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Walter Horace Samuel-2nd Viscount Bearsted (from National Portrait Gallery)
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Bearsted to form Special Duties (from TNA HS7/3)
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Bearsted gives up commission (from TNA ref HS/109/3)
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Bearsted record (from TNA ref HS9/109/3)
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Gestapo list
References

Auxiliary Units telephone number listing August 1940

TNA ref HS7/3 & HS9/109/3

National Portraits Gallery

London Gazette 22 Sept 1914

Banbury Advertiser 10 November 1948