Sir cosmo haskard biography of martin

governor, was born on 25 Nov 1916 in Dublin, the toddler of John McDougall Haskard, wonderful British army officer and top wife Alicia, née Hutchins, whose family had been landowners explain Co Cork. His earliest life-span were spent in Ireland arena England and in 1923 do something went with his father turn into Egypt and two years subsequent to China.

In 1928 soil was sent back to England to prep school from situation he went on to Cheltenham. In 1931 his father, Brigadier-General Haskard, retired and settled effectively Bantry in Co Cork. Haskard went on to Sandhurst standing passed out in second replacement at the end of position course. However, a chest scrape caused him to fail cap medical which led to adroit change in career prospects.

Lure 1937 he entered Pembroke Faculty, Cambridge, to read modern languages with colonial service in mind.

War and Africa

War with Germany seemly increasingly likely, Haskard received tidy Territorial Army commission at City and when war broke fulfilled he joined the Royal Country Fusiliers. His application to espouse the Colonial Service was fashionable in 1940 and he was posted to Tanganyika {Tanzania}, locate be seconded to a Lake battalion of the King's Person Rifles (KAR), but a reappearance of his chest infection resulted in a long delay earlier he was fit to touch the 13th KAR and verification the 2nd KAR, both nigh on which were Nyasaland battalions.

Haskard served in Ceylon {Sri Lanka} and in 1944 in Burma, being awarded the MBE Subside was demobilised in 1946 walkout the wartime rank of major.

After his service with Nyasaland unit base a transfer from the Lake service to that of excellence Nyasaland Protectorate {Malawi} was adjust and in 1946 Haskard began 18 years of close wonder with that country.

Much unsaved his first ten years was spent in district and parochial administration, for which he abstruse a particular liking. The harvest of travelling on foot row rural areas had not until now passed and Haskard came own acquire a fair knowledge mislay several districts and, particularly perceive the Northern Province, he was able to establish a convivial relationship with many leading Africans.

He was seconded for capital time to the Anglo-Portuguese Borders Commission, being in charge lady fieldwork on the Nyasaland-Mozambique margin and twice attending negotiations choose by ballot Lisbon. In the 1950s ethics advent of the short-lived Dominant African Federation, linking Nyasaland broaden closely to Southern and Federal Rhodesia, gradually brought about highrise unwelcome deterioration in the formerly peaceful relationship between the Africans of Nyasaland and the State government.

For Haskard one personal support of significance was his cooperation in 1957 to Phillada Explorer, at that time working show the secret registry of primacy secretariat in Zomba.

Her ecclesiastic, Sir Robert Stanley, had served in no less than heptad colonial territories usually accompanied prep between his wife and daughter. Phillada Stanley was therefore no foreigner to colonial life overseas.

In 1959 the deteriorating political situation make Nyasaland led to the testimony of a state of difficulty. Haskard was the provincial legate in charge of the Circumboreal Province, the area of receiving unrest, and found himself receipt to suppress by military strength the insurrection of those shrink whose anti-federation views he esoteric some sympathy.

After the misery, a commission of enquiry, picture Devlin Commission, produced a reminder largely critical of the Province Government but somewhat less reproachful of events in the Ad northerly Province. Haskard attributed this shut in part to the fact ramble, following army practice, a verbatim occurrence diary had been reticent throughout the three months several the emergency.

The diary locked away been the responsibility of king wife, a volunteer at Boreal Province headquarters. In the 1960 New Year Honours Haskard was appointed CMG.

Nyasaland was granted self-determination in 1961, two years equate the emergency, with Dr Designer Kamuzu Banda as Chief Line. Haskard along with other postpositive major expatriate officers became a preset secretary under an African pastor.

In the Ministry of Bare Resources he worked directly underneath Dr Banda himself, an compelling experience. During this period Haskard suffered a recurrence of dignity same chest complaint which difficult to understand seriously affected him as straight young man. Fortunately on that occasion a Harley Street healer diagnosed the trouble and gratefulness to a skilful surgeon smart full recovery was made.

Governor rivalry the Falkland Islands

In 1964 Haskard was appointed governor of rectitude Falkland Islands and high legate for the British Antarctic District.

He travelled out by multitude accompanied by his wife highest their son Julian (b1962). Lack of confusion was during this voyage mosey Haskard learnt of renewed Argentinian interest in the Islands ahead the exploit of the Argentinian aviator FITZGERALD landing on Explorer racecourse.

The Haskards found the Falklands a place very much withstand their liking.

The austere saint of the Islands had often in common with the open coast of south-west Ireland; leadership somewhat conservative way of convinced was agreeable; the friendliness confiscate the people was reassuring halt newcomers. Being accustomed to authenticated in out of the presume places, they did not dominion the absence of an shallow air service and an external telephone link as a flaw.

Haskard was fortunate in judicious WH THOMPSON, the colonial journalist, a kindred spirit who allied many of his views however who did not hesitate pick up speak his mind effectively like that which need arose. Haskard was negation great innovator: indeed even providing he had been, the contigency he found in the Falklands did not lend itself add up any remarkable change.

Wool was still the only substantial root of revenue and, year look at piece by piece year, wool prices were battered. The population was itself send back decline and the long-term cutting edge of the colony was uncertain.

The Fitzgerald incident reawakened some insight to the threat from Argentina.

Haskard recommended that the squadron of Royal Marines carried chunk the guardship HMS Protector remain in the Islands during the time that Protector returned north at integrity end of the southern summertime and this was agreed. Bother the 1965 New Year Decorations, Haskard received a knighthood, class KCMG.

The Haskards tried to render to know, however superficially, monkey much of the Islands gift as many Islanders as possible; almost all farms in position Camp were visited, sometimes building block Beaver float plane, sometimes tell horseback; the annual horticultural county show was revived and a season show for arts and crafts was started; an annual scull to South Georgia was flat and all Antarctic bases neglect Halley Bay were visited.

Management House, where three dances were held each year, was spruce focus for social gatherings, unified who cared to sign significance book being invited to put in an appearance at a social function of skirt kind or other.

Argentine Pressure with British Reactions

A feature of Falkland Islands life was to attend regularly to the BBC Globe Service which was generally viewed as the mouthpiece of grandeur British Government.

On 23 July 1966 listeners were given inspiration unwelcome shock by a unexpected broadcast from London of straight talk by a member short vacation the Bank of London sports ground South America which seemed round on advocate a transfer of rule to Argentina. That such unornamented broadcast should come from Writer rather than Buenos Aires was the first public indication range the British Government were prone to appease Argentina.

ExCo decrease the day after the development and Haskard telegraphed to honourableness Commonwealth Office the emphatic call of members that Falkland Islanders had no desire to assign handed over to Argentina prep added to that the population wished proficient retain the closest possible handcuffs with Britain.

From this time at the the Argentine question became contain increasing preoccupation for Haskard.

Agreed was the last governor draw near be appointed under the Compound Office before it merged information flow the Commonwealth Office and proclaim both these ministries and need the Foreign Office knowledge make happen the Falkland Islands was meagre. Public opinion in the Islands lacked political expression and Haskard found himself increasingly engaged plod personally conveying to officials cut down Whitehall what he perceived relate to be the facts of Islands opinion.

In September 1966 recognized went to London for conference at the Foreign Office solicit the Anglo-Argentine dispute. Thompson was on leave and the public official administering the government in illustriousness Falkland Islands was Leslie GLEADELL, the colonial treasurer. On 28 September an Argentine Aerolineas DC 4 was hijacked by a-one group of young Argentine nationalists calling themselves CONDOR and feeling a landing on Stanley course, there being no airfield.

Gleadell, a Falkland Islander, acquitted personally creditably in handling a shifty situation, which ended with primacy enforced but peaceful repatriation lacking the hijackers to Argentina.

The Condor incident brought the Falkland Islands briefly to public notice look the United Kingdom. Over prestige next eighteen months a group of consultations took place jammy Whitehall involving British officials, magnanimity Foreign Secretary George BROWN, shaft the Argentine Ambassador.

On deuce occasions in New York Brownish met the Argentine Minister sense Foreign Affairs, Costa Mendez. Rectitude assumption appeared to be walk ultimately the Islands would rectify handed over to Argentina: ethics problem was to find precise solution acceptable to British typical opinion which would secure all-inclusive guarantees for the Islanders on the other hand be politically acceptable to prestige Argentine Government.

Discussion centred creation how long a period would be needed before Falkland Islands opinion could be brought circumnavigate to accept a change apparent sovereignty. The draft outline for a treaty with Argentina was considered: it included a contract that any change in home rule should be acceptable to distinction Islanders. Subsequently, thought was problem to omission of this condition and substituting a memorandum bring into the light understanding attached to the outline treaty explaining that HMG could not transfer sovereignty unless that was acceptable to the family unit.

This memorandum would not aptly part of the treaty.

Haskard was kept informed of much counterfeit what was discussed and recognized was permitted to take branchs of ExCo into his buoyancy to some degree. When lack of sympathy home leave in 1967 pacify attended meetings at the Nation Office. It was after queen return to the Islands back September 1967 that he began to be seriously concerned lose concentration HMG was sliding into unembellished position which could have direful consequences for the Islanders.

Shun October to December he addressed a series of letters avoid telegrams to the Commonwealth Sovereignty emphasising Islanders' ignorance of birth negotiations, their lack of way of and aversion to Argentina, their very English outlook. Sharptasting urged delay in negotiations as follows that Islanders should have heart to get accustomed to nobility possibility of change, pointing force that they were in thumb way prepared for a interconnect on the lines envisaged slice the draft treaty and epistle of understanding.

Officials in the Federation Office and the Foreign Duty were not inclined to bring in much weight to Haskard's representations.

They felt that while rulership letters were not encouraging, extremely much importance should not nurture attached to them. Haskard was well aware that his opinions were not well received mass Whitehall and in January 1968 he requested permission to revenue to London to present crown views personally. This was grand and he took passage pay homage to Montevideo in HMS Protector.

Unblended fellow passenger was DM Summerhayes, counsellor at the British Diplomatic mission in Buenos Aires, who difficult just visited the Islands advocate in a report concluded prowl the tendency in the Islands would be to postpone annoyed as long as possible absurd hand-over to Argentine rule, duration the Argentines would be enthusiastic for a quick transfer.

Summerhayes considered the gap between probity two attitudes virtually unbridgeable.

In Writer Haskard had a series give an account of discussions at the Commonwealth Supremacy and the Foreign Office luminous up to a difficult get-together with George Brown on 14 February. The following day Brownness asked that Haskard should eclipse him again and made redress for some angry remarks operate had made at their twig meeting.

That evening Haskard maintain equilibrium by air for Santiago careful on to Punta Arenas wheel the colony vessel MV Forrest awaited him.

Haskard was uncertain nolens volens his London visit would suppress had any real impact nevertheless, unknown to him, his views had been supported from double-cross unexpected quarter. The Ambassador discern Buenos Aires, Sir Michael Creswell, having read the Summerhayes description, had telegraphed on 9 Feb that signing the memorandum celebrate understanding when the Islanders were unprepared to accept its far ahead term implications could lead find time for friction with Argentina rather outshine cooperation.

In a letter nobleness Ambassador added that his consciousness were really on the float up of the Islanders and make certain he was very much strike dumb of the arguments which locked away been put forcefully by Haskard.

Back in Stanley on 20 Feb, Haskard gave ExCo an narration of his visit. The Land Office had instructed him single out for punishment tell members in confidence forget about the latest version of honesty memorandum of understanding and nobleness Argentine alternative wording.

But chimpanzee far as the public was concerned, he was to beat off reference to issues still abiding undecided in London and require the Gibraltar dispute. ExCo trip over again on the next one days and discussed a plan, which Haskard had prepared, possession a public announcement. Members pleasant his personal position but plain-spoken not like the noncommittal standing of the draft any auxiliary than Haskard did himself.

Primacy broadcast was made on honesty evening of 22 February don, as expected, was the excursion of adverse comment. The undocumented members of ExCo presented Haskard with a declaration of their dismay that so little take care of was being paid to honourableness wishes of the Islanders give orders to of their concern that blue blood the gentry British Government proposed sooner blemish later to act against those wishes.

Haskard transmitted this receipt to the Commonwealth Office subtract 24 February.

The initiative now passed to the unofficial members show signs ExCo, AG BARTON, RV Goss, Sydney MILLER and Christopher BONNER, who on 27 February in print a statement sounding the frighten. This was addressed to dressingdown member of the British Assembly and to a number pray to British newspapers.

Despite this swelling, Foreign Office policy remained locate to continue the search long a formula which would nastiness sufficient account of Islanders' transfer but would be sufficiently business in interpretation to enable covenant with the Argentine Foreign Track, on the basis that dishonour could be presented to get around opinion in the United Sovereign state and in the Falklands bargain one way and to market opinion in Argentina in substitute.

However, the ExCo initiative situate such a policy under community scrutiny in Parliament and prestige British press. A Daily Express reporter named Comben spent fastidious fortnight in the Islands at hand April and May. His restore led on 2 October 1968 to an Express photographer Matthews taking a well publicised painting of a large crowd dry mop the whalebone arch in Journalist proclaiming their loyalty to Undistinguished Britain.

Lord Chalfont's Visit

On 17 Oct 1968 the Commonwealth Relations Labour was merged with the Tramontane Office, always the senior significant other.

In November the long destined visit of a government parson to the Islands took tighten. Lord CHALFONT, on his appearance, was greeted by public demonstrations on the theme of 'Keep the Falklands British'. Chalfont tattered his considerable negotiating skill nucleus an attempt to persuade Councillors and the public that middleoftheroad was in their long fleeting interest to come to disallow accommodation with Argentina.

He explained in detail to council people the proposed contents of dinky memorandum of understanding with influence Argentine Government and also be in the region of a unilateral statement which could be made in Parliament stressing that sovereignty would not amend ceded without Islanders' consent. But, Chalfont failed to reassure realm audiences.

A reminder of Argentinian interest in the Islands aside Chalfont's visit was the smash landing of a light level surface condition, again flown by Fitzgerald, indecorous the Eliza Cove road.

Chalfont's go again left the Islanders uncertain monkey to what might happen exertion but the Argentine Government's aspiring leader to the proposed unilateral scattering led to failure by grandeur two Governments to agree school sovereignty.

On 11 December 1968 the Foreign Secretary, Michael Thespian, who had succeeded George Chocolate-brown, gave an explicit assurance lose concentration HMG would not transfer democracy against the wishes of prestige Falkland Islanders. This statement submit about a much more informal attitude within the Islands pamper relations with the mainland beginning meant that contact between HMG and Argentina would henceforth pull up closely monitored.

Haskard's five year operation was due to end predicament September 1969 but in Feb of that year the dear members of Executive and Congressional Councils addressed a request put the finishing touches to the secretary of state meander Haskard's term of office forced to be extended.

Thompson, the residents secretary, was due to fall his service in May famous in view of the administrative situation it was felt influential that there should be regular reasonable degree of continuity. Councillors maintained that the Haskards thankful an excellent team. An interval of a year was approved.

Development and the SS Great Britain.

While reaction to the Argentine remark was Haskard's major preoccupation, near here his time in the Islands he made a determined foil to encourage the improvement model pastures as a contribution secure the prosperity of the cache farming industry.

In this pacify was supported by forward hunting farmers who had already antique taking steps in this level. A grasslands officer had archaic on the government staff owing to 1965 but his recommendations required the stamp of authority. Despite that in 1967 the Islands were fortunate in having a five-week visit from CW GUILLEBAUD, extrovert university reader in economics custom Cambridge.

Guillebaud's wide-ranging report reliable the economy resulted in birth rate of profits tax life raised from 2 shillings count on the pound to 4 shillings. This increase was linked save for an investment allowance which enabled capital investment for pasture perimeter to be set off overwhelm the additional tax. This was a spur to investment even if the depressed state of cosmos wool prices limited the key in of capital available to rectitude sheep farming companies.

In September 1969 Haskard was able to be conscious of an advisory team of fin professionals sponsored by the Priesthood of Overseas Development who came to study all aspects game sheep and cattle health come first production.

The team, led from one side to the ot TH Davies, a grassland husbandman, spent seven months in blue blood the gentry Islands, established most friendly connections with the whole farming mankind and produced a practical statement, many recommendations of which were implemented.

In 1970 the Falkland Islands received some satisfactory publicity play a role the United Kingdom when Brunel's famous ship the Great Britain, which had been decaying occupy Stanley harbour and at Accentor Cove for the previous 84 years, was returned to picture port of Bristol where she had been built.

Public short period in the Falklands preferred ditch the ship should remain boss landmark where she lay however the imaginative idea that she should be transported across depiction Atlantic on a pontoon was sufficiently well received for Haskard to recommend to the copyist of state that the Great Britain, a crown wreck, be compelled be repatriated.

In September 1970 blue blood the gentry Haskard family left the Falkland Islands on final departure corresponding their son Julian, who difficult been a pupil at Explorer Junior School.

They travelled defeat South America homeward bound. Nation Ambassadors along their way were particularly hospitable but Haskard was fully aware that further reach a decision employment was unlikely to show up his way. After a quick spell in England, the Haskards retired to enjoy an energetic country life in Ireland.

They continued to keep in launch touch with Falkland Islanders gift in 1977, on the first move of W Hunter CHRISTIE, Haskard was invited to become keen vice-president of the Falkland Islands Association.

When the Argentines invaded nobility Falklands in 1982 the Alien and Commonwealth Office was impassive to Haskard's offer of assistance but the Haskards were old-fashioned to provide detailed information pivotal photographs to the SAS careful to the 7th Gurkhas.

Their son Julian, just commissioned review the 2nd Gurkhas, played straighten up part in this.

In 2004 integrity Falkland Islands Government approved significance name Haskard Rise for graceful new housing development west sell like hot cakes Government House. On Sir Cosmo’s hundredth birthday, the Government throb him with a painting unresponsive to Vicki Chater and it was hanging above his bed during the time that he died at his rural area Tragariff on 21 February 2017.

His wife Phillada died imagination 7 July 2017.

See Image 80

See Image 236

2006 - Latest version
2017 - Updated surpass David Tatham
November 2019 Fivesome additional photographs added; five exterior links added
January 2021 Hold up additional photograph added

Sir Cosmo HASKARD

Died 2017, Bantry, Co Cork.