Leslie Wilson (politician)

Wilson was the son of Henry Wilson, a stockbroker, and his wife Ada Alexandrina (née Orme), and was educated at St Michael's School, Westgate, and St Paul's School, London.

Wilson married Winifred May, daughter of Charles Smith, of Sydney, Australia, in 1909.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50451784 |title=MISCELLANEOUS. |newspaper=The Examiner |location=Launceston, Tas. |date=10 December 1910 |access-date=5 March 2011 |page=7 Edition: DAILY |publisher=National Library of Australia |archive-date=14 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214103248/http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50451784 |url-status=live }} They lived at the Manor House at Waltham St Lawrence in Berkshire. They had three children, two sons and a daughter:

• Peter Leslie Orme, born 4 June 1910 in London,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15116035 |title=Family Notices. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=9 June 1910 |access-date=5 March 2011 |page=8 |publisher=National Library of Australia |archive-date=14 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214103243/http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15116035 |url-status=live }}[http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl FreeBMD] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617225849/http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl |date=17 June 2016 }}, retrieved 5 March 2011. farmer and grazier,Queensland Electoral Roll, 1949.Queensland Electoral Roll, 1959. died 6 July 1980 aged 70 years in Queensland and buried in Caloundra cemetery;{{Cite web |title=Caloundra Cemetery - Surnames S-Z - Queensland, Australia |url=https://www.interment.net/data/aus/qld/caloundra/caloundra_cem/caloundra_sz.htm |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=www.interment.net}}
• David Orme, who was killed on 30 November 1941 in North Africa during World War II;{{Cite web |last= |title=Major David Orme Wilson {{!}} War Casualty Details 2769663 |url=https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2769663 |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=Commonwealth War Graves Commission |language=en |archive-date=14 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514031711/https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2769663/david-orme-wilson/ |url-status=live }}
• Marjorie Leila Orme, born 22 April 1914 at the Manor House, Berkshire, married 1941 John Richards (a former aide-de-camp of her father) in Surrey.{{cite news |date=27 April 1914 |title=Family Notices |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15504092 |accessdate=14 May 2024 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |location=New South Wales, Australia |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia |issue=23,805 |archive-date=14 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514031646/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/15504092 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |date=12 August 1939 |title=DAUGHTER OF GOVERNOR. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17612454 |accessdate=14 May 2024 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |location=New South Wales, Australia |page=17 |via=National Library of Australia |issue=31,705 |archive-date=14 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514031634/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17612454 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |date=4 March 1942 |title=No title |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231770492 |accessdate=14 May 2024 |newspaper=The Sun |location=New South Wales, Australia |page=6 (LATE FINAL EXTRA) |via=National Library of Australia |issue=10035 |archive-date=14 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514031643/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231770492 |url-status=live }}

On his retirement as Governor of Queensland, Wilson and his wife Winifred returned to live in Surrey, England. However, they visited Queensland on a number of occasions, including the marriage of their son Peter.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18150530 |title=MARRIED IN BRISBANE Social News And Events. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=3 March 1950 |access-date=6 March 2011 |page=10 |publisher=National Library of Australia |archive-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112025900/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/18150530 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49717023 |title=The bride wore emeralds. |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane |date=3 March 1950 |access-date=6 March 2011 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia |archive-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112030014/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/49717023 |url-status=live }}

Wilson died after being hit by a truck while walking in September 1955, aged 79. Winifred died at Caloundra, Queensland on 17 June 1959.{{Cite web |title=Death registration: Winifred May Wilson |url=https://www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au/details/ecf0f393487338620fd2ae26bbf9f10d1c5fcee03bbe0188c61acc7dd63189f3 |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=Births, deaths, marriages and divorces |publisher=Queensland Government |archive-date=14 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514031706/https://www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au/details/ecf0f393487338620fd2ae26bbf9f10d1c5fcee03bbe0188c61acc7dd63189f3 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=The Spouses of the Governors of Queensland |url=https://www.govhouse.qld.gov.au/media/ce3b24fk/47619-government-house-spouses-book-12r.pdf |access-date=14 May 2024 |publisher=Government House, Queensland |pages=24–25 |archive-date=16 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316172840/https://www.govhouse.qld.gov.au/media/ce3b24fk/47619-government-house-spouses-book-12r.pdf |url-status=live }}

Wilson was commissioned into the Royal Marine Light Infantry and served in the Second Boer War, where he was wounded, mentioned in despatches and awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with five clasps and the Distinguished Service Order. In 1901 he achieved the rank of captain.

From 1903 to 1909, Wilson served as aide-de-camp to the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Harry Rawson.

During World War I, Wilson commanded Hawke Battalion of the Royal Naval Division with the rank of temporary lieutenant colonel in the Royal Marines and fought at Gallipoli, where he was again mentioned in despatches, and in France, where he was severely wounded.

On 2 December 1915, Wilson was carrying dispatches on the Greek ship Spetzia when officers from a German submarine boarded the ship and captured him and another officer, Colonel Napier.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15629982 |title=SUBMARINES. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=9 December 1915 |access-date=5 March 2011 |page=9 |publisher=National Library of Australia |archive-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112025905/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/15629982 |url-status=live }}

In January 1910, at the general election, Wilson unsuccessfully stood as the Conservative candidate for Poplar. In December 1910, he was Unionist candidate for Reading, but was defeated by the sitting Liberal candidate, Sir Rufus Isaacs, the Attorney-General.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58162472 |title=ELECTION NOTES. |newspaper=The Register |location=Adelaide |date=10 December 1910 |access-date=5 March 2011 |page=13 |publisher=National Library of Australia |archive-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112025944/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58162472 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10084929 |title=PERSONAL. |newspaper=The Mercury |location=Hobart, Tas. |date=10 December 1910 |access-date=5 March 2011 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia |archive-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112025933/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10084929 |url-status=live }}

In 1913, Wilson was returned to Parliament for Reading, a seat he held until 1922.

In 1919 Wilson was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping in the coalition government headed by David Lloyd George, a position he held until the Ministry of Shipping was abolished in 1921, and then served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury from 1921 to 1922. He was also the Conservative Chief Whip.

At the 1922 general election, Wilson abandoned his Reading constituency to contest the Westminster St. George's division, but was defeated by an Independent Conservative. However within a few weeks he was re-elected at a by-election at Portsmouth South. He was again Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury from 1922 to 1923 under Bonar Law and later Stanley Baldwin, and was admitted to the Privy Council on 20 June 1922.{{London Gazette|issue=32721|page=4621|date=20 June 1922}}

File:StateLibQld 1 138015 Sir Leslie and Lady Winifred May Wilson, ca. 1933.jpg

In July 1923, Wilson resigned from this position and his seat in the House of Commons on his appointment as Governor of Bombay. Wilson remained in Bombay until 1928. In the 1929 New Years Honours he was appointed Knight Grand Commander of The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}

File:StateLibQld 2 146459 Sir Leslie Orme Wilson, 1941.jpg

In 1932, Wilson was made Governor of Queensland,{{cite news |date=25 February 1932 |title=NEW GOVERNOR. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23146926 |accessdate=14 May 2024 |newspaper=The Queenslander |location=Queensland, Australia |page=31 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=14 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514031705/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/23146926 |url-status=live }} a post he held until 1946, one of the longest gubernatorial tenures in British history.{{Citation |last=Cahill |first=Peter |title=Sir Leslie Orme Wilson (1876–1955) |work=Australian Dictionary of Biography |url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/wilson-sir-leslie-orme-9143 |access-date=14 May 2024 |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |language=en |archive-date=24 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024015001/https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/wilson-sir-leslie-orme-9143 |url-status=live }} He was the longest-serving governor of the state.{{Cite web |date=26 May 2021 |title=Launch of the Leslie Wilson Outback Centre – BUSHkids |url=https://www.govhouse.qld.gov.au/the-governor-of-queensland/speeches/2021-may-launch-of-the-leslie-wilson-outback-centre-bushkids |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=Government House Queensland |language=en-AU |archive-date=29 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329234914/https://www.govhouse.qld.gov.au/the-governor-of-queensland/speeches/2021-may-launch-of-the-leslie-wilson-outback-centre-bushkids |url-status=live }}

In the early years of his appointment, Wilson toured the state widely and was concerned by the poor health of the children in rural areas due to prolonged drought, the Great Depression, and the distance of medical services. He convened working parties to find a solution, resulting in the 1935 establishment of the Queensland Bush Children’s Health Scheme (now BUSHKids). It brought children from rural areas for six-week summer stays in coastal locations, where the children could enjoy a holiday, while receiving nutrious meals, medical and dental checkups, and appropriate treatments. Children with severe health problems would be flown to major hospitals. The scheme coordinated a number of organisations such as the Red Cross and the Royal Flying Doctor Service to provide the holiday and healthcare arrangements. As at 2021, descendants of the governor remain involved with the service.{{Cite web |date=26 May 2021 |title=Launch of the Leslie Wilson Outback Centre – BUSHkids |url=https://www.govhouse.qld.gov.au/the-governor-of-queensland/speeches/2021-may-launch-of-the-leslie-wilson-outback-centre-bushkids |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=Government House Queensland |language=en-AU |archive-date=29 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329234914/https://www.govhouse.qld.gov.au/the-governor-of-queensland/speeches/2021-may-launch-of-the-leslie-wilson-outback-centre-bushkids |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=History and Heritage – BUSHkids |url=https://www.bushkids.org.au/bushkids/history-and-heritage/ |access-date=14 May 2024 |language=en-US |archive-date=14 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514045520/https://www.bushkids.org.au/bushkids/history-and-heritage/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Royal Queensland Bush Children's Health Scheme (1935 - ) |url=https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/qld/biogs/QE00438b.htm |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=Find & Connect |publisher=Australian Government |archive-date=3 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203124420/https://findandconnect.gov.au/ref/qld/biogs/QE00438b.htm |url-status=live }}

On 13 May 1937, Wilson planted a small bunya tree on North Quay, Brisbane to mark the name change of the River Road to Coronation Drive to commemorate the coronation of King George VI.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41643845 |title=In other cities |newspaper=The Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=14 May 1937 |access-date=5 March 2011 |page=31 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

From 1932 to 1942, Wilson was the Chief Scout of The Boy Scouts Association's Queensland Branch, resigning in 1943 when he disagreed with the decision to make the Chief Commissioner a paid position.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article186313927 |title=Governor resigns as Chief Scout |newspaper=The Telegraph (Brisbane) |location=Queensland, Australia |date=23 June 1943 |access-date=19 August 2022 |page=2 (City Final Last Minute News) |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=20 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820065637/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/186313927 |url-status=live }}[http://sirlesliewilson.scoutsqld.com.au/Sir_Leslie_Wilson.htm BIOGRAPHICAL DETAIL: Colonel Sir Leslie Orme WILSON, G.C.S.I., G.C.M.G., G.C.I.E., D.S.O.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216150607/http://www.sirlesliewilson.scoutsqld.com.au/Sir_Leslie_Wilson.htm |date=16 February 2011 }}, (research by Owen Richmond for his Woodbadge Project, 24 January 2006), retrieved 5 March 2011. His scout name was 'Hawk',{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55980031 |title=Scouts and cubs at Rockhampton Show |newspaper=The Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton) |issue=22,440 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=30 June 1938 |access-date=28 March 2025 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}} for his association with the Hawke Battalion.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118325082 |title=Scout notes |newspaper=Queensland Times |volume=LXXIX |issue=16,192 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=14 October 1938 |access-date=28 March 2025 |page=4 (Daily) |via=National Library of Australia}}

Wilson was a freemason. He was initiated into the craft in the Lodge Ionic No. 65, in Sydney, while serving as an aide-de-camp to Harry Rawson. When he returned to England, in 1909, he became a member of Navy Lodge No. 2612. He became Senior Warden of the Lodge in 1913 and Worshipful Master in 1917. He was the Primus Master of Old Pauline Lodge No. 3969 consecrated on Friday 18 July 1919.{{cite web|url=https://oldpaulinelodge.org.uk/about-us-2/about-us/|title=Lodge Number 3969|date=12 March 2018|access-date=16 June 2019|archive-date=16 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616180024/https://oldpaulinelodge.org.uk/about-us-2/about-us/|url-status=live}}Minute Book No 1, Old Pauline Lodge 3969 In 1922 he was appointed Junior Grand Warden of the United Grand Lodge of England and District Grand Master of Bombay in the following year. To this day there is a Lodge in Pune, Leslie Wilson Lodge No. 4880 EC, named for him.{{Cite web|title=Leslie Wilson Lodge|url=https://www.dglbombay.org/leslie-wilson-lodge/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904095235/https://www.dglbombay.org/leslie-wilson-lodge/|archive-date=4 September 2019|access-date=12 January 2022|website=District Grand Lodge of Bombay}} When he was appointed Governor of Queensland, he became Grand Master of Queensland's Grand Lodge serving for 12 years.{{cite web |url=http://kenthenderson.com.au/m_papers03.html |title=Ken Henderson Freemasonry: Vice Regal Grand Masters - Who and why? |access-date=27 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409023926/http://kenthenderson.com.au/m_papers03.html |archive-date=9 April 2013 }} After arriving in Brisbane aboard the {{RMS|Otranto|1925}} on Monday, 13 June 1932, Wilson proceeded to the Queensland Parliament House, where he was sworn in as the 15th Governor of Queensland and representative of His Majesty King George V. At the Regular Meeting of Lamington Lodge, No. 110 UGLQ, held on Thursday, 6 July 1933, a motion was passed that RW Brother Wilson PDGM (Bombay), PGD (England) be accepted as a joining Brother to Lamington Lodge. The Master read a letter from the United Grand Lodge of Queensland, dated Wednesday, 14 June, covering a special dispensation to ballot at the same meeting. After the ballot, the Master declared Wilson was duly elected a member of Lamington Lodge. The following year, on Wednesday, 25 July 1934, Wilson was invested and installed as the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Queensland. He was proclaimed as the Grand Master for the last time, on Wednesday, 24 July 1945, marking his entry upon his twelfth year as the Grand Master.{{Cite book| author1=McInnes, Dianne | title=Lamington Lodge : 100 years of freemasonry: a history of the Brisbane Masonic Community 1896–1996 | year=1996 | publication-date=1996 | publisher=Lamington Lodge Centenary Research Trust | isbn=978-0-646-28210-7|pages=57–60 }}

Wilson was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George 6 September 1916,{{London Gazette|issue=29736|page=8767|date=5 September 1916}} a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire 31 October 1923,{{London Gazette|issue=32876|page=7453|date=2 November 1923}} a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India 26 February 1929{{London Gazette|issue=33472|page=1438|date=26 February 1929}} and a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George 2 July 1937.{{London Gazette|issue=34414|page=4246|date=2 July 1937}}

A locality in Bangalore, called Wilson Garden, is named after Leslie Wilson.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite book |title=Collection UQFL36 - Sir Leslie Orme Wilson Papers |date=1900–1955 |publisher=University of Queensland}}

{{commons category|Leslie Orme Wilson}}

• {{rayment-hc|external links=y|date=March 2012}}
• {{Hansard-contribs | lieut-colonel-leslie-wilson | Leslie Wilson }}
• {{npg name | id=04874 | name= Sir Leslie Wilson }}

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{{s-par|uk}}

{{succession box

| title = Member of Parliament for Reading

| years = 1913–1922

| before = Sir Rufus Isaacs

| after = Edward Cadogan

}}

{{succession box

| title = Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South

| years = 1922–1923

| before = Herbert Cayzer

| after = Herbert Cayzer

}}

{{s-off}}

{{succession box

| title = Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping

| years = 1919–1921

| before = Sir Leo Chiozza Money

| after = Office abolished

}}

{{succession box

| title = Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
jointly with Charles McCurdy 1921–1922

| years = 1921–1923

| before = Lord Edmund Talbot
Freddie Guest

| after = Bolton Eyres-Monsell

}}

{{s-gov}}

{{succession box

| title = Governor of Bombay

| years = 1923–1928

| before = Sir George Lloyd

| after = Sir Frederick Sykes

}}

{{succession box

| title = Governor of Queensland

| years = 1932–1946

| before = Sir John Goodwin

| after = Sir John Lavarack

}}

{{s-end}}

{{Governors of Queensland}}

{{Conservative Chief Whips}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Leslie Orme}}

Category:1876 births

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Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George

Category:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India

Category:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire

Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order

Category:Governors of Bombay

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Category:Road incident deaths in England

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