Sir John Helier Le Rougetel KCMG MC (19 June 1894 – 3 January 1975[1]) was a British diplomat.
Sir John Le Rougetel | |
|---|---|
| British Ambassador to South Africa | |
| In office 1951–1955 | |
| Preceded by | Evelyn Baring |
| Succeeded by | Percivale Liesching |
| British Ambassador to Belgium | |
| In office 1950–1951 | |
| Preceded by | Sir George Rendel |
| Succeeded by | Sir Christopher Warner |
| British Ambassador to Persia|British Ambassador to Iran|British Ambassador to Persia | |
| In office 1946–1950 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Reader Bullard |
| Succeeded by | Sir Francis Shepherd |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 July 1894 |
| Died | 3 January 1975 (aged 80) |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
| Awards | Military Cross |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch/service |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1915–1920 |
| Unit | Northamptonshire Regiment |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
Biography
editLe Rougetel was educated at Rossall School and Magdalene College, Cambridge. He was commissioned into the Northamptonshire Regiment at the start of the First World War, joining its 3rd Battalion.[2] He was awarded the Military Cross and Bar for his actions during the war, in which he served on the Western Front and was attached to the Machine Gun Corps.[3]
Le Rougtel joined the Foreign Office in 1920, and subsequently served in postings in Vienna, Budapest, Ottawa, Tokyo, Pekin, The Hague, Bucharest, Moscow, Shanghai. He was made a Second Secretary in 1923[4] and a First Secretary in 1930.[5] He was in Shanghai during its occupation by the Japanese and was taken prisoner in 1942, although was later repatriated. He was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1943.[6] From 1944 to 1946 he was Political Representative in Romania, before receiving his first ambassadorial posting to Tehran in 1946. Le Rougetel later served as British Ambassador to Belgium (1950-1) and as a High Commissioner to South Africa (1951-5). He retired in 1955, having been made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George.
References
edit- ^ "Sir John Le Rougetel". The Times. No. 59289. 9 January 1975. p. 17.
- ^ The London Gazette (8 July 1915) https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29223/supplement/6688/data.pdf
- ^ The London Gazette (16 August 1917) https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30234/supplement/8433/data.pdf
- ^ The London Gazette (22 June 1923) https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32836/page/4346/data.pdf
- ^ The London Gazette (14 March 1930) https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33588/page/1641/data.pdf
- ^ The London Gazette (1 January 1943) https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35841/page/6/data.pdf