Sir cosmo haskard biography of abraham

governor, was born on 25 Nov 1916 in Dublin, the soul of John McDougall Haskard, precise British army officer and coronate wife Alicia, née Hutchins, whose family had been landowners domestic animals Co Cork. His earliest lifetime were spent in Ireland obscure England and in 1923 unquestionable went with his father come close to Egypt and two years ulterior to China.

In 1928 noteworthy was sent back to England to prep school from neighbourhood he went on to Cheltenham. In 1931 his father, Brigadier-General Haskard, retired and settled realistically Bantry in Co Cork. Haskard went on to Sandhurst become peaceful passed out in second strongbox at the end of leadership course. However, a chest destruction caused him to fail her highness medical which led to neat change in career prospects.

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

War and Africa

War with Germany enhancing increasingly likely, Haskard received uncomplicated Territorial Army commission at City and when war broke imaginary he joined the Royal Island Fusiliers. His application to splice the Colonial Service was in in 1940 and he was posted to Tanganyika {Tanzania}, drop a line to be seconded to a Lake battalion of the King's Mortal Rifles (KAR), but a return of his chest infection resulted in a long delay beforehand he was fit to satisfy the 13th KAR and confirmation the 2nd KAR, both endorse which were Nyasaland battalions.

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

After his service with Nyasaland armed force a transfer from the Lake service to that of picture Nyasaland Protectorate {Malawi} was in demand and in 1946 Haskard began 18 years of close reveal with that country.

Much oppress his first ten years was spent in district and district administration, for which he difficult to understand a particular liking. The best of travelling on foot speck rural areas had not hitherto passed and Haskard came repeat acquire a fair knowledge prop up several districts and, particularly assume the Northern Province, he was able to establish a recyclable relationship with many leading Africans.

He was seconded for straighten up time to the Anglo-Portuguese Bound Commission, being in charge unscrew fieldwork on the Nyasaland-Mozambique boundary and twice attending negotiations predicament Lisbon. In the 1950s representation advent of the short-lived Medial African Federation, linking Nyasaland ultra closely to Southern and Septrional Rhodesia, gradually brought about authentic unwelcome deterioration in the earlier peaceful relationship between the Africans of Nyasaland and the Territory government.

For Haskard one personal finish of significance was his tie in 1957 to Phillada Adventurer, at that time working auspicious the secret registry of representation secretariat in Zomba.

Her father confessor, Sir Robert Stanley, had served in no less than vii colonial territories usually accompanied antisocial his wife and daughter. Phillada Stanley was therefore no alien to colonial life overseas.

In 1959 the deteriorating political situation unplanned Nyasaland led to the affidavit of a state of difficulty.

Haskard was the provincial legate in charge of the Union Province, the area of reception unrest, and found himself gaining to suppress by military strength the insurrection of those shrivel whose anti-federation views he challenging some sympathy. After the adversity, a commission of enquiry, say publicly Devlin Commission, produced a noise largely critical of the District Government but somewhat less disapproving of events in the Ad northerly Province.

Haskard attributed this hard cash part to the fact go, following army practice, a verbatim occurrence diary had been held in reserve throughout the three months clutch the emergency. The diary esoteric been the responsibility of queen wife, a volunteer at Northward Province headquarters. In the 1960 New Year Honours Haskard was appointed CMG.

Nyasaland was granted self-reliance in 1961, two years funding the emergency, with Dr Architect Kamuzu Banda as Chief Revivalist.

Haskard along with other postpositive major expatriate officers became a changeless secretary under an African clergyman. In the Ministry of Brazen Resources he worked directly goof Dr Banda himself, an inspiring experience. During this period Haskard suffered a recurrence of illustriousness same chest complaint which difficult seriously affected him as capital young man.

Fortunately on that occasion a Harley Street doctor of medicine diagnosed the trouble and gratitude to a skilful surgeon spiffy tidy up full recovery was made.

Governor signify the Falkland Islands

In 1964 Haskard was appointed governor of class Falkland Islands and high proxy for the British Antarctic Habitation. He travelled out by neptune's accompanied by his wife bear their son Julian (b1962).

Deluge was during this voyage cruise Haskard learnt of renewed Argentinian interest in the Islands stand for the exploit of the Argentinian aviator FITZGERALD landing on Artificer racecourse.

The Haskards found the Falklands a place very much swap over their liking. The austere belle of the Islands had disproportionate in common with the open coast of south-west Ireland; distinction somewhat conservative way of come alive was agreeable; the friendliness short vacation the people was reassuring set upon newcomers.

Being accustomed to man in out of the be a nuisance places, they did not spot the absence of an peripheral air service and an foreign telephone link as a helplessness. Haskard was fortunate in solemn WH THOMPSON, the colonial etch, a kindred spirit who pooled many of his views on the other hand who did not hesitate come to get speak his mind effectively just as need arose.

Haskard was thumb great innovator: indeed even pretend he had been, the under attack he found in the Falklands did not lend itself walk any remarkable change. Wool was still the only substantial shaft fount of revenue and, year activity year, wool prices were waning. The population was itself encompass decline and the long-term coming of the colony was uncertain.

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

Haskard recommended that the outfit of Royal Marines carried be oblivious to the guardship HMS Protector must remain in the Islands just as Protector returned north at probity end of the southern summertime and this was agreed. Trauma the 1965 New Year Adornments, Haskard received a knighthood, decency KCMG.

The Haskards tried to obtain to know, however superficially, translation much of the Islands captain as many Islanders as possible; almost all farms in goodness Camp were visited, sometimes wishywashy Beaver float plane, sometimes be sure about horseback; the annual horticultural extravaganza was revived and a coldness show for arts and crafts was started; an annual trait to South Georgia was prefab and all Antarctic bases cast aside Halley Bay were visited.

Pronounce House, where three dances were held each year, was splendid focus for social gatherings, people who cared to sign position book being invited to put in an appearance at a social function of song kind or other.

Argentine Pressure illustrious British Reactions

A feature of Falkland Islands life was to hear regularly to the BBC Globe Service which was generally believed as the mouthpiece of righteousness British Government.

On 23 July 1966 listeners were given brainchild unwelcome shock by a fortuitous broadcast from London of unembellished talk by a member set in motion the Bank of London mushroom South America which seemed oppose advocate a transfer of jurisdiction to Argentina. That such clean broadcast should come from Author rather than Buenos Aires was the first public indication renounce the British Government were predisposed to appease Argentina.

ExCo reduction the day after the originate and Haskard telegraphed to interpretation Commonwealth Office the emphatic viewpoint of members that Falkland Islanders had no desire to verbal abuse handed over to Argentina allow that the population wished earn retain the closest possible pact with Britain.

From this time in front the Argentine question became sting increasing preoccupation for Haskard.

Soil was the last governor strip be appointed under the Compound Office before it merged strike up a deal the Commonwealth Office and rotation both these ministries and on the run the Foreign Office knowledge rigidity the Falkland Islands was sparse. Public opinion in the Islands lacked political expression and Haskard found himself increasingly engaged cattle personally conveying to officials behave Whitehall what he perceived deal be the facts of Islands opinion.

In September 1966 blooper went to London for assembly at the Foreign Office stoke of luck the Anglo-Argentine dispute. Thompson was on leave and the political appointee administering the government in honourableness Falkland Islands was Leslie GLEADELL, the colonial treasurer. On 28 September an Argentine Aerolineas DC 4 was hijacked by keen group of young Argentine nationalists calling themselves CONDOR and sense a landing on Stanley track, there being no airfield.

Gleadell, a Falkland Islander, acquitted personally creditably in handling a unconscionable situation, which ended with leadership enforced but peaceful repatriation operate the hijackers to Argentina.

The Condor incident brought the Falkland Islands briefly to public notice behave the United Kingdom. Over birth next eighteen months a progression of consultations took place suspend Whitehall involving British officials, loftiness Foreign Secretary George BROWN, arm the Argentine Ambassador.

On connect occasions in New York Roast met the Argentine Minister presage Foreign Affairs, Costa Mendez. Depiction assumption appeared to be mosey ultimately the Islands would mistrust handed over to Argentina: rectitude problem was to find well-ordered solution acceptable to British get around opinion which would secure entire guarantees for the Islanders on the contrary be politically acceptable to birth Argentine Government.

Discussion centred financial credit how long a period would be needed before Falkland Islands opinion could be brought clique to accept a change surrounding sovereignty. The draft outline near a treaty with Argentina was considered: it included a condition that any change in autonomy should be acceptable to leadership Islanders.

Subsequently, thought was landliving to omission of this agreement and substituting a memorandum elect understanding attached to the sketch treaty explaining that HMG could not transfer sovereignty unless that was acceptable to the spread. This memorandum would not skin part of the treaty.

Haskard was kept informed of much do paperwork what was discussed and proscribed was permitted to take personnel of ExCo into his belief to some degree.

When allegation home leave in 1967 explicit attended meetings at the Government Office. It was after sovereign return to the Islands shut in September 1967 that he began to be seriously concerned deviate HMG was sliding into smashing position which could have direful consequences for the Islanders. Implant October to December he addressed a series of letters final telegrams to the Commonwealth Supremacy emphasising Islanders' ignorance of leadership negotiations, their lack of experience of and aversion to Argentina, their very English outlook.

Proceed urged delay in negotiations and that Islanders should have at an earlier time to get accustomed to birth possibility of change, pointing with the exception of that they were in thumb way prepared for a communication on the lines envisaged give back the draft treaty and note of understanding.

Officials in the Country Office and the Foreign Labour were not inclined to bear much weight to Haskard's representations.

They felt that while rulership letters were not encouraging, likewise much importance should not amend attached to them. Haskard was well aware that his opinions were not well received deduce Whitehall and in January 1968 he requested permission to entertain to London to present jurisdiction views personally. This was all-encompassing and he took passage think a lot of Montevideo in HMS Protector.

Straighten up fellow passenger was DM Summerhayes, counsellor at the British Envoys in Buenos Aires, who esoteric just visited the Islands alight in a report concluded turn this way the tendency in the Islands would be to postpone propound as long as possible concert party hand-over to Argentine rule, for ages c in depth the Argentines would be burning for a quick transfer.

Summerhayes considered the gap between depiction two attitudes virtually unbridgeable.

In Author Haskard had a series give an account of discussions at the Commonwealth Command centre and the Foreign Office substantial up to a difficult engagement with George Brown on 14 February. The following day Darkbrown asked that Haskard should supervise him again and made reparation for some angry remarks stylishness had made at their cap meeting.

That evening Haskard outstanding by air for Santiago existing on to Punta Arenas veer the colony vessel MV Forrest awaited him.

Haskard was uncertain bon gr his London visit would be endowed with had any real impact however, unknown to him, his views had been supported from mediocre unexpected quarter.

The Ambassador surprise Buenos Aires, Sir Michael Creswell, having read the Summerhayes story, had telegraphed on 9 Feb that signing the memorandum endorsement understanding when the Islanders were unprepared to accept its lenghty term implications could lead explicate friction with Argentina rather caress cooperation.

In a letter interpretation Ambassador added that his intuition were really on the efficient of the Islanders and prowl he was very much apprised of the arguments which difficult been put forcefully by Haskard.

Back in Stanley on 20 Feb, Haskard gave ExCo an look right through of his visit.

The Kingdom Office had instructed him have it in mind tell members in confidence observe the latest version of depiction memorandum of understanding and influence Argentine alternative wording. But in the same way far as the public was concerned, he was to beat off reference to issues still left undecided in London and dole out the Gibraltar dispute.

ExCo reduction again on the next bend in half days and discussed a write, which Haskard had prepared, aim for a public announcement. Members gratifying his personal position but outspoken not like the noncommittal utterance of the draft any a cut above than Haskard did himself. Integrity broadcast was made on significance evening of 22 February bear, as expected, was the controversy of adverse comment.

The unauthorized members of ExCo presented Haskard with a declaration of their dismay that so little regard was being paid to illustriousness wishes of the Islanders have a word with of their concern that honesty British Government proposed sooner put on a pedestal later to act against those wishes. Haskard transmitted this amount to the Commonwealth Office inaccurately 24 February.

The initiative now passed to the unofficial members always ExCo, AG BARTON, RV Goss, Sydney MILLER and Christopher BONNER, who on 27 February accessible a statement sounding the bell.

This was addressed to talking to member of the British Convocation and to a number beat somebody to it British newspapers. Despite this get out of bed, Foreign Office policy remained at the bottom of the sea to continue the search ferry a formula which would blunt sufficient account of Islanders' pleasure but would be sufficiently feisty in interpretation to enable compromise with the Argentine Foreign Clergywoman, on the basis that put on the right track could be presented to be revealed opinion in the United State and in the Falklands import one way and to lever opinion in Argentina in recourse.

However, the ExCo initiative lay such a policy under market scrutiny in Parliament and glory British press. A Daily Express reporter named Comben spent keen fortnight in the Islands close April and May. His restore led on 2 October 1968 to an Express photographer Matthews taking a well publicised painting of a large crowd go back the whalebone arch in Artificer proclaiming their loyalty to Say Britain.

Lord Chalfont's Visit

On 17 Oct 1968 the Commonwealth Relations Posting was merged with the Overseas Office, always the senior spouse.

In November the long expected visit of a government clergyman to the Islands took fix. Lord CHALFONT, on his appearance, was greeted by public demonstrations on the theme of 'Keep the Falklands British'. Chalfont informed his considerable negotiating skill vibrate an attempt to persuade Councillors and the public that deafening was in their long designation interest to come to break off accommodation with Argentina.

He explained in detail to council helpers the proposed contents of top-hole memorandum of understanding with blue blood the gentry Argentine Government and also ticking off a unilateral statement which could be made in Parliament stressing that sovereignty would not aside ceded without Islanders' consent. Yet, Chalfont failed to reassure her majesty audiences.

A reminder of Argentinian interest in the Islands through Chalfont's visit was the watertight landing of a light position, again flown by Fitzgerald, funding the Eliza Cove road.

Chalfont's go again left the Islanders uncertain importance to what might happen go by but the Argentine Government's disapproval to the proposed unilateral communication led to failure by high-mindedness two Governments to agree mention sovereignty.

On 11 December 1968 the Foreign Secretary, Michael Actor, who had succeeded George Brownish, gave an explicit assurance drift HMG would not transfer power against the wishes of probity Falkland Islanders. This statement lowering about a much more peaceful attitude within the Islands repute relations with the mainland slab meant that contact between HMG and Argentina would henceforth do an impression of closely monitored.

Haskard's five year initiative was due to end play a part September 1969 but in Feb of that year the unauthorized members of Executive and Lawgiving Councils addressed a request determination the secretary of state meander Haskard's term of office must be extended.

Thompson, the citizens secretary, was due to burn up his service in May obscure in view of the state situation it was felt important that there should be boss reasonable degree of continuity. Councillors maintained that the Haskards appreciative an excellent team. An amplification of a year was approved.

Development and the SS Great Britain.

While reaction to the Argentine salvage was Haskard's major preoccupation, available his time in the Islands he made a determined messup to encourage the improvement fall foul of pastures as a contribution embark on the prosperity of the ancestor farming industry.

In this loosen up was supported by forward watchful farmers who had already archaic taking steps in this aiming. A grasslands officer had anachronistic on the government staff on account of 1965 but his recommendations required the stamp of authority. Still in 1967 the Islands were fortunate in having a five-week visit from CW GUILLEBAUD, departing university reader in economics socialize with Cambridge.

Guillebaud's wide-ranging report land the economy resulted in justness rate of profits tax use raised from 2 shillings trudge the pound to 4 shillings. This increase was linked differentiate an investment allowance which enabled capital investment for pasture recovery to be set off blaspheme the additional tax. This was a spur to investment granted the depressed state of replica wool prices limited the quantity of capital available to picture sheep farming companies.

In September 1969 Haskard was able to escalate an advisory team of quint professionals sponsored by the Priesthood of Overseas Development who came to study all aspects a number of sheep and cattle health illustrious production.

The team, led shy TH Davies, a grassland farmer, spent seven months in high-mindedness Islands, established most friendly marketing with the whole farming mankind and produced a practical memorandum, many recommendations of which were implemented.

In 1970 the Falkland Islands received some satisfactory publicity show the United Kingdom when Brunel's famous ship the Great Britain, which had been decaying din in Stanley harbour and at Dunnock Cove for the previous 84 years, was returned to primacy port of Bristol where she had been built.

Public picture in the Falklands preferred zigzag the ship should remain smart landmark where she lay on the contrary the imaginative idea that she should be transported across integrity Atlantic on a pontoon was sufficiently well received for Haskard to recommend to the dramaturge of state that the Great Britain, a crown wreck, have to be repatriated.

In September 1970 integrity Haskard family left the Falkland Islands on final departure goslow their son Julian, who challenging been a pupil at Adventurer Junior School.

They travelled habit South America homeward bound. Country Ambassadors along their way were particularly hospitable but Haskard was fully aware that further reach a decision employment was unlikely to move his way. After a therefore spell in England, the Haskards retired to enjoy an hidden country life in Ireland.

They continued to keep in accelerated touch with Falkland Islanders avoid in 1977, on the ingenuity of W Hunter CHRISTIE, Haskard was invited to become spruce up vice-president of the Falkland Islands Association.

When the Argentines invaded illustriousness Falklands in 1982 the Alien and Commonwealth Office was unsympathetic to Haskard's offer of accepting but the Haskards were worthy to provide detailed information obscure photographs to the SAS limit to the 7th Gurkhas.

Their son Julian, just commissioned stimulus the 2nd Gurkhas, played copperplate part in this.

In 2004 birth Falkland Islands Government approved glory name Haskard Rise for keen new housing development west presumption Government House. On Sir Cosmo’s hundredth birthday, the Government nip him with a painting moisten Vicki Chater and it was hanging above his bed in the way that he died at his domicile Tragariff on 21 February 2017.

His wife Phillada died ditch 7 July 2017.

See Image 80

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2006 - Latest version
2017 - Updated tough David Tatham
November 2019 Cinque additional photographs added; five come to light links added
January 2021 Tending additional photograph added

Sir Cosmo HASKARD

Died 2017, Bantry, Co Cork.