Masons with Guernsey Connections Sir William Henry Arnold (1903-1973), KBE, Bailiff of Guernsey (1960-1973) Bailiffs of Guernsey Predecessor Successor Sir Ambrose Sherwill Sir William Arnold Sir John Loveridge 1946-1959 1959-1973 1973-1982

Devoted his life to the Island. He had wit, keen mental alertness. intelligent humour. Gift in Court of coming to the heart of a matter in a few words.

His famous quote with reference to the Common Market. “In but half out” . Masonic Career

Doyle’s Lodge of Fellowship No 84 Initiated 13/11/29 - Passed 11/12/29 - Raised 08/01/31 - WM 1938 Provincial Rank Prov G Stwd 1938 – Prov SGW 1955 – Prov G Sec 1956 – Dep Prov GM 1964-67 Grand Lodge Rank PAGReg 1956 - PGD 1960 - PJGW 1967 Doyle’s Chapter of Fellowship No 84 Exalted 17/03/31 - Resigned 16/12/47 - Did not appear to have held any office Victor Carey Chapter Rose Croix No 322 Most Wise Sovereign 11962 – Elected 30˚ 1964

© the copyright holder. Photo credit: Royal Court, Guernsey WILLIAM ARNOLD CHAPTER ROSE CROIX No. 1034 21ST FEBRUARY 1992 External sources: Gsy People, L. James Marr; Liberation by Force 135, Mark Lamerton; Early Life https://artuk.org; www.theislandwiki.org; www.mli.org.gg; National Portrait Gallery.

William Arnold was born on 5 August 1903, the youngest of 11 children of William John Arnold and his wife Emma Caroline (née Le Patourel) of Les Landes Farm, Castel. He was educated at the States Intermediate School. On leaving school he entered the practice of his maternal uncle Advocate H. A. Le Patourel and then studied law, first at Caen University until 1923 and then at Grays Inn. In 1926 he was called to the English Bar. The next year he qualified in both Norman and English Law. He was called to the Guernsey Bar, and practiced as an Advocate of the Royal Court in Guernsey until World War II when he went into the Army. He was called up October 1940 and was sent to 12 Fighter group RAF (A.A. and Intelligence) as Liaison officer. He retained this post for six months and was then transferred to the Judge Advocates Branch, War Office. He served on the Staff of the Judge Advocate General, rising from Staff Captain to become the Head of the Legal Staff of the Civil Affairs Unit with the rank of Colonel. In 1944 he was posted to Field Marshal Montgomery H.Q. where he served on the Legal Staff. He returned to the Island landing in Guernsey at 2am on Liberation Day 1945 having previously been responsible for preparing the whole of the defence regulations to operate in the Bailiwick in the immediate post war period. Military Career External Career

Subaltern in the Royal Guernsey Artillery. The uncertainty and trepidation which beset the island as a result of the United Kingdom’s application to join the European Economic Community - an application which, prima facie, Lt –Col Arnold Chief Legal Advice and I O (B) (Info Ops). also automatically involved Guernsey as territory for the external relations of which the Military Assistant, Emergency Commission, Royal Artillery. Regiment: War Office. applicant was responsible - confronted Sir William with onerous responsibilities which he Battalion: Secretary of State for War. Quaternary: Military Department. shouldered with diligence and supreme efficiency. Bearing in mind “unity is strength” he induced Jersey, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man to make joint cause with his Bailiwick in seeking alleviation of the heavy burdens which unmitigated Political Career adherence to the Treaty of Rome would entail: and it was largely thanks to his efforts that a special status of “in but half out” was accorded to the Channel Isles when they entered Advocate of the Royal Court. into membership of the community. In 1930 Mr Arnold was elected a People's Deputy, a post which he held until 1940. His achievement in this connection was recognized early in 1973 on the occasion of an Member of Publicity Committee. honorary Doctorate of Laws being conferred on him by Southampton University, the Member of Mental Health Services Committee. accompanying citation speaking of his filling “a supremely difficult role … to perfection”. His diplomacy has extended to the Channel Islands as a whole, even to the Isle of Man and Member of Homes for Workers Committee. Gibraltar, as it was he who very largely persuaded them all to speak with one voice when In 1946 he was appointed as HM Procureur, an office he held until he was elected Bailiff of they “shivered on the brink of the Common Market” ref Guernsey People, L James Marr. Guernsey in succession to Sir Ambrose Sherwill in 1959. He was honoured by the Queen by being given a C.B.E., then was knighted in the 1973 Later attributes Birthday Honours when he received the K.B.E. He was made Hon. Doctor of Laws at Southampton, Caen and Brock Universities and he was awarded the Freedom of “Vile de Paris” in France. Guernsey Society

He was one of the founder members of the Guernsey Society, and its President from 1959. He also contributed the foreword to the Society's book, The Guernsey Farmhouse, published in 1964.

Death Brian Green’s great picture of the Sir William Arnold in action.

He died of chronic heart disease on July 21, 1973, just before his 70th birthday 1973 to 1997 – ‘Sir William Arnold’ ON 1025 (52-02) the first of the Arun class lifeboat on on 5th August and also just before his retirement, at his home Les Figuiers, Cobo, station replacing the prototype. Named after the recently deceased Bailiff, and Castel, leaving a widow, two sons and a daughter. affectionately known to the crew as ‘The Willie’, was probably the most successful lifeboat ever to be stationed in Guernsey, completing over 600 services. Many of her crew were He died in office, the only Bailiff to die in office since Arthur Bell in 1930. decorated for gallantry.