Myles Ponsonby
Encyclopedia
Myles Walter Ponsonby CBE
(12 September 1924 - 1 February 1999), was a British
soldier, intelligence officer, diplomat
and politician
. He was Ambassador to Mongolia
from 1974 to 1977.
by his marriage to Gladys Edith Walter, Ponsonby was a great-grandson of Charles Ponsonby, 2nd Baron de Mauley
and a descendant of John Ponsonby, 4th Earl of Bessborough
and of William the Conqueror
. He was educated at St Aubyns
, Rottingdean
, and at Eton College
.
from 1942 to 1949 and was wounded on active service during the Second World War. He became an instructor at the Army's School of Infantry
, in Warminster
, in 1945, and was an Intelligence Officer in Palestine
before a posting to GHQ Middle East. He retired the service with the rank of Captain in the King's Royal Rifle Corps
.
In 1951, he entered the British government's Foreign Service, later transferring to the Diplomatic Service
, and held posts in Egypt
(1951), Cyprus
(1952–53), Beirut
(1953–56), Djakarta (1958–61), and Nairobi
(1963–64). In 1964, he went to Hanoi
as Consul-General, and was in London
at the Foreign Office from 1966 to 1969. He was then head of the office of the Secret Intelligence Service
(MI6) in Rome
from 1969 to 1971, returned again to London to serve in the newly merged Foreign and Commonwealth Office
from 1972 to 1974, was British Ambassador to the Mongolian People's Republic for three years, 1974–1977, and simultaneously an observer for MI6. He ended his official career with a further posting to the FCO from 1977 to 1980.
In 1988, following his retirement, he began a new career as a member of Wiltshire County Council
representing Idmiston
, serving until 1993. He retired from the council, moved to Winchester
, in Hampshire
, and died on 1 February 1999.
In 1951, Ponsonby married Anne Veronica Theresa Maynard, a daughter of Brigadier
Francis Herbert Maynard CB DSO MC. They had one son, John Maurice Maynard (1955), and two daughters, Belinda Mary (1951) and Emma Christina (1959).
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(12 September 1924 - 1 February 1999), was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soldier, intelligence officer, diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was Ambassador to Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
from 1974 to 1977.
Early life
The son of Victor Coope Ponsonby MCMilitary Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
by his marriage to Gladys Edith Walter, Ponsonby was a great-grandson of Charles Ponsonby, 2nd Baron de Mauley
Charles Ponsonby, 2nd Baron de Mauley
Charles Frederick Ashley Cooper Ponsonby, 2nd Baron de Mauley of Canford was a British peer and Liberal politician....
and a descendant of John Ponsonby, 4th Earl of Bessborough
John Ponsonby, 4th Earl of Bessborough
John William Ponsonby, 4th Earl of Bessborough PC , known as Viscount Duncannon from 1793 to 1844, was a British Whig politician...
and of William the Conqueror
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
. He was educated at St Aubyns
St. Aubyns Preparatory School
St. Aubyns Preparatory School is a private co-educational school in Rottingdean, East Sussex, England, catering for children from the ages of 3 to 13. The school was formally founded in 1895 but has origins in educational establishments founded in the 18th century by the then vicar of Rottingdean,...
, Rottingdean
Rottingdean
Rottingdean is a coastal village next to the town of Brighton and technically within the city of Brighton and Hove, in East Sussex, on the south coast of England...
, and at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
.
Career
Ponsonby served in the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
from 1942 to 1949 and was wounded on active service during the Second World War. He became an instructor at the Army's School of Infantry
School of Infantry
A School of Infantry provides training in weapons and infantry tactics to infantrymen of a nation's military forces.Schools of infantry include: Australia*Australian Army - School of Infantry, Lone Pine Barracks at Singleton, NSW. France...
, in Warminster
Warminster
Warminster is a town in western Wiltshire, England, by-passed by the A36, and near Frome and Westbury. It has a population of about 17,000. The River Were runs through the town and can be seen running through the middle of the town park. The Minster Church of St Denys sits on the River Were...
, in 1945, and was an Intelligence Officer in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
before a posting to GHQ Middle East. He retired the service with the rank of Captain in the King's Royal Rifle Corps
King's Royal Rifle Corps
The King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. Later ranked as the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire...
.
In 1951, he entered the British government's Foreign Service, later transferring to the Diplomatic Service
Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service
Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service is the diplomatic service of the United Kingdom, dealing with foreign affairs, as opposed to the Home Civil Service, which deals with domestic affairs...
, and held posts in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
(1951), Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
(1952–53), Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
(1953–56), Djakarta (1958–61), and Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
(1963–64). In 1964, he went to Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
as Consul-General, and was in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at the Foreign Office from 1966 to 1969. He was then head of the office of the Secret Intelligence Service
Secret Intelligence Service
The Secret Intelligence Service is responsible for supplying the British Government with foreign intelligence. Alongside the internal Security Service , the Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence Intelligence , it operates under the formal direction of the Joint Intelligence...
(MI6) in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
from 1969 to 1971, returned again to London to serve in the newly merged Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
from 1972 to 1974, was British Ambassador to the Mongolian People's Republic for three years, 1974–1977, and simultaneously an observer for MI6. He ended his official career with a further posting to the FCO from 1977 to 1980.
In 1988, following his retirement, he began a new career as a member of Wiltshire County Council
Wiltshire County Council
Wiltshire County Council was the county council of Wiltshire in the South West of England, an elected local Government body responsible for most local government services in the county....
representing Idmiston
Idmiston
Idmiston is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It has a population of 2,025.All Saints Church was built in the 12th century. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building and is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust....
, serving until 1993. He retired from the council, moved to Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
, in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, and died on 1 February 1999.
In 1951, Ponsonby married Anne Veronica Theresa Maynard, a daughter of Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
Francis Herbert Maynard CB DSO MC. They had one son, John Maurice Maynard (1955), and two daughters, Belinda Mary (1951) and Emma Christina (1959).
External links
- Myles Walter Ponsonby at namebase.org (extracted from Robin Ramsay, A Who's Who of the British Secret State, 1989)