Noel Charles

Noel Charles and his wife Lady Charles, listen to the news on the radio at the British Embassy in Rome in 1944

Sir Noel Hughes Havelock Charles, KCMG, MC, 3rd Baronet (20 November 1891 - 8 September 1975) was a British diplomat.

Biography

Charles was the younger son of Sir Havelock Charles, 1st Baronet, and succeeded his elder brother in the title in 1936. He served as British Ambassador to Brazil from 1941 to 1944[1] and as British Ambassador to Italy from 1944 to 1947. He sent a memo to the British government suggesting that they urge Italy to set up a system of issuing exit permits to prevent Italy being used as a pathway for Jews seeking to reach Israel. Noel's Rome home was extensively damaged during a 1946 bombing by Irgun terrorists; he and his wife were away that day.[2][3] He was replaced as Ambassador to Italy by Sir Victor Mallet in July 1947.

Awarded the Military Cross in 1917,[4] Sir Noel was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1937[5] and was promoted to Knight Commander (KCMG) in 1941.[6]

Charles died in September 1975, aged 83, at which time the baronetcy became extinct.

Sources

  • Gilbert, Martin. Israel: A History. (New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1998) p. 124
  • Gat, Moshe. Britain and Italy: 1943-1949, The Decline of British Influence. (Brighton, United Kingdom: Sussex Academic Press, 1996) p. 131.
  1. ↑ Wood, Bryce. The Dismantling of the Good Neighbor Policy. (Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press, 1985) p. 15
  2. ↑ "U.K. EMBASSY IN ROME HIT BY BOMBS". The Courier-Mail. 1 November 1946. Retrieved 26 May 2018. The quarters of the Ambassador to Rome (Sir Noel Charles) were damaged extensively, but none of the embassy personnel was injured. The blast ripped off a facade of a section normally occupied by Sir Noel Charles, who is out of Rome at present.
  3. ↑ "JEWISH TERRORISTS BLAMED FOR ATTACK ON BRITISH EMBASSY". The Canberra Times. 25 December 1946. Retrieved 26 May 2018. It was stated that two members of the Irgun Zvai Leumi were instructed last March to start a propaganda campaign in Rome and to establish a news exchange office, whereas it was the headquarters of the organisation in Italy.
  4. ↑ "No. 30111". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 June 1917. p. 5477.
  5. ↑ "No. 34396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 May 1937. p. 3082.
  6. ↑ "No. 35199". The London Gazette. 24 June 1941. p. 3599.


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