Philip Game

Air Vice-Marshal
Sir Philip Game
GCB, GCVO, GBE, KCMG, DSO

Portrait of Game held by Government House.
26th Governor of New South Wales
In office
29 May 1930 – 15 January 1935
Monarch George V
Lieutenant Sir Philip Street
Preceded by Sir Dudley de Chair
Succeeded by Sir Alexander Hore-Ruthven
14th Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
In office
1 November 1935 – 1 June 1945
Monarch George V
Edward VIII
George VI
Preceded by The Lord Trenchard
Succeeded by Sir Harold Scott
Personal details
Born (1876-03-20)20 March 1876
Streatham, Surrey
Died 4 February 1961(1961-02-04) (aged 84)
Sevenoaks, Kent
Spouse(s) Gwendolen Hughes-Gibb
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army (1893–1918)
Royal Air Force (1918–29)
Years of service 1893–1929
Rank Air Vice-Marshal
Commands Air Member for Personnel (1923–29)
RAF India (1922–23)
South Western Area (1918–19)
Battles/wars

Second Boer War
First World War

Awards Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Distinguished Service Order
Mentioned in Despatches (6)
Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy
Officer of the Legion of Honour (France)

Air Vice-Marshal Sir Philip Woolcott Game, GCB, GCVO, GBE, KCMG, DSO (30 March 1876 – 4 February 1961) was a British Royal Air Force commander, who later served as Governor of New South Wales and Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (London). Born in Surrey in 1876, Game was educated at Charterhouse School and entered the military at Royal Military Academy Woolwich, gaining his commission in 1895. Serving with the Royal Artillery, Game saw action in the Second Boer War and the First World War. After serving with distinction and bravery, Game transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in early 1916 serving as General Trenchard's chief staff officer. Finishing the War as an acting major-general, Game remained in the Royal Air Force after the close of hostilities. Notably he served as Air Officer Commanding RAF India and Air Member for Personnel. He retired from the military in 1929, having reached the rank of air vice-marshal.

In March 1930, Game was appointed Governor of New South Wales, serving during a time of political instability and coming into conflict with the NSW Labor Government over attempts to abolish the New South Wales Legislative Council. Game dismissed the Government of Premier Jack Lang in May 1932 following illegal activity by Lang. Ending his term in January 1935, Game returned to Britain and was appointed Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in London. He held it during the tumultuous 1930s, the 1936 abdication crisis and the Second World War, before retiring at the end of the war in 1945.[1] Between 1937 and 1949 he resided at Langham House, Ham Common, Surrey and was Vicar's Warden at St. Andrews church.[2] Retiring with his wife Gwendoline to his home in Kent, Game died in February 1961, aged 84.[1]

Early life and career

Game was born in Streatham, Surrey, on 30 March 1876 to George Beale Game, a merchant from Broadway, Worcestershire, and his wife Clara Vincent. Before entering the army, he was educated at Charterhouse School. Following officer training at the Royal Military Academy Woolwich, Game was commissioned as a second lieutenant on 2 November 1895 into the Royal Artillery. Promoted to lieutenant on 2 November 1898 and further promoted to captain on 20 June 1901, he served in the Second Boer War and was mentioned in despatches. As a young artillery captain he was made officer in charge of the gun carriage bearing the coffin of Queen Victoria at her funeral in 1901.[3] Following brief postings in India and Ireland, Game attended the Staff College, Camberley in 1910 and was posted as a General Service Officer (GSO) at the War Office. He later won the Royal United Services Institute Gold Medal Essay. On 11 August 1908 he married Gwendolen Hughes-Gibb, the daughter of Francis Hughes-Gibb of Dorset, and was promoted as a major on 15 February 1912.[3]

Following the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Game served on the front in France, including at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle. In the war he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, the Légion d'honneur and the Order of the Crown of Italy and was five times Mentioned in Despatches.[4][5] In early 1916 Game transferred to the Royal Flying Corps as a result of Hugh Trenchard's request for an experienced staff officer to serve in his headquarters. Game transferred to the Royal Air Force on its creation in 1918.[3] At the end of the war, Game continued to work under Trenchard, but as Director of Training and Organisation in the RAF. In 1922 he was promoted to the rank of air vice-marshal and appointed Air Officer Commanding RAF India. The next year he took up the post of Air Member for Personnel and was appointed as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) a year later.[6] Game retired suddenly on 1 January 1929, at the age of 52, allegedly owing to the rumours of his being appointed Chief of the Air Staff.[7][8] On 1 March 1929 he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in the military division (GBE).[9]

Governor of New South Wales

At the height of the Great Depression, Game was appointed Governor of New South Wales in March 1930.[10] He arrived in Sydney with his family in May 1930. On 30 June 1930, Game was appointed by King George V a Knight of Grace of the Venerable Order of St John (KStJ).[11] At the October 1930 State elections the Bavin Nationalist Government was defeated and the Labor Party leader, Jack Lang, became Premier.[8]

Legislative Council abolition

Lang’s previous term of office from 1925 to 1927 had brought him into conflict with Game’s predecessor, Sir Dudley de Chair, over the proposed appointment of additional members to the Legislative Council, in order to enable the abolition of the house, using the same techniques used to abolish the Queensland Legislative Council in 1922. His inability to gain control in the Upper House obstructed Lang’s legislative programme and in November 1930, claiming a mandate to abolish the Council, Lang's Labor MLCs put forward two bills, one to repeal section 7A of the NSW Constitution (which prevented the abolition of the Council without a referendum), the other to abolish the Council. Lang requested the necessary additional appointments to pass the legislation from Game. However, these requests were met with Game’s refusal.[1]

Premier Jack Lang. Throughout the Legislative Council dispute and the events leading to his dismissal, Lang and Game maintained a cordial relationship.

Believing that a referendum was necessary before the bills could become law, the Legislative Council permitted the bills to pass without a division on 10 December. Lang then announced his intention of presenting the bills for Game's Royal assent without a referendum. The following day, two members of the Legislative Council, Thomas Playfair and Arthur Trethowan, applied for and were granted an injunction preventing the President of the Council, Sir John Peden, and the ministers from presenting the bills to the Governor without having held a referendum. On 23 December the Supreme Court of New South Wales in the case of Trethowan v. Peden, upheld the injunction and ordered the government not to present for royal assent, unless ratified by the electors in a referendum, bills to abolish the council.[12] Lang immediately prepared an appeal to the High Court of Australia. In the case of Attorney-General (New South Wales) v. Trethowan, the appeal was rejected by a majority of the court. Lang then appealed this decision to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. The Privy Council then delayed the appeal until April 1932.[13]

Reflecting his status as a representative of the British Government, Game at all times informed the Dominions Office of political developments. In hard financial times, NSW soon came into conflict with the federal government as Lang’s unorthodox financial policy opposed the economic orthodoxy advocated by Sir Otto Niemeyer, who was the main financial advisor to the Federal Scullin Labor Government and later the Lyons United Australia Party Government. In July 1931, in a personal contribution towards economic recovery, Game notified Treasury to make a 25% deduction from his own monthly salary.[1]

Lang's Government soon introduced legislation to cope with the economic problems the state was facing. Its first move was the Reduction of Interest Bill, which was intended to default on payments of overseas debts to British bondholders in an attempt to negotiate the interest rate. The Legislative Council prevented passage on 26 March 1931 by resolving that the bill be read again in six months time. Lang again asked for additional members to force his legislation through. Game, aware of the weight of opinion in the MacDonald Government in London, the Scullin Government in Canberra, and Sydney against the Lang administration's financial policies, refused. On 28 March the Federal Labor Party expelled the New South Wales Labor Party for its opposition to the financial policy of the Federal government. Despite various petitions and demands that he dismiss Lang, Game declined to act. Game later informed the Dominions Secretary, James Henry Thomas, on 29 March 1931 that he was not convinced that Lang would lose an election at this time.[13]

In March and June 1931 Lang repeatedly requested the necessary 80 appointments to swamp the council and prevent obstruction to his legislation. Game again refused, offering 21 appointments, which were enough to pass some of the legislation but not the most controversial bills, including the bill to default on debts.[13] Finally, in a compromise move with Lang, on 19 November 1931 Game assented to 25 appointments, reasoning that it would not be possible to refuse Lang's requests until the Privy Council case was resolved. His telegram to the Dominions Secretary the next day explained further: "I foresee if I refuse now I shall most probably be placed in position before long where...I should not be able to stop at twenty five but should have sooner or later to give sufficient appointments to carry rejected legislation. Such numbers might give Government a permanent majority to carry any and every extreme measure, and extreme factions would probably gain ascendancy owing to what they would represent as my obstinate partiality. Should I refuse appointments until appeal case is heard and should it result in abolition extremists would be in an even stronger position. After reviewing all arguments and considering possibilities I have reached conclusion that my proper and wiser course is to accept advice and have done so."[14]

Ribbon ceremony to open the Sydney Harbour Bridge on 19 March 1932. Premier Lang cuts the ribbon while Game looks on.

During this Game questioned the result if Lang won the appeal to the Privy Council and the Legislative Council was abolished. Various correspondence between him and London confirms that had Lang succeeded, Game may have refused assent to the abolition bills, thereby making it the first time it had been withheld since 1708. This potential situation disappeared, however, with the judgment of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council on 31 May 1932. The judgment dismissed the appeal by the Government of New South Wales. The bills repealing Section 7A and abolishing the Legislative Council could not therefore be presented to the Governor for assent until they had been passed in a referendum.[13] Faced with other problems, Lang's plans for abolition ultimately failed. His successor as Premier, Bertram Stevens, later passed major reforms to replace the appointed Legislative Council, by a Council elected by the whole parliament to terms equivalent to four Assembly terms. This was passed by referendum in 1933.

Harbour Bridge opening

In March 1932, in anticipation of the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, when Lang decided that he would cut the ribbon and incurred the displeasure of the King, Game reassured the King that Lang had the right to cut the ribbon. Game and his family found much amusement in the controversy thrown up over the matter and the question of whether Game, as governor, should have a 17-gun salute. The far-right New Guard were nevertheless enraged over Lang's decision, culminating in Francis de Groot's pre-ceremony cutting of the ribbon. The ribbon was hastily reattached and on 19 March 1932, Lang opened the bridge with Game looking on, and he later gave a speech commemorating the occasion.[8]

Dismissal

When the United Australia Party Government of Joseph Lyons came to power in January 1932, it passed the Financial Agreement Enforcement Act, thereby forcing the NSW government to adhere to its debt commitments and to cut government spending. Lang appealed the decision to the High Court. When the court ruled that the law was valid, Lang ordered Treasury officials to withdraw all the state's funds from government bank accounts so that the federal government could not gain access to the money. Game advised Lang that in his view this action was illegal, and that if Lang did not reverse it he would dismiss the government. Lang stood firm, and issued a leaflet in defiance of Game. Game then reluctantly decided to exercise his reserve powers and called Lang to Government House to dismiss him. However, Lang was not the first to hear of his dismissal. The pianist Isador Goodman, who had been befriended by Sir Philip and Lady Game, was at Government House for dinner that night. There were a number of interruptions, and Goodman asked if he perhaps ought to leave. Game replied, "No, that's not necessary. You see, I am about to dismiss the Premier."[15]

Sir Philip and Lady Game are farewelled by Premier Stevens upon their departure on 15 January 1935.

On 13 May 1932 Game dismissed Lang's government and appointed the UAP leader, Bertram Stevens, as Premier. Stevens formed a coalition with Michael Bruxner's Country Party and immediately called an election, at which Lang's NSW Labor Party was heavily defeated. This was the first case of an Australian government with the confidence of the lower house of Parliament being dismissed by a vice-regal representative, the second case being when Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismissed Gough Whitlam's government on 11 November 1975. Game himself felt his decision was the right one, despite his personal liking of Lang. He wrote to his mother-in-law on 2 July 1932: "Still with all his faults of omission and commission I had and still have a personal liking for Lang and a great deal of sympathy for his ideals and I did not at all relish being forced to dismiss him. But I felt faced with the alternative of doing so or reducing the job of Governor all over the Empire to a farce."[16] Lang himself, despite objecting to his dismissal, conceded that he too liked Game, regarding him as fair and polite, and having had good relations with him.[17]

End of term

During his governorship Game was the patron of several organisations including the District and Bush Nursing Associations and the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales, and was Chief Scout of the NSW Boy Scouts Association. Lady Game was President of the District and Bush Nursing Associations and the Girl Guides Association. The rest of his term was fairly uneventful, and he returned to Britain following the expiration of his term on 15 January 1935. Before he left Sydney he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG), on the recommendation of Premier Stevens, for his service as governor.[18][19] In honour of their service to the state, Ku-ring-gai Municipal Council named a major road in Lindfield as Lady Game Drive and a nearby park as Sir Phillip Game Reserve.[20] In memory of Game's time as governor, a portrait was commissioned by public subscription and painted by R.G. Eves. It was then displayed at the National Art Gallery of New South Wales before being presented to Government House.[21]

Metropolitan Police Commissioner

Commissioner Game (left) with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester at Euston Station on the eve of their departure for Australia in 1945.

Upon his return to Britain, Game served as Metropolitan Police Commissioner from 1935 until 1945. Not long after his appointment in November 1935, Game was responsible for the policing of the funeral of King George V and subsequently the abdication crisis of King Edward VIII and the 1937 coronation of King George VI.[3] For his work in the 1937 coronation, Game was appointed by King George VI a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) on 11 May 1937.[22] Serving as Commissioner during very tumultuous times, Game had to deal with Fascist and Communist demonstrations, a bombing campaign waged by Irish Republican Army terrorists and, during the Second World War, the organisation of the police role in air-raid precautions and relief. He dealt effectively with those problems and the consequent improvement in police morale was an important factor in the survival of London during the concentrated German air attack of 1940–41.[23] In 1943, in an attempt to prevent burglaries, Game urged householders not to keep furs, adapting a verse from Chapter 9 of Ecclesiastes saying, "they are no doubt warmer, and look nicer than a tweed coat, but a live dog is better than a dead lion."[23]

Towards the end of his time as Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Game worked to establish a boys' club. The Sir Philip Game Boys' Club, situated in Croydon, was opened in 1946. The Club was officially opened on 19 July 1947 by the then Home Secretary, James Chuter Ede, in the presence of Game. New premises were built and completed in 1964 and were officially opened on 8 May 1966 by the then Home Secretary, Sir Frank Soskice, in the presence of Lady Game, who unveiled a plaque in the memory of her husband.[24] Game was the last senior armed forces officer to be appointed Metropolitan Police Commissioner: with the exception of his immediate successor, a senior civil servant, all successive commissioners have been career police officers. Game was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) on 2 May 1945 and retired soon after on 1 June 1945.[8][25]

He died at his home, Blackenhall, Sevenoaks, Kent, on 4 February 1961, survived by his wife, daughter and by his elder son, who had married Vera Blackburn, daughter of Sir Charles Blackburn. His second son had been killed in action at Taranto, Italy, in 1943.[8]

Titles, styles and honours

Viceregal styles of
Sir Philip Game
Reference style His Excellency
Spoken style Your Excellency
Alternative style Sir

Titles[3]

Honours

Sir Philip Game in 1930 wearing his 1920 pattern RAF Full Dress uniform.
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) 1945[25]
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) 1924[6]
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) 1919
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) 1937[22]
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) 1929[9]
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) 1935[18]
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) 1915
Knight of Grace of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem (KStJ) 1929[11]
Queen's South Africa Medal
1914–15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal with palm for Mentioned in Dispatches
King George V Silver Jubilee Medal 1935
King George VI Coronation Medal 1937
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953
Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy 1917[4]
Officer of the Legion of Honour 1917[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Game, Sir Philip Woolcott (1876–1961)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  2. ↑ Fison, Vanessa (2009). The Matchless Vale: the story of Ham and Petersham and their people. Ham and Petersham Association. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-9563244-0-5.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Air Vice-Marshal Sir Philip Game". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  4. 1 2 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30096. p. 5200. 26 May 1917. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  5. 1 2 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30431. p. 13206. 14 December 1917. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  6. 1 2 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31098. p. 91. 1 January 1919. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33453. p. 72. 1 January 1929. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Clune, David; Turner, Ken (2009). The Governors of New South Wales: 1788–2010. Sydney: Federation Press. pg 473–495.
  9. 1 2 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 33472. p. 1440. 1 March 1929. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33593. p. 2061. 28 March 1929. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  11. 1 2 The London Gazette: no. 33618. p. 3956. 30 June 1930. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  12. ↑ "Street, Sir Philip Whistler (1863–1938)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  13. 1 2 3 4 A. S. Morrison (1984), "Dominions Office Correspondence on the New South Wales Constitutional Crisis 1930–1932", London, University of London (PhD thesis).
  14. ↑ Telegram to Dominions Secretary James Thomas from Governor Game, 20 November 1931.
  15. ↑ Virginia Goodman, Isador Goodman: A Life in Music (1983)
  16. ↑ Letter by Sir P Game to Mrs Eleanor Hughes-Gibb, 2.7.1932, ML MSS 2166/5.
  17. ↑ Foot, B (1968). Dismissal of a Premier – The Sir Philip Game Papers. Sydney: Morgan Publications. pg 190.
  18. 1 2 Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, KCMG, 11 May 1937, itsanhonour.gov.au, Citation: Gov NSW.
  19. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 34166. p. 3597. 3 June 1935. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  20. ↑ "Sir Phillip Game Reserve". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  21. ↑ "Sir Philip Game". The Sydney Morning Herald 7 March 1936 pg 16. Australian National Library. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  22. 1 2 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 34396. p. 3084. 11 May 1937. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  23. 1 2 "History of the Metropolitan Police (1930–1949)". Metropolitan Police. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  24. ↑ "The Sir Philip Game Centre – a brief history". Sir Philip Game Centre. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  25. 1 2 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37064. p. 2351. 2 May 1945. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
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