An Acting Colonel
Colonel George John Morley Peel MBE TD*** Royal Signals
George John Morley Peel.
The Man George John Morley Peel was born at 0135h on Friday 5th February 1892 at Milton Road, Belgrave in Leicester, the oldest son and second child of Thomas Melville, a Commercial Traveller, and Hannah Elizabeth Peel nee Morley. He was one of eight children, Edna, Lois, Thomas, Cyril, Isabella, Thelma and Eric and began walking at just 16 months old. He was born with a coul, this being, it was said to be lucky and something he kept with him all of his life, taking it on many sea journeys to keep him from drowning and always refusing to sell it. During his early years he lived with his family at 5 Beech Road and later 160 Maryvale Road, Bourneville, Birmingham and in December 1901 was admitted to Five Ways Grammar School which came under the educational umbrella of King Edward VI School in Edgbaston. He was elected a Foundation Scholar in December 1902 until 1904 and left on 24th February 1906 aged 14. He began work three years later in April 1909 with the Sun Insurance Company in Nottingham, transferring later the same year to their Foreign Department in London and enlisting as a Private into the Nottinghamshire Royal Horse Artillery, Territorial Force. At the outbreak of World War 1 on 4th August 1914 he transferred to the City of London (Rough Rider’s) Yeomanry subsequently being Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Surrey (Queen Mary’s Regiment) Yeomanry, service number 21066 on 6th March 1915 aged 23. On 19th January 1916 he married Elfiride Adrienesse Clarke, Ardis as she was known from America and an accomplished actress. During their early married life they both took an active interest in amateur theatricals forming their own company and performing many parts together. George was invited to play with such well known societies as the Windsor Strollers, the Vaudeville and Bancroft. He was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant in June 1916 and on 20th October the same year was seconded to the -
-Royal Flying Corps reporting to No 1 Squadron. During January and February 1917 he learnt to fly at Hendon and was posted to 18 Wing HQ, promoted to substantive Lieutenant on 1st July 1917 transferring 58 Squadron on 18th July 1917. On 1st April 1918 the Royal Air Force was formed and George Peel was appointed as Lieutenant in the Administration Branch, his name appearing in the London Gazette on the next page to Major General Sir Hugh M Trenchard KCB! Whilst serving in the RAF he had postings at RAF Uxbridge in London, Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham, attached to HQ 1 Group, service in the BEF France and promoted temporary Captain on 30th April 1918. For his war service he was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
During 1919 George was posted overseas with his work to theBranch of Sun Insurance and lived at 1 Bund Street, Shanghai, China giving his correspondence address in the UK as c/o Messrs Holt & Co, 3 Whitehall Place, SW1 and on 22nd May 1919 was placed onto the RAF unemployed list. He returned to the UK during 1921, relinquished his Commission in the RAF and re-Commissioned into the 3rd London Corps of Signals (AT) Territorial Force as a Lieutenant on 13th August 1921, with seniority backdated to 1st July 1917 the original date of his substantive promotion. In November the same year he joined the Freemasons and was initiated into Queen Mary’s Lodge 3327. In 1922 he became an Inspector in the Agency Appointment Department at Head Office Sun Insurance, and following the formation of the Territorial Army was transferred
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from the Territorial Force into the 26th (London) Anti Aircraft Signal Company TA and in October 1924. A year later aged 32 he was promoted Provisional Captain, confirmed in the London Gazette of 22nd December 1925 and backdated to 26th May 1923. In January 1926 he moved to the Charing Cross branch of Sun Insurance as a Chief Inspector and in September 1931 to North West London as Resident Secretary. On 1st January 1932 he was appointed a Brevet Major in the 26th (London) Company Air Defence Formations whose Headquarters were at 56 Regency Street, London and on 3rd November 1933 the promotion was confirmed, followed in December by another move with work this time to Cardiff as Branch Manager where he remained until 1939. Whilst in Cardiff Branch he served as President of the Insurance Institute of Cardiff and was Treasurer of the Cardiff Fire and Accident Council. He was also responsible for reviving the Insurance Institute Dramatic Society, his ability being recognised at the time by the BBC who invited him to broadcast on the Welsh Regional Service, where he was a regular contributor to the serials in Children’s Hour. He was also largely responsible both as actor and producer, for reviving the fortunes of Cardiff’s Little Theatre. George was also an enthusiastic golfer making a regular 27 mile journey to the Royal Porthcawl Golf Club every Sunday whatever the weather. During his six year stay in South Wales he became actively interested in the education of boys and was on the Board of Management of the Masonic Boys’ School.
In the London Gazette of 28th August 1934 he was awarded the Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ for 20 years service with the Territorial Army and three years later in 1937 received His Majesty’s 1937 Coronation Medal. On 9th June 1938 he was appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and on 3rd November 1938 promoted Lieutenant Colonel commanding the 1st Anti-Aircraft Divisional Signals and in June 1939 moved again with Sun Insurance to Regent Street, London as Branch Manager. The same year on 1st August 1939 aged 47 he was mobilised for war into the Royal Corps of Signals later becoming Commanding Officer of the 6th Anti-Aircraft Divisional Signals and serving at home for the next four years during the Second World War. On 2nd December 1943 he had to relinquish his Commission due to ill health retaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and awarded the Defence and British War Medals for his service. On 16th February 1951 he was awarded three clasps to his Efficiency Decoration representing a further 18 years service in the Territorial Army and in 1952 became Manager of the West End Branch of Sun Insurance, its offices located at 63 Threadneedle Street, London. On 12th December 1954 Ardis sadly died in the Holloway Sanatorium, ‘a Hospital for the insane of the middle class’ in Virginia Water, but this did not slow George down as on 10th June 1956 aged 64 he was appointed as Honorary Colonel Eastern Command (M) Signal Regiment a post he held for five years. On 25th October 1957, four months before his 65th birthday he retired from Sun Insurance after 47 years service. A presentation was made to him in the Board Room at Head Office by the Assistant General Manager of a cheque and nominal roll of subscribers.
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In retirement he was made a Freeman of the City of London by the Lord Mayor Sir George Welch Kt OBE MC on 30th April 1957 and he travelled extensively overseas as well as playing golf and attending Kempton Races race day each Easter. He relinquished the appointment of Honorary Colonel from 55 Signal Regiment TA on 1st April 1961 aged 69 and following its re-organisation retaining the honorary rank of Colonel. He lived at 95 St. Mary Abbotts Court, Warwick Gardens, Kensington, London W14 an exclusive set of apartments that at the time were owned and administered by Sun Insurance Company. He continued his involvement as a Freemason rising to exalted rank in many lodges including the Royal Arch, Rose Croix and elected Chairman of the management Committee for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution. Sadly George Peel suffered a heart attack whilst playing golf at Richmond Golf Course, it is said he recovered enough to play the next hole before collapsing again dying later on 30th August 1962 aged 70 at The Royal Hospital, Richmond Surrey. He was survived by two of sisters Isabella Alice Morley Peel & Thelma Lillian Morley Kirby.
The Story The medals awarded to George John Morley Peel were acquired from an E-Bay auction on 16th May 2008 and were bought in memory of Eileen ‘Mary’ Lillian Hobley, a close family friend and long time partner of the author’s grandfather. She died in February 2008 and it was considered the purchase of these awards would be a way of perpetuating her memory as well as that of the recipients. The medals arrived with some minor information and copies of the London Gazette confirming basic military information about G J M Peel. Interestingly the World War 1 medals were named to him as a Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force and a subsequent check through the London Gazette web site and information from the RAF and Army Lists built up a comprehensive picture of the various promotions and positions held by George Peel within both branches of the service and confirming he had been seconded the Royal Flying Corps and then the RAF at the time of it s formation in 1918, his name appearing on the next page to The Father of the RAF in one edition of the London Gazette and in the first publication of the ‘new’ RAF List! Having built up the service history a visit to the Family Records Division in Holborn, London on Monday 30th June 2008 revealed that George Peel had left a will and had named two sisters in it, Isabella and Thelma, he had specifically left his medals, together with those of his father and brothers to Isabella.
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Other information gathered from the will was his address at the time of death and the fact he was a retired Insurance Manager, together of course with his date of death. A further visit was made to Holborn on Wednesday 13th August 2008 when another search revealed the wills of both his sister, Isabella, who had died in 1973 and Thelma who died in 1992. The research trail was getting warmer, but as yet still no luck in tracing any living member of the family. These wills had to be ordered by post and once they were received the most revealing of the two was Thelma’s as it seems Isabella never married. Thelma named her husband, Percy Frederick Kirby in her will and an address in Baddesley, Hampshire. A cursory search on the internet 192.com showed that Percy Kirby was possibly still alive as his name appeared on a recent voters list! Now the trail was becoming hot, but cooled somewhat again when no trace cold be found of Percy Kirby living at the address. The possibility of writing direct was considered but as a further visit to London was planned it was put on hold until Wednesday 24th September 2008 when Percy Kirby’s will was extracted and as had been hoped, detailed his daughter Lois Morley Dare at an address in Hampshire. The name Morley appearing to be something of a family one as it had been used in George’s name as well as both of his sisters. Whilst in London The National Archives at Kew were also visited and still surviving were George’s RAF records from WWI that provided much useful information on his postings during the early days of the RAF. His flat at St. Mary Abbott’s Court was also visited photographed to aid the research and an interesting hour spent talking to the concierge about the research. Another check on 192.com revealed that Lois Dare was still registered at the same address as in the will and on 2nd October 2008, she was ‘cold called’. Thankfully Mrs Dare was very helpful and interested in the research. Following a letter her daughter Carolyn Fielder sent an e-mail that included two photographs of George in uniform, one in Masonic Regalia and a breakdown of his life and career as typed by himself during his life. It was now possible to piece together a far more comprehensive account of his life and further letters and e-mails enabled a detailed biography
to be built up. A visit was planned to see Mrs Dare on Friday 27th February 2009 and this proved to be very worthwhile. Also present was her bother Ian Melville Kirby. Much additional biographical details of George was obtained and Mrs Dare loaned many photographs and documents to help further expand his life story. Mr Kirby had bought two pocket watches and two silver cigarette cases belonging to his Uncle George, the cigarette cases being engraved, one from the RAF Sergeants’ Mess whilst he was in France during World War 1 and the other for his 18th Birthday. He was very keen that they should be reunited with the medals and as such agreed to part with them to be kept with the medals and research for posterity. A subsequent presentation on George Peel at the Birmingham Medal Society also led to some of his old school records being located. A further interesting query to arise from the meeting with the family was a photograph showing George wearing a set of miniature medals clearly containing more in the group than the full sized set. One looked like the Territorial Force War Medal and the other a Coronation Medal. With Lois Dare’s permission enquiries were made with the MoD Medal Office and The National Archives to find that George had indeed been awarded the 1937 Coronation Medal, however his medal index card clearly stated ‘ineligible for the TFWM. At some point his group had obviously been split, but a replacement Coronation Medal was acquired and the group re-mounted.
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This is another example of how, to quote Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork “That what appears to be a rather closed shop hobby on the surface, opens right up into something fantastically interesting and different once you start to dig below the surface” and rather like pot holing you never know what is below the rather small aperture at ground level! There are a few further lines of enquiry to be completed, the location of his burial or cremation site is one - and as always ‘Research Never ends’!
Tributes Paid to George John Morley Peel at his Retirement Presentation
Apart from his interest in the TA, the amateur theatre and golf he is known to a wide circle of friends as a good conversationalist and raconteur. Throughout an exceptionally active life he has always found time to give a helping hand to those in need and there are countless members of the staff, past and present, who are indebted to him for his wise counsel and friendly advice. It is unlikely that he remain inactive for long in retirement and, apart from his association with the TA, he has every intention of playing golf regularly t the Richmond Golf Club and of improving his game of bridge. He also means to travel and is making plans for an extensive tour abroad during early 1957. Mr .G.Pringle Chief Clerk at Oxford Circus Branch paid tribute to the quality of leadership which had bought Mr Peel distinction both in the office and in the Army and said that the staff at the Branch would miss him and remember him with affection and esteem his humour and sympathy.
Tributes Paid to George John Morley Peel at his Retirement Presentation
Apart from his interest in the TA, the amateur theatre and golf he is known to a wide circle of friends as a good conversationalist and raconteur. Throughout an exceptionally active life he has always found time to give a helping hand to those in need and there are countless members of the staff, past and present, who are indebted to him for his wise counsel and friendly advice. It is unlikely that he remain inactive for long in retirement and, apart from his association with the TA, he has every intention of playing golf regularly t the Richmond Golf Club and of improving his game of bridge. He also means to travel and is making plans for an extensive tour abroad during early 1957. Mr .G.Pringle Chief Clerk at Oxford Circus Branch paid tribute to the quality of leadership which had bought Mr Peel distinction both in the office and in the Army and said that the staff at the Branch would miss him and remember him with affection and esteem his humour and sympathy.
Mr Stevenson, before handing to Mr Peel a cheque and nominal roll of subscribers, said that he had known him for ore than 40 years. Wherever Mr Peel had been, at home or overseas, there had always been reports that he had served the office well and it was with regret, both individual and official, that the time had come for him to leave the job he had done so well in maintaining the prestige and importance of the office at Oxford Circus Branch. Thanking Mr Peel for all that he had done, Mr Stevenson concluded by wishing him a future of many happy years. Mr Peel thanked Mr Stevenson for his remarks, saying that he had always been able to mention The Sun with pride. He had served under six General Managers, in that time gathering many friends in the office. Looking around the company, which included many pensioners, he had to remark on the good people the Office attracts to itself. He thanked all his friends who had joined in making the presentation - he would acquire a cabinet in which to keep his papers - and hoped they would always remain his friends. Among the many congratulatory messages received was a cablegram from the General Manager, who was in North America at the time.
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History of Sun Insurance Company
RSA Insurance Group plc (LSE: RSA) is a British general insurance Company which rebranded under the RSA name in April 2008. The company formally changed its name from Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group plc on 20 May 2008. The company was formed following the merger of Sun Alliance and Royal Insurance in 1996. Sun Alliance was itself a product of the merger in 1959 of The Sun, which was founded in 1710, with The Alliance, which was founded in 1824 by Nathan Mayer Rothschild and Moses Montefiore. Sun Alliance went on to acquire London Insurance in 1965 and Phoenix Assurance in 1984. Royal Insurance was founded in 1845 It acquired Liverpool London and Globe Company in1919. The company formally changed its name from Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group plc to RSA Insurance Group on 20 May 2008.
RSA Insurance Group plc (LSE: RSA) is a British general insurance Company which rebranded under the RSA name in April 2008. The company formally changed its name from Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group plc on 20 May 2008. The company was formed following the merger of Sun Alliance and Royal Insurance in 1996. Sun Alliance was itself a product of the merger in 1959 of The Sun, which was founded in 1710, with The Alliance, which was founded in 1824 by Nathan Mayer Rothschild and Moses Montefiore. Sun Alliance went on to acquire London Insurance in 1965 and Phoenix Assurance in 1984. Royal Insurance was founded in 1845 It acquired Liverpool London and Globe Company in1919. The company formally changed its name from Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group plc to RSA Insurance Group on 20 May 2008.
Freemasonry During his life George was a committed Feeemason and a summary of his involvement is: Nov 1921 Initiated Queen Mary’s Lodge 3327 July 1931 Founder & D C Graveney Lodge 5285 Nov 1938 Founder & M.Des Lodge 5772 1936 Joined Assurance Lodge 5160 1942 Joined Hendre Lodge 325 1948 Joined Jubilee Masters Lodge 2170 1949 Consecrating J W London Pride Lodge 1935/6 WM (1) Graveney 1939/40 (2) Cartref 2 years in succession 1940/41 (3) Queen Mary’s (1) 1957/58 Queen Mary’s (2) 1948 (4) Assurance 1954 (5) Hendre 1946 Provisional Grand Sword Bearer S.Wales (ED) 1949 Deputy Grand Sword Bearer 1958 Past Grand Deacon (Jun) 1949 Member Board of Management RMIB 1954 Vice Chairman ? Chairman 1949-1955 Nominated member Committee of Management RMBI 1958 B of M Hospital ROYAL ARCH 1930 Exalted in Imperial Chapter MARK 1923 Advanced Wayside Lodge 1928 & 1952 WM 1928 Prov Grand Sword Bearer (Surrey) 1954 Prov Grand Senior Warden 1949 Grand Sword Bearer 1960 WM Surrey installed MM Lodge 1962 Promoted Grand Master Oversea 1962 Deputy Provincial Grand Master Mark (Surrey) KT 1938 Installed 1950 EP 1942/1952 Grand Masters Bodyguard 1952 Great Sword Bearer 1952 Prov Great Sword Bearer Rose Croix 1950 Perfected Adoniran Chapter 1954/55 MWS (2 years) 1956 30o |
A CAUL
George Peel was born with a caul. To be "born in the caul" simply means a child is born with the amniotic sac or membranes still intact around the body. The sac consists of two adherent membranes (chorion and amnion) of fetal origin which separate the amniotic fluid and fetus from the maternal uterine wall. When a baby is born in the caul, the sac balloons out at birth, covering the baby's face and body as he or she emerges from the mother. The baby is in no danger of drowning, not taking a breath until the face emerges from the fluid contained in the caul. Even so, many obstetricians rupture the membranes if they don't rupture spontaneously during labor, believing that this will speed up the delivery process. The caul is harmless and is easily removed by the doctor or midwife. A child born in this way is known as a caulbearer. Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, medterms.com, and Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary describe a caul as a piece of amnion that sometimes envelops a child's head at birth. To be "born in a caul" is to be born with the head covered by the amnion or within an intact unruptured amniotic sac. According to healthlink.mcw.edu, Dwight Cruikshank MD, Professor and Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical College of Wisconsin states that being born with or in a caul is rare, probably occurring in fewer than 1 in 1000 births, and that he has seen fewer than 10 babies with a caul throughout his career. He says that it is usually present only in premature babies. Midwives are more likely to allow babies to be born in the caul, as they perceive birth as a natural and safe event, and know that the baby is likely to be calm and not gasp for breath until the caul is removed, especially in a biodynamic birth. Some midwives believe allowing children to be born in the caul has spiritual significance; others simply think nature should be allowed to unfold as necessary. Legend In medieval times the appearance of a caul on a newborn baby was seen as a sign of good luck. It was considered an omen that the child was destined for greatness. Gathering the caul onto paper was considered an important tradition of childbirth: the midwife would rub a sheet of paper across the baby's head and face, pressing the material of the caul onto the paper. The caul would then be presented to the mother, to be kept as an heirloom. Some Early Modern European traditions linked being born with the caul to the ability to defend fertility and the harvest against the forces of evil, particularly witches and sorcerers.Over the course of European history, a popular legend developed suggesting that possession of a baby's caul would give its bearer good luck and protect that person from death by drowning. Cauls were therefore highly prized by sailors. Medieval women often sold these cauls to sailors for large sums of money; a caul was regarded as a valuable talisman. Other legends also developed. One popular legend went that a caulbearer would be able to see the future or have dreams that come to pass. Negative associations with the birth caul are rare, but in several European countries a child being born with a caul was a sign that the child may become a vampire. As a preventative measure, the caul was
removed before the child was able to eat any of it, and then it was destroyed. The most common portent of good luck in recent centuries is that the baby born with a caul will never drown, the second most common myth is from Scotland and that believes the child will be fey, or psychic. Another British meaning is that the child will travel its entire life and never tire. Also an important myth hails from ancient Egypt, and that story claims the newborn baby is destined for the cult of Isis, again a mystically inclined fate. If twins are both born with cauls it meant that they are marked by an angel and their souls are shielded.
George Peel was born with a caul. To be "born in the caul" simply means a child is born with the amniotic sac or membranes still intact around the body. The sac consists of two adherent membranes (chorion and amnion) of fetal origin which separate the amniotic fluid and fetus from the maternal uterine wall. When a baby is born in the caul, the sac balloons out at birth, covering the baby's face and body as he or she emerges from the mother. The baby is in no danger of drowning, not taking a breath until the face emerges from the fluid contained in the caul. Even so, many obstetricians rupture the membranes if they don't rupture spontaneously during labor, believing that this will speed up the delivery process. The caul is harmless and is easily removed by the doctor or midwife. A child born in this way is known as a caulbearer. Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, medterms.com, and Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary describe a caul as a piece of amnion that sometimes envelops a child's head at birth. To be "born in a caul" is to be born with the head covered by the amnion or within an intact unruptured amniotic sac. According to healthlink.mcw.edu, Dwight Cruikshank MD, Professor and Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical College of Wisconsin states that being born with or in a caul is rare, probably occurring in fewer than 1 in 1000 births, and that he has seen fewer than 10 babies with a caul throughout his career. He says that it is usually present only in premature babies. Midwives are more likely to allow babies to be born in the caul, as they perceive birth as a natural and safe event, and know that the baby is likely to be calm and not gasp for breath until the caul is removed, especially in a biodynamic birth. Some midwives believe allowing children to be born in the caul has spiritual significance; others simply think nature should be allowed to unfold as necessary. Legend In medieval times the appearance of a caul on a newborn baby was seen as a sign of good luck. It was considered an omen that the child was destined for greatness. Gathering the caul onto paper was considered an important tradition of childbirth: the midwife would rub a sheet of paper across the baby's head and face, pressing the material of the caul onto the paper. The caul would then be presented to the mother, to be kept as an heirloom. Some Early Modern European traditions linked being born with the caul to the ability to defend fertility and the harvest against the forces of evil, particularly witches and sorcerers.Over the course of European history, a popular legend developed suggesting that possession of a baby's caul would give its bearer good luck and protect that person from death by drowning. Cauls were therefore highly prized by sailors. Medieval women often sold these cauls to sailors for large sums of money; a caul was regarded as a valuable talisman. Other legends also developed. One popular legend went that a caulbearer would be able to see the future or have dreams that come to pass. Negative associations with the birth caul are rare, but in several European countries a child being born with a caul was a sign that the child may become a vampire. As a preventative measure, the caul was
removed before the child was able to eat any of it, and then it was destroyed. The most common portent of good luck in recent centuries is that the baby born with a caul will never drown, the second most common myth is from Scotland and that believes the child will be fey, or psychic. Another British meaning is that the child will travel its entire life and never tire. Also an important myth hails from ancient Egypt, and that story claims the newborn baby is destined for the cult of Isis, again a mystically inclined fate. If twins are both born with cauls it meant that they are marked by an angel and their souls are shielded.
The Bund
The Bund is an area of the Huang Pu District of Shanghai in the People’s Republic of China. The area centres on a section of Zhongshan Road within the former Shanghai International Settlement which runs along the western bank of the Huangpu River, facing Pudong, in the easternpart of Huangpu District. The Bund usually refers to the buildings and wharves on this section of the road, as well as some adjacent areas. The Bund is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Shanghai and building heights are restricted in this area. The Shanghai Bund has dozens of historical buildings lining the Huangpu River that once housed numerous banks and trading houses from Britain, France, the U.S., Russia, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands and Belgium, as well as the consulates of Russia and Britain, a newspaper, the Shanghai Club and the Masonic Club. The Bund lies north of the old, walled city of Shanghai. This was initially a British settlement; later the British and American settlements were combined in the International Settlement. A building boom at the end of 19th century and beginning of 20th century led to the Bund becoming a major financial hub of East Asia, the former French Bund, east of the walled city was formerly more a working harbourside. By the 1940s the Bund housed the headquarters of many, if not most, of the major financial institutions operating in a including the "big four" national banks in the Republic of China era. However, with the Communist victory in the Chinese civil war, many of the financial institutions were moved out gradually in the 1950s and the hotels and clubs closed or converted to other uses. The statues of colonial figures and foreign worthies which had dotted the riverside were also removed. In the late 1970s and early 1980s and with the thawing of economic policy in the People's Republic of China, buildings on the Bund were gradually returned to their former uses. Government institutions were moved out in favour of financial institutions, while hotels resumed trading as such. Also during this period, a series of floods caused by typhoons motivated the municipal government to construct a tall levee along the riverfront, with the result that the embankment now stands some 10 metres higher than street level. This has dramatically changed the streetscape of the Bund. In the 1990s, Zhongshan Road (named after Sun Yat-sen), the road on which the Bund is centred, was widened to ten lanes. As a result, most of the parkland which had existed along the road disappeared. Also in this period, the ferry wharves connecting the Bund and Pudong, which had served the area's original purpose, were removed. A number of pleasure cruises still operate from some nearby wharves. In the 1990s the Shanghai government attempted to promote an extended concept of the Bund to boost tourism and land value in nearby values, as well as to reconcile the promotion of "colonial relics" with the Socialist ideology. In its expanded form, the term "Bund" (as "New Bund" or "Northern Bund") was used to refer to areas south of the Yan'an Road, and a stretch of riverfront north of the Suzhou River (Zhabei). Such use of the term, however, remains rare outside of the tourism literature. From 2008, a major reconfiguration of traffic flow along the Bund will be carried out. The first stage of the plan involved the southern end of the Bund, and saw the demolition of a section of the Yan'an Road (formerly Edward VII Avenue) elevated expressway, which will remove the large elevated expressway exit structure which formerly dominated the confluence of Yan'an Road and the Bund. The second stage, begun on 1 March 2008, involves the removal and complete restoration of the century-old Waibaidu Bridge (formerly Garden Bridge) at the northern end of the Bund. The restoration is expected to be completed by early 2009. The next and largest stage of the plan involves a reconstruction of the Bund roadway. The current 8-lane roadway will be rebuilt as in two levels, with four lanes on each level. This will allow part of the Bund road space to be restored to its former use as parland and marginal lawns. The new concrete bridge built in 1991 to relieve traffic on Waibaidu Bridge will also be rendered obsolete by the new double-levelled roadway, and will be demolished
The Bund is an area of the Huang Pu District of Shanghai in the People’s Republic of China. The area centres on a section of Zhongshan Road within the former Shanghai International Settlement which runs along the western bank of the Huangpu River, facing Pudong, in the easternpart of Huangpu District. The Bund usually refers to the buildings and wharves on this section of the road, as well as some adjacent areas. The Bund is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Shanghai and building heights are restricted in this area. The Shanghai Bund has dozens of historical buildings lining the Huangpu River that once housed numerous banks and trading houses from Britain, France, the U.S., Russia, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands and Belgium, as well as the consulates of Russia and Britain, a newspaper, the Shanghai Club and the Masonic Club. The Bund lies north of the old, walled city of Shanghai. This was initially a British settlement; later the British and American settlements were combined in the International Settlement. A building boom at the end of 19th century and beginning of 20th century led to the Bund becoming a major financial hub of East Asia, the former French Bund, east of the walled city was formerly more a working harbourside. By the 1940s the Bund housed the headquarters of many, if not most, of the major financial institutions operating in a including the "big four" national banks in the Republic of China era. However, with the Communist victory in the Chinese civil war, many of the financial institutions were moved out gradually in the 1950s and the hotels and clubs closed or converted to other uses. The statues of colonial figures and foreign worthies which had dotted the riverside were also removed. In the late 1970s and early 1980s and with the thawing of economic policy in the People's Republic of China, buildings on the Bund were gradually returned to their former uses. Government institutions were moved out in favour of financial institutions, while hotels resumed trading as such. Also during this period, a series of floods caused by typhoons motivated the municipal government to construct a tall levee along the riverfront, with the result that the embankment now stands some 10 metres higher than street level. This has dramatically changed the streetscape of the Bund. In the 1990s, Zhongshan Road (named after Sun Yat-sen), the road on which the Bund is centred, was widened to ten lanes. As a result, most of the parkland which had existed along the road disappeared. Also in this period, the ferry wharves connecting the Bund and Pudong, which had served the area's original purpose, were removed. A number of pleasure cruises still operate from some nearby wharves. In the 1990s the Shanghai government attempted to promote an extended concept of the Bund to boost tourism and land value in nearby values, as well as to reconcile the promotion of "colonial relics" with the Socialist ideology. In its expanded form, the term "Bund" (as "New Bund" or "Northern Bund") was used to refer to areas south of the Yan'an Road, and a stretch of riverfront north of the Suzhou River (Zhabei). Such use of the term, however, remains rare outside of the tourism literature. From 2008, a major reconfiguration of traffic flow along the Bund will be carried out. The first stage of the plan involved the southern end of the Bund, and saw the demolition of a section of the Yan'an Road (formerly Edward VII Avenue) elevated expressway, which will remove the large elevated expressway exit structure which formerly dominated the confluence of Yan'an Road and the Bund. The second stage, begun on 1 March 2008, involves the removal and complete restoration of the century-old Waibaidu Bridge (formerly Garden Bridge) at the northern end of the Bund. The restoration is expected to be completed by early 2009. The next and largest stage of the plan involves a reconstruction of the Bund roadway. The current 8-lane roadway will be rebuilt as in two levels, with four lanes on each level. This will allow part of the Bund road space to be restored to its former use as parland and marginal lawns. The new concrete bridge built in 1991 to relieve traffic on Waibaidu Bridge will also be rendered obsolete by the new double-levelled roadway, and will be demolished
Medal Details:
- Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: Unnamed as issued.
- 1914-18 British War Medal: LIEUT G.J.M.PEEL. R.A.F.
- Victory Medal: LIEUT. G.J.M.PEEL. R.A.F.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Coronation Medal 1937: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Decoration: Unnamed as awarded. Bars: All dated 1951
This page last updated 30 Aug 14