Harold Roper

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Sir Harold Roper CBE (2 September 1891 – 20 August 1971) was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for North Cornwall from 1950 to 1959.

At the 1950 general election, he stood as the Conservative candidate in North Cornwall. Tom Horabin, who had been elected as the constituency's Liberal MP at the 1945 general election, had defected to the Labour Party in 1947. In 1950, Horabin stood instead in Exeter, and Roper won the North Cornwallseat with a majority of MP more than 3,000 votes over the Liberal candidate, Dingle Foot.

Roper held he seat until he stood down at the 1959 general election, when the Conservative James Scott-Hopkins was elected to succeed him.

During World War II, Roper had been General Manager of Burmah Oil Company in Rangoon, and received a CBE in 1942 for his wok. The citation read:

Harold Roper, M.C., General Manager, Burma Oil Company, Ltd., Rangoon.
Mr. Roper played a leading part in the oil denial schemes in Burma. By his personal example and influence he contributed very largely to the maintenance of the morale of his employees, without whose services the successful denial of oil supplies to the enemy would have been impossible. He remained in Rangoon to the very end and left by sea with the last demolition party.^[1]

He was knighted in 1945 for his work for the company.^[2]

[edit] References

1. ^ London Gazette Issue 35882 published on the 26 January 1943. Page 2 of 8
2. ^ London Gazette Issue 36880 published on the 5 January 1945. Page 1 of 32

• Richard Kimber's Political Sciece Resources: UK General Elections since 1832
• This page incorporates information from Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Tom Horabin	Member of Parliament for North Cornwall 1950–1959	Succeeded by James Scott-Hopkins