Norman Stronge

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Captain The Rt. Hon. Sir Norman Stronge, Bart.
Norman Stronge

Sir Norman Stronge in the 1920s
In office
1945 – 1956
In office
1956 – 1969
In office
1938 – 1969
Constituency Mid Armagh
Born 23 July 1894(1894-07-23)
Bryansford, County Down
Died 21 January 1981 (aged 86)
Tynan Abbey, County Armagh
Political party Ulster Unionist Party
Spouse Gladys Olive Hall
Children Sir James Stronge, 9th Baronet and others
Religion Church of Ireland

Captain Sir Charles Norman Lockhart Stronge, 8th Baronet, PC (NI),[1] MC, JP (23 July 1894 – 21 January 1981) was a senior Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.

Prior to his involvement in politics he was a British Army officer, decorated with the Military Cross in World War I and having fought at the Battle of the Somme. His positions after the war included Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons, for twenty-three years, and member of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland, to which he was appointed in 1946.

He was shot[2], aged 86, and killed, along with his son, James, by the Provisional Irish Republican Army in 1981 at Tynan Abbey, their home, which was burnt to the ground during the attack. His loyal and distinguished service was commended by Queen Elizabeth II at his funeral.

Contents

[edit] Early life and military service

Sir Norman was born in Bryansford, County Down, the son of Sir Charles Stronge, 7th Baronet. He was educated at Eton.

In the First World War he served in France and Flanders with the 10th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, as lieutenant and later as captain.[3] He was decorated with the Military Cross[4] and the Belgian Croix de Guerre. He survived the first day of the Battle of the Somme and was the first soldier after the start of the battle to be mentioned in despatches by Lord Haig. In April 1918, he was appointed adjutant of the 15th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles.[5] He was wounded, whilst near Kortrijk, on October 20, 1918.[6] He relinquished his commission on 19 August 1919, and was permitted to retain the rank of captain.[7]

On the outbreak of the Second World War, he was again commissioned, this time into the North Irish Horse, Royal Armoured Corps, reverting to second lieutenant.[8] He relinquished the commission on 20 April 1940 due to ill-health.[9] In 1950 he was appointed Honorary Colonel of a Territorial Army unit of the Royal Irish Fusiliers.[10]

[edit] Political career

Sir Norman was appointed Sheriff of County Londonderry in January 1934.[11] He was elected as an Ulster Unionist member of the Parliament of Northern Ireland for Mid Armagh in the byelection of 29 September 1938,[12][13] and held the seat until his retirement in 1969.[14][15][16][17][18][19] He made his maiden speech on 20 October, supporting the Marketing of Potatoes Bill.[20]

In his career at Stormont, he became Assistant Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Finance (Assistant Whip) from 16 January 1941;[21] on 6 February 1942 he was promoted to be Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Finance (Chief Whip).[22] He held this post at the time when John Miller Andrews was deposed as Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and replaced by Sir Basil Brooke, bt. due to backbench pressure from Ulster Unionist MPs. On 3 November 1944 Sir Norman stood down from the government.

Arms of the Stronge Baronets, of Tynan
Arms of the Stronge Baronets, of Tynan

When the new Parliament assembled on 17 July 1945 Stronge was nominated as Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons by Lord Glentoran, who said that Stronge came from a "family which has been known for generations for its fairness, its courtesy, and its neighbourliness, and for that feeling of kindliness which is so essential to the Speaker of this House".[23] The nomination was seconded by Jack Beattie, a Nationalist who sat as an Independent Labour MP.

On 30 October 1945 Sir Norman was involved in a dispute in the chamber. A Minister in the government had been taken ill and was unable to answer a series of Parliamentary Questions which had been put to him; Stronge allowed the Members who had put the questions to defer them until the Minister had recovered.[24] Jack Beattie protested that this was not correct procedure, and Stronge agreed to look at it further; this decision incensed Harry Midgley, who had personal grievances with Beattie, and Midgley shouted at Stronge "Are you not competent to discharge your duties without advice from this Member on his weekly visits to the House?" Despite Stronge calling for order, Midgley then crossed over and punched Beattie. Stronge excluded him from the Chamber for the rest of the sitting,[25] and Midgley apologised the next day.[26]

Sir Norman was appointed to the Privy Council of Northern Ireland in 1946.[27][28][29] He was Chairman of Armagh County Council[30] from 1944 to 1955. Amongst other positions he held were Lord Lieutenant of Armagh (1939 – 1981),[31][32] (he was a Deputy Lieutenant from 1931[33][34]) President of the Northern Ireland Council of the Royal British Legion and Justice of the Peace for both Counties Armagh and Londonderry. He was the Sovereign Grand Master of the Royal Black Institution and a member of Derryshaw Boyne Defenders Orange Lodge of the Orange Order. Sir Norman was appointed a Commander Brother of the Venerable Order of Saint John in 1952,[35] and promoted to Knight in 1964.[36]

In 1956, one of Stronge's outside posts caused a difficulty. He had been named on the Central Advisory Council on Disabled Persons, a position which brought no remuneration in practice but could have done so in theory. It was realised that the theoretical possibility of money being paid meant that this was an "Office of Profit under the Crown" which disqualified him from election. On 16 January 1956 Stronge wrote to resign his post as Speaker temporarily, so that legislation could be passed to validate his actions and indemnify him from the consequences of acting while disqualified.[37] Owing to the constitutional provisions of the Government of Ireland Act, this legislation had to be passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Once it had been passed, on 23 April 1956 the Speaker who had been elected temporarily (W. F. McCoy) resigned.[38] Stronge was unanimously re-elected on 26 April, referring in his speech accepting nomination to his time away from Parliament looking after his farm: "I have had more time to look at bullocks, and more time to look at their prices".[39]

[edit] Family

Sir Norman was married on 15 September 1921 to Gladys Olive Hall,[40] originally from County Galway,[41] and had four children,

  • James Stronge (who was killed with him),
  • Daphne Marian Stronge (married Thomas Kinghan),[42]
  • Evelyn Elizabeth Stronge (married Brig.Charles Harold Arthur Olivier on 17 September 1960),[43]
  • Rosemary Diana Stronge (died aged one).[44]

After his retirement from politics in 1969, he farmed the family's several thousand acre estate at Tynan Abbey.

[edit] Death

Sir Norman was killed aged 86, alongside his son James, watching television in the library of their home,[45] Tynan Abbey, on the evening of 21 January 1981, by members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, armed with machine guns and grenades.[46]

The Stronge family's home was then burnt to the ground as a result of two bomb explosions.[47] On seeing the explosions at the house (and a flare Stronge lit in an attempt to alert the authorities), the Royal Ulster Constabulary and British Army troops arrived at the scene and established a road-block at the gate lodge. They encountered at least eight fleeing gunmen. There followed a gunfight lasting twenty minutes in which at least two hundred shots were fired. There were no casualties among the security forces.[6] The bodies of the father and son were later discovered in the library of their blazing home, each had gun-shot wounds in the head.[48]

Tynan Abbey
Tynan Abbey

It is not known who died first, Sir Norman or James. Under the legal fiction known as the doctrine of survival, James is still listed as succeeding to the Baronetcy.[49]

Sir Norman was buried in Tynan Parish church in a joint service with his son. The sword and cap of the Lord Lieutenant of Tyrone (Major John Hamilton-Stubber) were placed on his coffin in lieu of his own, which had been destroyed with his other possessions in the fire.[6] The coffin was carried by the 5th Battalion the Royal Irish Rangers, the successors to his old regiment. During the service a telegram, sent from Queen Elizabeth II to one of Sir Norman's daughters, was read. It stated:[50]

“ I was deeply shocked to learn of the tragic death of your father and brother; Prince Philip joins me in sending you and your sister all our deepest sympathy on your dreadful loss. Sir Norman's loyal and distinguished service will be remembered. ”

—Elizabeth II

The Stronge family was incensed at the inadequacy of border security. They told Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Humphrey Atkins that he was not welcome at the funeral.[51] Atkins was to leave Northern Ireland later that year to be replaced by Jim Prior.

Sir Norman is commemorated with a tablet in the assembly chamber in the Parliament Buildings at Stormont.[52]

[edit] Reactions

The killing was referred to as murder by multiple media sources including The Daily Telegraph, The Scotsman, The New York Times and Time magazine, by the Rev. Ian Paisley in the House of Commons and by Lord Cooke of Islandreagh in the House of Lords.[53]

Sir Norman was described at the time of his death by Social Democratic and Labour Party politician Austin Currie as having been "even at 86 years of age... still incomparably more of a man than the cowardly dregs of humanity who ended his life in this barbaric way."[54]

The IRA were quoted in The Times: "This deliberate attack on the symbols of hated unionism was a direct reprisal for a whole series of loyalist assassinations and murder attacks on nationalist peoples and nationalist activities."[55]

When discussing the killing of the Stronges and the Kingsmill massacre, a Tyrone republican and Gaelic Athletic Association veteran speaking to Ed Moloney said, "It's a lesson you learn quickly on the football field...If you're fouled, you hit back".[56]

Gerry Adams had the following to say on the killing of Sir Norman; "The only complaint I have heard from nationalists or anti-unionists is that he was not shot 40 years ago".[57]

[edit] Aftermath

In 1984, Seamus Shannon was arrested by the Garda in the Republic of Ireland and handed over to the Royal Ulster Constabulary on a warrant accusing him of involvement in the murder of the Sir Norman and Sir James Stronge. The Irish Supreme Court, considering his extradition to Northern Ireland, rejected the defence that these were political offences, saying that they were "so brutal, cowardly and callous that it would be a distortion of language if they were to be accorded the status of a political offence". Shannon was extradited but later acquitted.[58][59]

[edit] See also

[edit] Further reading

  • (1975) Burke's Peerage & Baronetage. 

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ 5th Battalion, The Royal Irish Fusiliers Regiments.org
  2. ^ The IRA; Tim Pat Coogan ISBN 0-00-636943-X Chp 33
  3. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29820, page 10945, 10 November 1916. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  4. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30450, pages 30–47, 28 December 1917. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  5. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30850, page 9669, 16 August 1918. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  6. ^ a b c Stronge of Tynan Abbey, Co. Armagh Turtle Bunbury
  7. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31612, page 12974, 21 October 1919. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  8. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 34704, page 6787, 6 October 1939. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  9. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 34832, page 2303, 16 April 1940. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  10. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 39102, page 6467, 29 December 1950. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  11. ^ Belfast Gazette: no. 656, page 21, 19 January 1934. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  12. ^ Belfast Gazette: no. 902, page 343, 7 October 1938. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  13. ^ Mid Armagh election results
  14. ^ Belfast Gazette: no. 1256, page 163, 20 July 1945. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  15. ^ Belfast Gazette: no. 1445, page 48, 4 March 1949. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  16. ^ Belfast Gazette: no. 1689, page 270, 6 November 1953. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  17. ^ Belfast Gazette: no. 1919, page 98, 4 April 1958. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  18. ^ Belfast Gazette: no. 216, page 226, 15 June 1962. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  19. ^ Belfast Gazette: no. 2334, page 427, 3 December 1965. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  20. ^ Hansard, House of Commons of Northern Ireland, Vol. 21, Col. 1778, via Stormont Papers.
  21. ^ Belfast Gazette: no. 1021, page 17, 17 January 1941. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  22. ^ Belfast Gazette: no. 1076, page 33, 6 February 1942. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  23. ^ Hansard, House of Commons of Northern Ireland, Vol. 29, Col. 3, via Stormont Papers.
  24. ^ Hansard, House of Commons of Northern Ireland, Vol. 29, Col. 896, via Stormont Papers.
  25. ^ Hansard, House of Commons of Northern Ireland, Vol. 29, Cols. 910-11, via Stormont Papers.
  26. ^ Hansard, House of Commons of Northern Ireland, Vol. 29, Col. 952, via Stormont Papers.
  27. ^ Belfast Gazette: no. 1280, page 1, 4 January 1946. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  28. ^ Belfast Gazette: no. 1289, page 59, 8 March 1946. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  29. ^ Biographies of Members of the Northern Ireland House of Commons
  30. ^ Belfast Gazette: no. 1308, pages 174–175, 19 July 1946. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  31. ^ Belfast Gazette: no. 963, page 399, 8 December 1939. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  32. ^ Belfast Gazette: no. 3164, page 475, 27 June 1975. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  33. ^ Belfast Gazette: no. 505, page 171, 27 February 1931. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  34. ^ Belfast Gazette: no. 637, page 957, 8 September 1933. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  35. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 39433, page 137, 1 January 1952. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  36. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 43219, page 388, 14 January 1964. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
  37. ^ Hansard, House of Commons of Northern Ireland, Vol. 39, Col. 3141, via Stormont Papers.
  38. ^ Hansard, House of Commons of Northern Ireland, Vol. 40, Col. 927, via Stormont Papers.
  39. ^ Hansard, House of Commons of Northern Ireland, Vol. 40, Col. 931, via Stormont Papers.
  40. ^ Stronge family tree
  41. ^ Turtle Bunbury; Stronge of Tynan Abbey
  42. ^ Stronge family tree
  43. ^ Stronge family tree
  44. ^ Stronge family tree
  45. ^ Turtle Bunbury; Stronge of Tynan Abbey
  46. ^ Turtle Bunbury; Stronge of Tynan Abbey
  47. ^ The Times, 22 January 1981
  48. ^ The Times, 22 January 1981
  49. ^ Burkes Peerage
  50. ^ Tragic estate resurrected. The News Letter May 12, 2006
  51. ^ New York Times, 30 January 1981
  52. ^ 'Memorials to the Casualties of Conflict: Northern Ireland 1969 to 1997' by Jane Leonard (1997) Cain Webservice
  53. ^ *Time (in partnership with CNN), 2 February, 1981 [1]
    • The New York Times, 30 January, 1981 (13th article: "Murders bring fear to Protestants on Ulster border")[2]
    • Commons Hansard, Rev. Ian Paisley, 1992-06-10 [3]
    • The Spectator, 13 December, 1997 [4]
    • Lords Hansard, Lord Cooke of Islandreagh, 22 March, 2000 [5]
    • The News Letter (Belfast, Northern Ireland), January 19, 2001 [6]
    • The Daily Telegraph, 22 November, 2001 [7]
    • The Scotsman, 10 April, 2006 [8]
  54. ^ In the Shadow of the GunmenTime Magazine
  55. ^ Christopher Thomas, "Ex-Speaker killed by IRA as reprisal", The Times, 23 January 1981.
  56. ^ A Secret History of the IRA, Ed Moloney, 2002. (PB) ISBN 0-393-32502-4 (HB) ISBN 0-71-399665-X p.320
  57. ^ The Spectator
  58. ^ Seanad Éireann - Volume 139 - 24 March, 1994. Extradition (Amendment) Bill, 1994: Second Stage Oireachtas historical debates
  59. ^ House of Commons Hansard Debates for 10 Jun 1992 United Kingdom Parliament website

[edit] External links

Honorary titles
Preceded by
Henry Armstrong		 Lord Lieutenant of Armagh
1939–1981		 Succeeded by
Michael Torrens-Spence
Parliament of Northern Ireland
Preceded by
John Clarke Davison		 Member of Parliament for Mid Armagh
1938–1969		 Succeeded by
Sir James Stronge, Bt
Political offices
Preceded by
Sir Alexander Wilson Hungerford		 Assistant Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Finance
Jan 1941–Feb 1942		 Succeeded by
Rev. Prof. Robert Corkey
Preceded by
Herbert Dixon		 Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Finance
Feb 1942–Nov 1944		 Succeeded by
Sir Alexander Wilson Hungerford
Preceded by
Sir Henry George Hill Mulholland		 Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons
1945–1956		 Succeeded by
William Frederick McCoy
Preceded by
William Frederick McCoy		 Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons
1956–1969		 Succeeded by
Ivan Neill
Preceded by
The Viscount Brookeborough		 Father of the House
1968–1969		 Succeeded by
Lord O'Neill
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Charles Stronge		 Baronet
(of Tynan)
1939–1981		 Succeeded by
Unproven
Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by
William Allen		 Sovereign Grand Master of the Royal Black Preceptory
1948–1971		 Succeeded by
Jim Molyneaux


Persondata
NAME Stronge, Sir Norman, 8th Baronet
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Member of the, Northern Ireland House of Commons, killed by Provisional Irish Republican Army
DATE OF BIRTH 23 July 1894
PLACE OF BIRTH Bryansford, County Down
DATE OF DEATH 21 January 1981
PLACE OF DEATH Tynan Abbey, County Armagh
Languages