William Campion

Colonel Sir William Robert Campion KCMG DSO TD DL (3 July 1870 – 2 January 1951), was a British politician and Governor of Western Australia from 1924 to 1931.
Born in England in 1870, he was educated at Eton and Oxford University, and was the Conservative MP for Lewes between 1910 and 1924.

Military Service

Campion was commissioned into the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment in 1888. He served in the First World War, as a Colonel at Gallipoli then later in France in 1916 reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1918.

Governor

In June 1924 Campion was appointed governor of Western Australia. From October 1924 to June 1931 Campion worked with Labor and Nationalist premiers alike in harmony during a period without major political crises. He presided with dignity over the State's centennial celebrations in 1929.

Later years

He returned to England in 1931 and retired to his country house in Sussex, but spoke frequently in favour of organized migration to Australia. He was a member of the Empire Settlement Committee in 1935.

He accepted appointment as chairman of two Australian based gold-mining companies. He visited Australia in 1935-36 to inspect properties and again in 1939.

He died in Sussex on 2 January 1951, survived by his wife and three children.