Horace Lionel Richard Niall CBE MBE (1904 - 1994)

Born 14 Oct 1904 in Coolah, New South Wales, Australia

Husband of Alice (Weir) Niall — married 1930 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Husband of Una Lesley Fane (de Salis) Niall — married 1965 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Died May 1994 at age 89 in New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Horrie Niall CBE MBE is Notable.

Horrie Niall CBE MBE was born in New South Wales, Australia

Sir Horace Lionel Richard 'Horrie' Niall CBE (Civ) MBE (Mil) was born on 14th October 1904 in Coolah, New South Wales, Australia. He was the third child but eldest son of Alfred Niall and Jane Bull. ^[1]

He joined the Administration of the Mandated Territory of New Guinea in 1927 as a Cadet Patrol Officer, arriving in Rabaul, New Britain, in April (at the time, Rabaul was the Administrative Capital of the Mandated Territory of New Guinea). He went on leave early in 1930 and spent that year at University of Sydney studying Law and Anthropology.

Whilst in Sydney, Horace married Alice Weir, whom he had previously met in New Guinea. ^[2] Accompanied by Alison, Horrie returned to New Guinea in 1931. He was promoted to Patrol Officer, Assistant District Officer and, later, District Officer. During this period, a daughter, Lois, was born.

Horrie Niall CBE MBE is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Second Australian Imperial Force 1942-1945
Australian New Guinea Administration Unit

On 14th February 1942 Horace was commissioned in the Second Australian Imperial Force for military service during the Second World War. He was posted to the Australian New Guinea Administration Unit. The war over, and not wishing to build a military career, he was placed on the Reserve of Officers on 23rd October 1945. ^[3] He was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945 and Australia Service Medal 1939-1945. He returned to Papua in 1946.

On 8th March 1945 Horace was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division) (MBE) for his 'distinguished service in the SW Pacific'. ^[4] Continuing to serve his country in the territories of Papua and New Guinea, Horace was further honoured through appointment to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) (CBE) on 1st January 1958 for 'public service in Papua New Guinea'. ^[5]

He was a Member of the PNG Legislative Council from 1951 to 1963. The following year, he retired as District Commissioner, Morobe District and from the PNG Administration. Sadly, Alice died in 1964. Also that year, in the first PNG general elections, Horrie was elected as the Member for the Open Electorate of Morobe in the House of Assembly.

Horace married a second time, to Una de Salis in 1965 in Sydney, New South Wales. ^[6] The couple had met during the war years in Lae when Una was in the Australian Army Nursing Service.

Capping exemplary service to the people of Papua and New Guinea, Horace was appointed inaugural Speaker of the Papua New Guinea House of Assembly in the lead-up to independence from Australia (which was attained in 1975. For this service, Horace was created Knight Bachelor. ^[7][8]

After retiring to Australia, Horrie served for a number of years on the Committee of the Retired Officers’ Association of Papua New Guinea and in 1986 became its Patron.

Sir Horace Niall passed away in May 1994, aged 89 years. ^[9] He was survived by Una, his daughter and son-in-law, Lois and Frank Johnson, grandsons Niall and Jeremy, and grand daughter-in-law, Ruth.

The eulogy, delivered by Doug Parrish at Horrie’s funeral on 3rd May 1994, reads in part:

"Sir Horace Lionel Richard Niall, KB, CBE, MBE, was a great Australian, who most ably represented his country whilst it was responsible for the administration of the Mandated Territory of New Guinea and later the Trust Territory of Papua New Guinea. At the same time he gave great service to the peoples of Papua New Guinea, spending most of his working life there, a period of more than 40 years, before, during and after World War II.

"... in all facets of life Horrie was held in high esteem, the recounting of his experiences in PNG from 1927 enraptured all those privileged to hear them. With children, particularly, his recital of The Man from Snowy River was heard in awe, communication lines were opened and hearts were won ... his passing is a sad loss and an even deeper appreciation of having known and enjoyed the company of one of the greatest servants of Papua New Guinea, a Knight of the British Commonwealth of Nations, a loving husband, brother, father, grandfather and dear friend." ^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #31547/1904
2. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #206/1930
3. ↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: NGX373 Major Horace Lionel Richard Niall
4. ↑ Australian Honours: MBE (Mil); accessed 10 Feb 2022
5. ↑ Australian Honours: MBE (Civ); accessed 10 Feb 2022
6. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #9026/1965
7. ↑ Australian Honours: Knight Bachelor; accessed 10 Feb 2022
8. ↑ Wikipedia: Members of the House of Assembly of Papua and New Guinea, 1964–1968; accessed 10 Feb 2022
9. ↑ The Peerage; accessed 10 Feb 2022
10. ↑ Papua New Guinea Association of Australia: Vale June 1994 'Sir Horace Lionel Richard NIALL, KB, CBE, MBE (30 April 1994, aged 89)'; accessed 10 Feb 2022