George William Reginald Victor Coventry, 10th Earl of Coventry (10 September 1900 - 27 May 1940)[1] was the son of George William Coventry, Viscount Deerhurst and Virginia Bonynge (born Daniels), step- and adopted daughter of Charles Bonynge.[2] As his father predeceased his grandfather, the 10th Earl was his grandfather's heir to the earldom. George Coventry inherited both the earldom and the viscountcy on 13 March 1930.[1] He was educated at Ludgrove School and Eton College.[3]
Politics
Standing as a Unionist, Coventry unsuccessfully stood in the Carmarthen Constituency in the 1922 General Election.[3]
Military service
Coventry was a Lieutenant in the 7th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, which was part of the original Expeditionary Force sent to France in September 1939.[4] His regiment was subsequently evacuated during the retreat from Dunkirk; Coventry was killed in action [5] 27 May 1940 at La Bassée, during the Battle of Dunkirk which preceded it. He is buried in the communal cemetery at Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée.[6]
A memorial service was held at Croome Church in Worcester on 21 July 1940.[7]
Family and personal life
He married the Honourable Nesta Donne Philipps in September 1921; they had four children.[1] His youngest child, also named George William Coventry and subsequently 11th Earl of Coventry was born at Croome Court on 25 January 1934.[8] The 10th earl's daughters were Anne Donne, Joan Blanche, and Maria Alice Coventry.[2]
In 1932, he was appointed the Deputy Lieutenant for the county of Worcestershire.[9]
He served as a company director of the London and Thames Haven Oil Wharves Limited.[10]
Coventry enjoyed hunting and was the Master of the Carmarthenshire Hounds, the Hawkstone Hounds as well as the Croome Hounds.[3]
References
