Major-General Sir Hubert Elvin Rance, (17 July 1898 – 24 January 1974) was a British politician who was the last Governor of British Burma between 1946 and 1948, during the transition from Japanese to British colonial administration. Later he became Governor of Trinidad and Tobago from 1950 to 1955.

Early life

Rance was born in Plymouth on 17 July 1898, the son of Frederick Hubert Rance (1862 – 29 March 1942) and his wife Minnie Florence Eleanor nee Shaw (1871–1964). Rance was educated at Wimbledon College, In Q1 1927 in Hastings, Sussex, Rance married Mary Noel nee Guy (1905–1997). Their daughter Elizabeth M was born in Richmond, Yorks, in Q2 1931, and their son David E. in N.W. Surrey in Q3 1935.

Career to 1945

Rance joined the

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

in 1916 and fought in the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

with the Worcestershire

Regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

. Later he transferred to the

Signal Corps A signal corps is a military branch, responsible for military communications (''signals''). Many countries maintain a signal corps, which is typically subordinate to a country's army. Military communication usually consists of radio, telephone, ...

and, after being an instructor at the Staff College, Camberley between the wars, served in the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

where he played a part in the evacuation of Dunkirk in a senior role with the British Expeditionary Force. He also held senior War Office posts directing army training.

Burma

In 1945, he was appointed Director of Civil Affairs in Burma, restoring British control after Japanese forces withdrew. Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith was appointed Governor in 1946, but

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

Attlee, advised by The 1st Viscount Mountbatten of Burma, soon decided that Rance should replace him. Dorman-Smith's imprisonment of a popular nationalist leader, Aung San, had provoked anger and the threat of rebellion against the British, while Rance had a more conciliatory approach. British policy started to move away from an attempt at a slow, gradual transition to independence, and it was decided that Rance should co-operate with Aung San and his Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League. Aung San was believed to be less hostile to British interests, and less radical in his nationalism than some other political figures, like the communists, for example. Rance became Governor on the last day of August 1946, and on 27 January 1947 Attlee made an agreement with Aung San that independence would come as soon as possible, with elections in April. British hopes of a smooth handover of power allowing the UK to retain some influence were threatened when Aung San was assassinated in July 1947. Rance's prompt action in making

U Nu Nu (; ; 25 May 1907 – 14 February 1995), commonly known as Burmese names#Honorifics, U Nu and also by the honorific name Thakin Nu, was a prominent Burmese people, Burmese statesman and the first Prime Minister of Union of Burma. He was ...

the

within hours is believed to have been a decisive factor in avoiding greater upheaval. In a formal ceremony on 4 January 1948, Governor Rance handed over to Sao Shwe Thaik, 1st President of Burma, while Nu continued as Prime Minister. By the time he left Burma, Rance had retired from the army. His formal title was Major General Sir Hubert Elvin Rance, GBE, CB, and, in 1948, he was made a GCMG. New Burma Government honorably awarded Agga Maha Thray Sithu title to him as one of the foremost holders.

West Indies

He acted as British governor of

Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago, officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean, comprising the main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, along with several List of islands of Trinidad and Tobago, smaller i ...

between 19 April 1950 and June 1955. He is author of two reports published by the Colonial Office in London in 1950: ''Development and welfare in the West Indies, 1947-49'' and ''Report of the British Caribbean Standing Closer Association Committee, 1948-49''. In May 1956, he published an article on ''Burma’s Economic Problems'' in the ''Eastern World''. Hubert Rance Street in Vistabella, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago was named in his honour.

Death

Rance died on 24 January 1974 at the age of 75.

References

Sources

*Clive Christie, ''The Karens'' in ''Turbulent Times and Enduring People'' (2000) ed. Jean Michaud * William Roger Louis, ''Dissolution of the British Empire'' in ''The Oxford History of the British Empire'' (1999) ed. Brown, Louis, Low *''Burma: The Curse of Independence'' (2001)
British in Burma (''Encyclopædia Britannica'')King's College Military Archives
* DNB articles on U Nu and Dorman-Smith *