Francis Campbell Ross Douglas served as Governor Malta for a period just short of three years: from July 10, 1946, to June 16, 1949, and despite the fact that the first Constitution granting self-government to Malta was implemented during his tenure he is barely remembered today. If anyone recalls anything about the modest Francis Douglas, it is most likely his shy, quasi-whistling voice or the unfortunate events related to the prosecution of Joseph James Scorey (owner-editor of the Malta Bulletin) for printing details of an alleged gubernatorial temper tantrum.

Minnie and Francis Douglas just before their departure for Malta in 1946.Minnie and Francis Douglas just before their departure for Malta in 1946.

Francis Douglas was born in Manitoba, Canada, in 1889. He was the son of Francis James Boswell Douglas, a poultry farmer, and Helen Blair, née Ross. The accompanying photograph of a child in a perambulator was captioned Ross Douglas and is most probably the subject of this article.

He was educated at Glasgow University and subsequently worked as a journalist, accountant and solicitor. He was later a partner in Douglas & Co., solicitors.

An extract from the register of marriages for the district of Maryhill, Glasgow, for July 1, 1914, shows that Francis Ross Douglas, journalist, residing in London, married Minnie Finlay Smith, a school teacher from Glasgow. Minnie’s father at that time was a retired jute mill overseer.

Douglas took an early interest in politics, becoming a member of Battersea Borough Council and ultimately serving as mayor of Battersea from 1922-1923. He was elected as the Member of Parliament for Battersea North in 1940, a seat he held until 1946. During this period he served as parliamentary private secretary to James Chuter Ede, who held the position of parliamentary secretary to the Board of Education from 1940 to 1945, and again when the latter was appointed Home Secretary from 1945 to 1946.

Despite the fact that the first Constitution granting self-government to Malta was implemented during his tenure he is barely remembered today

He also served as temporary chairman to the House of Commons, chairman of the Standing Committees and chairman of the Estimates Committees. He was also a member of the Public Works Loan Board from 1936 to 1946 and of the Railway Assessment Committee from 1938 to 1946 and served as chairman of the Finance Committee of the London County Council from 1940 to 1946. Douglas was clearly an able and efficient administrator.

On his appointment as Governor of Malta in 1946, Douglas resigned his seat in Parliament. In 1947, Douglas was created a Knight Commander in the Order of St Michael and St George, and in 1950 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Douglas of Barloch when he returned to the Palace of Westminster as a Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords. Douglas died on March 30, 1980.

Francis Campbell Ross Douglas in 1913.Francis Campbell Ross Douglas in 1913.

Much of the above information is garnered from previously published or online sources and provides a broad outline of Francis Douglas’ services. A small archive of personal papers and photographs in the author’s possession helps to provide a more revealing aspect of Douglas’ character.

Two years after the start of World War I, the Douglases were living at 54, Albert Palace Mansions in Battersea. Francis Douglas was a member of the Army Reserve; however, in June 1916 he received notice that he would be required to “join service with the colours” at the end of the month. It seems he must have had some qualms about active service, as a document dated August 23 that same year informed him that he had subsequently been exempted from combatant service on the grounds of conscientious objection.

Furthermore, as long as he undertook work which was approved by a tribunal as being of national importance he would also be exempted from non-combatant service. Douglas was referred to the appropriately named Committee on Work of National Importance, and it appears he found suitable employment with the Home Grown Timber Committee, which would free him even from non-combatant service.

By the time World War II broke out, Douglas held a number of administrative positions of national importance which must have exempted him from active service once again.

Douglas’ appointment as Governor of Malta was strongly criticised in the House of Commons as it was the first time since 1847, when Sir Richard Moore O’Ferrall occupied this position, that a civilian had occupied a post that was traditionally regarded as a position for a high-ranking serviceman. One wonders whether his lack of military service was a factor in his fellow parliamentarians’ reactions or whether his personal convictions were conveniently ‘forgotten’.

More to the point, how might the Maltese, who had suffered through years of bombardment and devastation, have viewed their new Governor had they been aware of all the details?

The truth may be, however, that given his convictions, his familiarity with government finances and the mandarins who controlled the Whitehall purse-strings, Douglas may have been the ideal person to add a much needed impetus to Malta’s foundering reconstruction effort.

Confirmation of banns of marriage, 1914.Confirmation of banns of marriage, 1914.

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