Arthur William de Brito Savile Foljambe, 2nd Earl of Liverpool

Arthur William de Brito Savile Foljambe was born on 27 May 1870. He was the eldest son of Cecil George Saville Foljambe, the 1st Earl of Liverpool and Louisa Blanche Howard (died 7 Oct 1871). He was educated at Eton and trained at RMC Sandhurst. He joined the 4th Bn Rifle Brigade as a 2nd Lieutenant on 2 May 1891, promoted to lieutenant in 1893 and captain in 1897. From 1898 to 1900 he was in Dublin as ADC to Earl Cadogan, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. In 1900 he was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order. He served with the Rifle Brigade in the Boer War for two years. On his return he served again on the staff of the Lord Lieutenant in Dublin, as State Steward, from 1906 to 08. On 23 March 1907 his father died and he inherited the title, also promoted to major. In 1909 he became Comptroller of His Majesty’s Household, until 1912. In this period he was also appointed CO 8th Bn London Regiment (Post Office Rifles).
In 1912 he was sent to New Zealand as Governor and Commander-in-Chief. Soon after his arrival he toured the country and visited many small townships. In 1913 he had to deal with a strike of waterside workers, and in 1914 made a tour of the Cook Islands. When war broke out he was busy organising the NZ Expeditionary Force and two hospital ships. He also raised the NZ Rifle Brigade, affiliated to the British Rifle Brigade. It was titled the Earl of Liverpool’s Own, nicknamed the Dinks and ‘England’s Last ‘Ope’. He wanted to accompany them to the war in the Middle East (and later the Western Front) but was refused permission.
He was decorated with the GCMG in 1914, and in 1917 his title was changed to Governor-General (as well as Commander-in-Chief) of the Dominion of New Zealand. On his retirement in 1920 he was made GCB and also a Knight of Justice of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. He was married to Hon Annette Louise Monck, daughter of Viscount Monck of Ballytrammon. The wedding took place on 27 July 1897 but the marriage produced no children. He died on 15 May 1941, and his 63 year-old half-brother, Gerald succeeded to the title of 3rd Earl of Liverpool.

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