Noël Deschamps

Noël St. Clair Deschamps (25 December 1908 – 12 May 2005) was an Australian public servant and diplomat.

Noël Deschamps
Born
Noël St. Clair Deschamps

(1908-12-25)25 December 1908
Brisbane, Queensland
Died12 May 2005(2005-05-12) (aged 96)
Melbourne
NationalityAustralian
Alma materUniversity of Cambridge
Occupation(s)Public servant, diplomat
ParentJacqueline Hester Deschamps

Early life and education

Deschamps was born in Brisbane, the son of Jacqueline Hester née Irwin and Joseph Mark Deschamps.[1][2] His paternal grandparents owned a vineyard.[1] He was educated at Glamorgan Preparatory School in Toorak, Melbourne.[3] He graduated with a Master of Arts from the University of Cambridge and spent a couple of years as a school-master in North Wales before returning to Australia.

Diplomatic career
Deschamps in his office as Chargé d'Affaires in Moscow.

Deschamps joined the Department of External Affairs in 1937.[4][5] January 1940 saw Deschamps appointed official secretary to the Australian High Commissioner in Canada.[6]

Between 1946 and 1947 Deschamps was Charge d'Affaires in Moscow.[7] While in Moscow his sister Yvonne visited.[8]

In March 1950 Deschamps presented his credentials as the head of the Australian Military Mission in Berlin to the three Allied High Commissioners at Bonn.[9] In January 1952, Deschamps was appointed Charge d'Affaires in West Germany to open up the Australian embassy in Bonn.[10][11][12]

While Australian Ambassador to Cambodia (1962–1969) Deschamps also represented the interests of the United States in the country after King Norodom Sihanouk broke off diplomatic ties with Washington.[13] Deschamps became a friend of Sihanouk's and the Ambassador was awarded a high Cambodian decoration to mark the close relationship between Australia and Cambodia.[14]

In January 1969 Deschamps was appointed Ambassador to Chile.[15] He presented his credentials to President Eduardo Frei Montalva on 4 June 1969.[16] Deschamps was recalled to Australia for consultations shortly after a coup to remove the Allende Government.[17] He did not return to the country in an official capacity after the coup with the Australian Government instead appointing a charge d'affaires.[18]

Deschamps retired in December 1973 to Melbourne.[19]

Later life

In his retirement, Deschamps was a patron of the Monarchist League.[20]

In May 2005, Deschamps died in Melbourne, aged 96.[5]

References
  1. "Canadian Appointments: French scholar for Ottawa post". Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian. Vic. 27 January 1940. p. 2.
  2. "Death of Mrs J. H. Deschamps". The Canberra Times. ACT. 27 June 1959. p. 10.
  3. "Appointment in Canada. An Official Secretary to the Australian High Commissioner. Mr. Noel Deschamps". The Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer. NSW. 9 February 1940. p. 4.
  4. "External Affairs Appointments". The Canberra Times. ACT. 15 April 1937. p. 4.
  5. Jeldres, Julio A. (20 May 2005). "Noel Deschamps 1908-2005". The Phnom Penh Post. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015.
  6. "For Washington. Mr. Casey's staff: Canberra officers appointed". The Canberra Times. ACT. 24 January 1940. p. 4.
  7. Talk: A Life in the Foreign Service, Perspectives on World History and Current Events, 2004, archived from the original on 25 October 2009
  8. "Sydney Woman Visits Moscow". The Sydney Morning Herald. NSW. 6 November 1947. p. 14.
  9. "Aust. Mission in Bonn". The Daily News. Perth, WA. 24 March 1950. p. 4.
  10. "Australian for West Germany". News. Adelaide, SA. 29 January 1952. p. 9.
  11. "Two diplomatic posts filled". The Age. Melbourne, Vic. 2 April 1952. p. 3.
  12. "Opposition prepared to attack on Disemployment". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 2 February 1952. p. 14.
  13. Barber, Jason (17 November 1995). "The diplomat who returned to see the King..." The Phnom Penh Post. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015.
  14. "New rule in Cambodia". The Canberra Times. ACT. 19 April 1975. p. 2.
  15. "New posts for two diplomats". The Canberra Times. ACT. 28 January 1969. p. 7.
  16. "Chile names envoy". The Canberra Times. ACT. 7 June 1969. p. 10.
  17. "Envoy to Chile recalled". The Canberra Times. ACT. 18 September 1973. p. 1.
  18. "Relations with Chile to resume". The Canberra Times. ACT. 10 October 1973. p. 20.
  19. "A shady past". The Canberra Times. ACT. 10 October 1974. p. 3.
  20. Michell, Alex (21 August 2005). "Old fraud charges haunt Mr Monarchy". The Age. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014.
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