{{Short description|British politician & army officer (1891-1985)}} {{Use British English|date=March 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} '''Sir Derrick Wellesley Gunston, 1st Baronet''' MC, (26 February 1891 – 13 July 1985) was a Unionist politician in the United Kingdom.
He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Jul 15, 1985, page 12 - The Daily Telegraph at Newspapers.com™ |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/751069959/?match=1&terms=derrick%20gunston |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
Gunston served with the Irish Guards in World War I and was awarded the Military Cross in 1918.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30450 |date=1 January 1918 |page=37 |supp=y}}</ref>
He was elected at the 1924 general election as Member of Parliament (MP) for the Thornbury constituency, in Gloucestershire, and held the seat until his defeat at the 1945 general election by the Labour Party candidate, Joseph Alpass. He was Parliamentary Private Secretary to a succession of leading Conservatives, including Edward Grigg<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jul 19, 1985, page 24 - Isle of Wight County Press at Newspapers.com™ |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1075468118/ |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and Neville Chamberlain.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Jul 16, 1985, page 24 - Evening Post at Newspapers.com™ |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/877247349/ |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
In February 1938, he was made a baronet, of Wickwar in the County of Gloucester.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34479 |date=4 February 1938 |page=728}}</ref> In 1942 he returned to the Army as a major in the 7th Battalion Gloucesterhire Regiment. His eldest son was killed in action in 1944.<ref name=":1" />
In 1943, he was on a British Parliamentary Commission to investigate the future of Newfoundland and Labrador; the other members were Charles Ammon (Chairman) and A. P. Herbert.
His main home was in Onslow Square, London, but he had a cottage in Bembridge as his second home.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jul 17, 1985, page 7 - Southern Daily Echo at Newspapers.com™ |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1148909015/ |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> He was a keen sailor and was a member of both the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Bembridge Sailing Club. He continued sailing till he was 88. In the 1930s he was racing with Lord Brabazon of Tara. In a tight finish with a falling tide in the harbour they took a chance and got stuck in the mud. Brabazon ordered his crewman, Gunston, over the side but he failed to push the boat off. So Brabazon joined on the mud to help push. A moment later the boat was crewless and setting sail in the tide on her own for the open sea - much to the great delight of the members of the sailing club.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jul 15, 1985, page 14 - The Daily Telegraph at Newspapers.com™ |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/751069968/ |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
On his death at Edgecombe House, Newbury he left his wife of 68 years, Gardenia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jul 16, 1985, page 24 - The Daily Telegraph at Newspapers.com™ |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/751096974/?match=1&terms=derrick%20gunston |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> His son Richard Wellesley Gunston succeeded to his title.<ref name=":0" />
== References == {{Reflist}} * {{cite book |last=Craig |first=F. W. S. |authorlink= F. W. S. Craig |title=British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 |orig-date=1969 |edition= 3rd |year=1983 |publisher= Parliamentary Research Services |location=Chichester |isbn= 0-900178-06-X}} *{{Rayment-bt|g|3|date=March 2012}} *{{Rayment-hc|t|1|date=March 2012}}
== External links == * {{Hansard-contribs | major-sir-derrick-gunston | Sir Derrick Gunston }}
{{S-start}} {{S-par|uk}} {{Succession box | title = Member of Parliament for Thornbury | years = 1924–1945 | before = Athelstan Rendall | after = Joseph Alpass }} {{S-reg|uk-bt}} {{S-new | creation }} {{S-ttl | title = Baronet<br />'''of Wickwar, Gloucestershire''' | years = 1938–1985 }} {{S-aft | after = Richard Gunston }} {{S-end}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gunston, Richard Wellesley}} Category:1891 births Category:1985 deaths Category:Baronets in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Category:UK MPs 1924–1929 Category:UK MPs 1929–1931 Category:UK MPs 1931–1935 Category:UK MPs 1935–1945 Category:People from Wickwar Category:Recipients of the Military Cross
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