Richard Geraint Rees

His Honour Judge
Richard Geraint Rees
Born(1907-05-05)5 May 1907
Aberystwyth, Wales
Died27 March 1986(1986-03-27) (aged 78)
Weybridge, England
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
EducationCardiff High School
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Judge
  • British Army officer
Spouses
Mary Davies
​
(m. 1938)​
Margaret Green
​
(m. 1950)​
Children2
Relatives
Military career
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
BranchBritish Army
Years1939–1946
RankLieutenant colonel
Unit21st Army Group

His Honour Judge Richard Geraint Rees (5 May 1907 – 27 March 1986) was a British judge.

Early life and education

Rees was born in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, on 5 May 1907. He was the eldest of four children of Apphia Mary James and the Rev. Richard Jenkyn Rees, a minister of the Tabernacle Calvinistic Methodist Church. His younger brother was the journalist Goronwy Rees.[1]

Rees was first educated at Cardiff High School, a grammar school when he joined, which changed to a comprehensive school in 1973.[2] He studied at University College Wales, Aberystwyth and then St John's College, Cambridge, receiving a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree with first-class honours. He was awarded the Samuel Evans Prize for his successes.[3]

Military career

Rees was commissioned into the Welsh Guards in November 1939. From 1943 to 1944, he served as deputy assistant adjutant general (DAAG) of the London District. From 1943 to 1945, he served as assistant director of the Army Welfare Services of the British Army Staff, Paris with the rank of lieutenant colonel.[4]

On 1 October 1944, Rees was appointed to the HQ British Army Staff and began organising all British Military Welfare amenities in Paris. He was mentioned in dispatches on 4 April 1946 and it was written that "this officer has exhibited devotion to duty of a high order and his ceaseless efforts have been a source of great encouragement to all."[5][6]

Rees was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) on 14 March 1947 for work with the United States Army during his time as assistant director of the Army Welfare Services in Paris.[5]

Rees practised law in the South Wales circuit from 1934 to 1939. He practised in London and the Wales and Chester circuit from 1946 to 1956. Then, from 1956 to 1971, he sat at the Magistrates' court as a metropolitan stipendiary magistrate.[4]

In 1971, Rees was sworn in by the Lord Chancellor as a circuit judge, which he remained until 1981. He was appointed deputy chairman of Inner London Sessions shortly after.[4][7]

From 1971 to 1981, Rees sat as a permanent judge at the Central Criminal Court.[8]

Personal life

Rees married Mary Davies in 1938. They had one son. He then married Margaret Green, widow of Robert Philip Brent Grotrian, on 28 January 1950. They had one daughter.[4]

References

  1. ^ Roberts, Gomer Morgan (2001). "REES, RICHARD JENKIN (1868 - 1963), minister (Presb.)". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  2. ^ Reports submitted to the Court of Governors / University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
  3. ^ Reports submitted to the Court of Governors / University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. Aberystwyth : University College of Wales. p. 71 – via Internet Archive.
  4. ^ a b c d "Rees, His Honour Richard Geraint". Who's Who (UK). Oxford University Press. 1 December 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U168446. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Rees, Richard Geraint". Tracesofwar. STIWOT. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Archival material relating to Rees, Richard Geraint". UK National Archives.
  7. ^ Jones, T. Mervyn (1987). Going public. Cowbridge : D Brown and Sons. p. 53. ISBN 090592875X – via Internet Archive.
  8. ^ Old Bailey Judges at the Central Criminal Court – Livery Companies of the City of London