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

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

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 Australian Monarchist League.[20]

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

References

  1. 1 2 "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. 1 2 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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