Thaddeus Crace
Thaddeus Crace | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 27th Governor of the Hope Province | |
| In office 23 September 1936 – 13 February 1939 | |
| Premier | Donald Bexley (1936-1937) Lysander Thomas (1936-1939) |
| Lieutenant | Sir Barend Leroux |
| Preceded by | The Viscount Kennedy |
| Succeeded by | Daniël Wilson |
| In office 11 August 1922 – 31 October 1925 | |
| Monarch | Richard XIII |
| Premier | Andrew Hepworth (1922-1925) Benedict Spencer-Brooke (1925-) |
| Lieutenant | Edward Kingsborough |
| Preceded by | Sir John McKenzie |
| Succeeded by | Alfred Murrowe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 19, 1887 Port Hope, Satavia |
| Died | January 24, 1979 (aged 91) Henschhoek, Arundel |
| Spouse | Evelyn Jackson |
| Children | 2 |
| Profession | Soldier |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Dominion of Satavia |
| Branch/service | Satavian Army |
| Years of service | 1904-1922 1925-1936 |
| Rank | Brigadier general |
| Commands | 1st Battalion, Royal Satavian Light Horse (1916-1922) 4th Brigade (1922) 15th Brigade (1925-1928) 21st Brigade (1934-36) |
| Battles/wars | Great War • Battle of Satavia • Fall of Victoriaburg |
| Awards | Gallentry Cross (2) Great War Medal Mentioned in Dispatches (5) |
Brigadier General Sir Thaddeus Rex Arthur Crace SK, GC & Bar, GSN, MoS, MD (19 October 1887 - 24 January 1979) was a Satavian Army officer who commanded the 15th Brigade during the early stages of the Great War until it was disbanded following the Fall of Victoriaburg. Crace lead co-ordinated resistance efforts across Satavia during its occupation by Nuvanian forces, and personally lead ambitious raids on the occupying forces, for which he was awarded the Gallentry Cross twice, in addition to being mentioned in dispatches five times. In addition, Crace was knighted in 1935.
Crace was born to a middle-class family in Port Hope, in 1887. He attended the Royal Military College, Port Hope at age 17, and was comissioned as a Second lieutenant the day before his 18th birthday. Crace proved to be a capable officer and rose through the ranks quickly, obtaining the rank of Major at the age of 24, having served for only six years, in 1911. In 1916 he was promoted again, to Lieutenant colonel, and took command of the 7th Battalion. In 1922, he achieved the rank of Brigadier general at just 35 years of age, which remains the youngest any officer has obtained that rank in the Satavian Army.
Despite taking command of the 4th Brigade in 1922, Crace resigned in August that year after his appointment as Governor of the Hope Province, following the unexpected death of incumbent Governor Sir John McKenzie. Originally appointed as acting Governor, Crace was confirmed as the next Governor by Governor-General Henry King-Stewart on the 22nd August 1922. Crace was the first Satavian-born Governor of the Hope Province, and served for just over two years. His first term as Governor was rocked by scandal relating to his dismissal of incumbent Premier, Andrew Hepworth in 1925 over a corruption scandal that had rocked the Provincial government since the beginning of his premiership. The action, which was vilified in the immediate aftermath of Hepworth's dismisal, lead to Crace's resignation two months later. His actions were vindicated, however, when Hepworth was prosecuted and convicted of voter fraud in 1927.
Crace returned to the army, at which point he was appointed commander of the 15th Brigade. During the Great War, Crace commanded the defence of the city of Victoriaburg, and having narrowly escaped capture by Nuvanian forces lead and co-ordinated resistance efforts across Satavia. Crace's forces were instrumental in assisting Operation Blind Summit, and lead to the eventual collapse of the Nuvanian occupying forces.
After the liberation of Satavia, Crace was appointed commander of the 21st Brigade. In 1936, the day after the abolition of the Estmerish monarchy in Satavia, Crace was appointed as interim Governor of the Hope Province once again, only to be confirmed as Governor one month later. Crace's second term ended when he was removed, in addition to many other officials across the country, during the February Coup.
Crace, who was regarded as apolitical was generally undisturbed by the National Party's dictatorship, and died aged 91 in his home near Henschhoek, in Arundel. Democratic rule having been restored two years earlier, Crace was granted a full state funeral, and is burried in St Patrick's Cathedral in Port Hope.