Anglo-Jewish he was born in Marylebone, London to Marcus Samuel, Viscount Bearsted and his wife Fanny Elizabeth Benjamin. Walter became the 2nd Viscount Bearsted, along with a Barony and Baronetcy, upon his father's death in 1927 as his other brothers had been killed during WW1. His father was the founder of Shell Transport and Trading and Walter was second Chairman. Walter Horace Samuel married Dorotha Montefiore Micholls on 23 July 1908 in West End Synagogue, West End, London. At the time of his death he was reported to be on the Boards of 63 companies and a Director of Lloyds Bank. He was one of the riches men in the country leaving an estimated £4 million. He donated his home, Upton House, and his paintings to The National Trust before he died.
A great patron of the arts and good causes, he was President for the Home and Hospital of Jewish Incurables and he paid the building costs of Bearsted Memorial Hospital. He was also a trustee for The National Gallery, National Art Collection Fund, Tate Gallery and Whitechapel Art Gallery.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coleshill House, GHQ | Commanding Officer Special Duties | 1940 | Unknown |
Eton College, Windsor 1895-1901
New College, Oxford 1901-1905
Industrialist and Banking.
During the First World War he was 2nd Lieutenant later Captain 7491, Queens Own West Kent Yeomanry. He was awarded the Military Cross and Mentioned in Despatches twice.
In WW2 he worked for Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) Section D. He oversaw the transfer of Home Defence Organisation network to Auxiliary Units Special Duties. In files covering the early history of Section D it states; "Colonel Viscount Bearsted continued his organisation en bloc under the name of 'Auxiliary Units (Special Duties)'. It was not until the danger of invasion was relatively past that the organisation as originally planned by D Section was dissolved".
After the fall of France in May 1940, the German Gestapo prepared for the invasion of Britain by compiling an arrest list of more than 2,300 names. Bearsted was on this list.
2 Dec 1942 he departed for America.
10 Nov 1943 Relinquished his commission and granted the Honorary rank of Colonel.
Auxiliary Units telephone number listing August 1940
TNA ref HS7/3 & HS9/109/3
London Gazette 22 Sept 1914
Banbury Advertiser 10 November 1948