Career
Later he became Governor of Trinidad and Tobago. Rance joined the British Army in 1916 and fought in the First World War with the Worcestershire Regiment. Later he transferred to the Signal Corps and in the Second World War played a part in the evacuation of Dunkirk in a senior role with the British Expeditionary Force.
He also held senior War Office posts directing army training.
In 1945 he was appointed Director of Civil Affairs in, restoring British control after Japanese forces withdrew. Reginald Dorman-Smith was appointed Governor in 1946 but United Kingdom Prime Minister Attlee, advised by Lord Mountbatten of, soon decided that Rance should replace him.
Dorman-Smith"s imprisonment of a popular nationalist leader, Aung San, had provoked anger and the threat of rebellion against the British, while Rance had a more conciliatory approach. British policy started to move away from an attempt at a slow, gradual transition to independence, and it was decided that Rance should co-operate with Aung San and his Anti-Fascist People"s Freedom League.
Rance became Governor on the last day of August 1946, and on 27 January 1947 Attlee made an agreement with Aung San that independence would come as soon as possible, with elections in April.
British hopes of a smooth handover of power allowing the United Kingdom to retain some influence were threatened when Aung San was assassinated in July 1947. Rance"s prompt action in making U Nu prime minister within hours is believed to have been a decisive factor in avoiding greater upheaval. In a formal ceremony on 4 January 1948 Rance handed over to Sao Shwe Thaik, president of, while Nu continued as prime minister.
By the time he left, Rance had retired from the army.
His formal title was Major General Sir Hubert Elvin Rance, GBE, Central Bank, and in 1948 he was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Street Michael and Street George.
He acted as British governor of Trinidad and Tobago between 19 April 1950 and June 1955. He is author of two reports published by the Colonial Office in London in 1950: Development and welfare in the, 1947-1949 and Report of the British Caribbean Standing Closer Association Committee, 1948-1949 and in May 1956 he published an article on ’s Economic Problems in the Eastern World.
Hubert Rance Street in Vistabella, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago was named in his honour.
