Kenneth Elliston Poyser

Sir Kenneth Elliston Poyser (1882 – 6 June 1943) was a British barrister, British Army officer, and colonial administrator.

Sir Kenneth Elliston Poyser D.S.O.
Attorney-General of Barbados
In office 1925–1928
Preceded by	Hon Sir Charles Pitcher Clarke
Succeeded by	Ernest Allan Collymore
Attorney-General of Uganda
In office 1928–1933
Preceded by	Sir Sidney Solomon Abrahams
Succeeded by	Neville Harry Turton
Chief Justice of the Federated Malay States
In office 1939–1941
Preceded by	Sir Roger Evans Hall
Succeeded by	Sir Harry Herbert Trusted
Personal details
Born	1882
Died	6 June 1943 Haslemere
Nationality	British
Spouse	E. May
Children	1 daughter
Alma mater	Merton College, Oxford
Occupation	Barrister, British Army Officer and colonial administrator
Military service
Branch/service	British Army
Years of service	1914–1918
Rank	Major
Unit	Yorkshire Light Infantry Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Battles/wars	World War I

Early life

Poyser, who was born in 1882, was the son of A.S. Poyser, barrister. He was educated at Shrewsbury School, and Merton College, Oxford. In 1906, he was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple.^[1][2]

Career

In 1914, on the outbreak of the First World War, Poyser immediately joined up and served with the Yorkshire Light Infantry and the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. He was mentioned three times in dispatches and awarded the D.S.O. in 1917.^[1][2]

After demobilisation, he began a legal career in the British Empire. In 1920, he was appointed puisne judge in the Leeward Islands. In 1925, he was appointed Attorney-General of Barbados, and in 1928 was appointed Attorney-General of Uganda, holding office until 1933. After serving as a puisne judge in Ceylon, in 1939, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Federated Malay States. In 1941, he resigned to take up the position of Legal Adviser to the Dominions and Colonial Office in succession to Sir Henry Grattan Bushe.^[1][2][3]

Poyser died on 6 June 1943 in Haslemere.^[1][2]

Personal life

Poyser married E. May in 1918, and they had one daughter.^[1][2]

Honours

Poyser was created a Knight Bachelor in the 1941 Birthday Honours.^[4][5]