The high commissioner for Palestine was the highest ranking authority representing the United Kingdom in the mandated territories of Palestine, and the high commissioner for Transjordan was the highest ranking authority representing the United Kingdom in Transjordan. These posts were always held simultaneously by a single individual after the high commissioner for Transjordan was established in 1928.
The British representative to Amman was "responsible to the high commissioner in his role as representative of the mandatory power, but not in his capacity as head of the Palestine administration."
They were based in Jerusalem. The office commenced on 1 July 1920, before the commencement of the Mandate on 29 September 1923, and replaced the British military occupation under the Occupied Enemy Territory Administration, which had operated in Palestine in 1917–1918. The office ceased with the expiration of the Mandate on 15 May 1948.
When the office of high commissioner was vacant, or the high commissioner was unable to perform his duties for some reason, a person who was usually the chief secretary of the government of Palestine was appointed to perform the same duties with the same powers.The Palestine Order in Council, 1922, Clause 7.
List of officeholders Portrait Name Term of office Notes Took office Left office Time in office Sir Herbert Louis Samuel 1 July 1920 30 June 1925 Sir George Stewart Symes 2 July 1925 25 August 1925 Acting Field Marshal Herbert Plumer, 1st Baron Plumer 25 August 1925 31 July 1928 Sir Harry Charles Luke 31 July 1928 6 December 1928 Acting Sir John Chancellor 6 December 1928 3 September 1931Gazette, 3 September 1931 Sir Mark Aitchison Young 3 September 1931 20 November 1931 Acting General Sir Arthur Wauchope 20 November 1931 1 March 1938 William Denis Battershill 21 June 1937 3 March 1938 Acting for multiple periods Sir Harold MacMichael 3 March 1938 30 August 1944 John Shaw 30 August 1944 31 October 1944 Acting Field Marshal John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort 31 October 1944 5 November 1945 John Valentine Wistar Shaw 5 November 1945 21 November 1945 Acting Lieutenant General Sir Alan Cunningham 21 November 1945 14 May 1948
See also British Mandate of Palestine
References
External links Report to the League of Nations on the Administration of Palestine and Trans-Jordan for the year 1928 World Statesmen - Israel Agreement between his Britannic Majesty and His Highness the Amir of Trans-Jordan, February 1928 Article 1, "His Highness the Amir agrees that His Britannic Majesty shall be represented in Trans-Jordan by a British Resident acting on behalf of the High Commissioner for Trans-Jordan." Herbert Samuel and the British Mandate for Palestine: the Formative Years on the Israel State Archives website