A professional soldier for 20 years, Victor Le Fanu brought to his office as Serjeant at Arms of the House of Commons the traditions of his military career, combined with a deep regard for democracy. He came to the Commons as Deputy Assistant Serjeant at Arms in 1963, joining a department responsible for MPs’ security and for the disciplining of those wayward Members who broke the rules.

During his tenure as Assistant Serjeant, 1976-81, the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Airey Neave, was killed by an INLA car bomb in the Commons underground car park, an atrocity that caused Le Fanu and his colleagues much distress.

He was highly regarded by MPs of all political persuasions for his efficiency, integrity, courtesy, sense of humour and kindness in adversity. They also knew that he could show a steel-like firmness when the occasion demanded it.

The former MP Tam Dalyell has recalled his own ejections from the Chamber, two of them for accusing Margaret Thatcher of lying, over her reported knowledge of the Peruvian peace proposals before the sinking of the Argentine warship General Belgrano in the Falklands conflict, and the selective leaking of a letter from the Solicitor-General, Sir Patrick Mayhew, at the time of the Westland Helicopters partnership deal, known as the Westland affair: “Of all Members, perhaps I have considerable cause to recollect Victor Le Fanu’s behaviour when he had to see me off the premises, after being thrown out by Mr Speaker.

“He made sure that I had the facilities to telephone my wife, and put me into a taxi. His manners and his humanity were a credit to the officers of the House.”

George Victor Sheridan Le Fanu was born in 1925, the son of Major-General Roland Le Fanu, DSO, MC. He was descended from a French Huguenot family which settled in Ireland. Its most celebrated member was the 19th-century Irish novelist and journalist, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu.

Victor Le Fanu was educated at Shrewsbury, which he left in 1943 to enlist in The Coldstream Guards. He fought with the 2nd Battalion as a platoon commander during the Italian campaign, and was wounded in July 1944.

He was assistant adjutant, Royal Military Academy Sand-hurst, 1949-52, and adjutant, 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, 1952-55.

Le Fanu went on to be staff captain to the Vice-Quarter-master General to the Forces, 1960-61, and GSO2 HQ London District, 1961-63, retiring from the Army as a major.

At the House of Commons he joined a team answerable to the Speaker. It also constitutes the oldest royal bodyguard in England, dating from the time of Richard I, although effective as an office only from 1415.

Today the Serjeant, the office to which he was appointed in 1982, is warranted to “attend upon Her Majesty’s person when there is no Parliament and at the time of every Parliament to attend upon the Speaker”.

He retired in 1989, having been appointed KCVO in 1987.

In retirement he was chairman of Morley College, and a trustee of the Wall Trust.

Le Fanu is survived by his wife Elizabeth, and three sons.

Sir Victor Le Fanu, KCVO, Serjeant at Arms, House of Commons, 1982-89, was born on January 24, 1925. He died on February 5, 2007, aged 82