Sir Henry Lovell Goldsworthy GurneyKCMGKStJ (27 June 1898 – 6 October 1951) was a British colonial administrator who served in various posts throughout the British Empire. Gurney was killed by communist insurgents during the Malayan Emergency, while serving as high commissioner in the Federation of Malaya.
On 1 October 1948, Gurney was appointed High Commissioner to Malaya. Gurney assumed his post as the Malayan Emergency was beginning, and over the next three years he became the chief architect of British policy in Malaya.
On 6 October 1951, Gurney was killed in an ambush by communist insurgents from the Malayan Communist Party while on his way to a resort at Mile 56 ½, Kuala Kubu Road near Fraser's Hill.[6] According to Communist leader Chin Peng, the ambush was routine, the killing by chance, and the guerrillas only learned the High Commissioner was among the dead from news reports.[7]
Gurney's funeral took place on 8 October. He was buried in Cheras War Cemetery in Kuala Lumpur, in a ceremony that drew thousands of people.[6][8]
Honoursedit
Gurney's grave at Cheras Christian Cemetery
Malayans from all classes and nationalities, having already given him their esteem and affection, kept his memory green, and when he died on 6 October 1951 they would mourn him as a friend who "has gone home to the mercy of God".[citation needed] At that moment, his funeral was not only attended by his family members and British Officers in Malaya but also attended by the Malayans from all classes and races. Today, Gurney Road in Malacca, Seremban, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore are named after him. The town named Pekan Gurney in Perak is also named after him. The popular beachfront Gurney Drive, in Penang, is also named after him, as well as the Henry Gurney Prisoners School in Teluk Mas, Melaka. Gurney was buried at Cheras War Cemetery in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[9]
His tombstone is inscribed:
In proud and loving memory of Henry Lovell Goldsworthy Gurney K.C.M.G. High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya 1948–1951 Born 27 June 1898 Died 6 October 1951 Greater Love Hath No Man Than This That A Man Lay Down His Life for His Friends R.I.P.
^ ab. Hari Ini Dalam Sejarah (in Malay). National Archives of Malaysia. 7 October 1951. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
^Chin Peng, My Side of History, Media Masters, Singapore, 2003, pp 287–289.
^. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
October 26, 2023
henry, gurney, educator, henry, palin, gurney, henry, lovell, goldsworthy, gurney, kcmg, kstj, june, 1898, october, 1951, british, colonial, administrator, served, various, posts, throughout, british, empire, gurney, killed, communist, insurgents, during, mala. For the educator see Henry Palin Gurney Sir Henry Lovell Goldsworthy Gurney KCMG KStJ 27 June 1898 6 October 1951 was a British colonial administrator who served in various posts throughout the British Empire Gurney was killed by communist insurgents during the Malayan Emergency while serving as high commissioner in the Federation of Malaya His ExcellencySir Henry GurneyKCMG KStJBritish High Commissioner in MalayaIn office 1 October 1948 6 October 1951Preceded bySir Edward GentSucceeded byField Marshal Sir Gerald TemplerPersonal detailsBorn 1898 06 27 27 June 1898Poughill Bude Cornwall England United KingdomDied6 October 1951 1951 10 06 aged 53 Fraser s Hill Pahang Federation of MalayaManner of deathAssassinationSpouseLady Isabel Lowther WeirEducationWinchester College Contents 1 Career 2 Assassination 3 Honours 4 ReferencesCareer editAs a boy Gurney was educated at Winchester College 1 During World War I he joined the British Army and served with the King s Royal Rifle Corps from 1917 to 1920 2 After a brief spell at University College Oxford he joined the British Colonial Service in 1921 and was posted to Kenya as an assistant district commissioner In 1935 after fourteen years in Kenya he was appointed Assistant Colonial Secretary to Jamaica After a brief stint working at the Colonial Office in London Gurney served as Chief Secretary to the Conference of East Africa Governors from 1938 to 1944 and Colonial Secretary in the Gold Coast from 1944 to 1946 In 1946 he was appointed Chief Secretary to Palestine serving until the end of British rule there in 1948 While serving in Palestine Gurney was instrumental in crafting British policy during the Jewish insurgency in Palestine 3 In the 1947 New Year Honours he was promoted to Knight Commander KCMG of the Order of St Michael and St George which is the second highest rank in this order for his service in Palestine He had previously been a Companion CMG in the same order 4 In 1949 he was made a Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint John 5 On 1 October 1948 Gurney was appointed High Commissioner to Malaya Gurney assumed his post as the Malayan Emergency was beginning and over the next three years he became the chief architect of British policy in Malaya Assassination editMain article Assassination of Sir Henry Gurney On 6 October 1951 Gurney was killed in an ambush by communist insurgents from the Malayan Communist Party while on his way to a resort at Mile 56 Kuala Kubu Road near Fraser s Hill 6 According to Communist leader Chin Peng the ambush was routine the killing by chance and the guerrillas only learned the High Commissioner was among the dead from news reports 7 Gurney s funeral took place on 8 October He was buried in Cheras War Cemetery in Kuala Lumpur in a ceremony that drew thousands of people 6 8 Honours edit nbsp Gurney s grave at Cheras Christian CemeteryMalayans from all classes and nationalities having already given him their esteem and affection kept his memory green and when he died on 6 October 1951 they would mourn him as a friend who has gone home to the mercy of God citation needed At that moment his funeral was not only attended by his family members and British Officers in Malaya but also attended by the Malayans from all classes and races Today Gurney Road in Malacca Seremban Kuala Lumpur and Singapore are named after him The town named Pekan Gurney in Perak is also named after him The popular beachfront Gurney Drive in Penang is also named after him as well as the Henry Gurney Prisoners School in Teluk Mas Melaka Gurney was buried at Cheras War Cemetery in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia 9 His tombstone is inscribed In proud and loving memory of Henry Lovell Goldsworthy Gurney K C M G High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya 1948 1951 Born 27 June 1898 Died 6 October 1951 Greater Love Hath No Man Than This That A Man Lay Down His Life for His Friends R I P Government officesPreceded bySir Gerard Edward James Gent British High Commissioner in Malaya1948 1951 Succeeded bySir Gerald Walter Robert TemplerPreceded bySir John Valentine Wistar Shaw Chief Secretary of Mandatory Palestine1946 1948 Succeeded byOffice abolishedReferences edit Sir Henry Gurney Collection JISC Retrieved 4 June 2021 No 32343 The London Gazette Supplement 2 June 1921 p 4388 Grob Fitzgibbon Benjamin Imperial Endgame Britain s Dirty Wars and the End of Empire No 37835 The London Gazette Supplement 31 December 1946 pp 1 3 No 38804 The London Gazette 3 January 1950 p 60 a b Pembunuhan Sir Henry Gurney Hari Ini Dalam Sejarah in Malay National Archives of Malaysia 7 October 1951 Archived from the original on 17 November 2015 Retrieved 2 September 2015 Chin Peng My Side of History Media Masters Singapore 2003 pp 287 289 Slain British Officer Buried War History Sites Archived from the original on 24 January 2021 Retrieved 20 December 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry Gurney amp oldid 1180287245, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
