Henry Gurney

For the educator, seeHenry Palin Gurney.

His Excellency Sir Henry Gurney KCMGKStJ
British High Commissioner in Malaya
In office 1 October 1948 – 6 October 1951
Preceded by	SirEdward Gent
Succeeded by	Field MarshalSirGerald Templer
Personal details
Born	(1898-06-27)27 June 1898 Poughill,Bude,Cornwall,England, United Kingdom
Died	6 October 1951(1951-10-06)(aged 53) Fraser's Hill,Pahang,Federation of Malaya
Manner of death	Assassination
Spouse	Lady Isabel Lowther Weir
Education	Winchester College

Sir Henry Lovell Goldsworthy GurneyKCMGKStJ(27 June 1898 – 6 October 1951) was a British colonial administrator who served in various posts throughout theBritish Empire.Gurney was killed by communist insurgents during theMalayan Emergency,while serving ashigh commissionerin theFederation of Malaya.

Career

As a boy, Gurney was educated atWinchester College.DuringWorld War I,he joined theBritish Army,and served with theKing's Royal Rifle Corpsfrom 1917 to 1920.

After a brief spell atUniversity College, Oxford,he joined theBritish Colonial Servicein 1921, and was posted toKenyaas an assistantdistrict commissioner.In 1935, after fourteen years in Kenya, he was appointedAssistant Colonial SecretarytoJamaica.After a brief stint working at the Colonial Office in London, Gurney served asChief Secretaryto the Conference of East Africa Governors from 1938 to 1944, and Colonial Secretary in theGold Coastfrom 1944 to 1946. In 1946, he was appointed Chief Secretary toPalestine,serving until the end of British rule there in 1948. While serving in Palestine, Gurney was instrumental in crafting British policy during theJewish insurgency in Palestine.

In the 1947New Year Honours,he was promoted to Knight Commander (KCMG) of theOrder 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.In 1949 he was made a Knight of theVenerable Order of Saint John.

On 1 October 1948, Gurney was appointedHigh Commissioner to Malaya.Gurney assumed his post as theMalayan Emergencywas beginning, and over the next three years he became the chief architect of British policy inMalaya.

Assassination

Main article:Assassination of Sir Henry Gurney

On 6 October 1951, Gurney was killed in an ambush by communist insurgents from theMalayan Communist Partywhile on his way to a resort at Mile 56 ½,Kuala Kubu RoadnearFraser's Hill.According to Communist leaderChin Peng,the ambush was routine, the killing by chance, and the guerrillas only learned the High Commissioner was among the dead from news reports.

Gurney's funeral took place on 8 October. He was buried inCheras War Cemeteryin Kuala Lumpur, in a ceremony that drew thousands of people.

Honours

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".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 Roadin Malacca,Seremban,Kuala Lumpur and Singapore are named after him. The town namedPekan Gurneyin Perak is also named after him. The popular beachfrontGurney Drive,inPenang,is also named after him, as well as theHenry Gurney Prisoners Schoolin Teluk Mas,Melaka.Gurney was buried atCheras War CemeteryinKuala Lumpur,Malaysia.

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.