Edward Gent

Sir Gerard Edward James Gent
High Commissioner for Malaya
In office 1 February 1948 – 4 July 1948
Preceded by	none, post created
Succeeded by	Sir Henry Gurney
Governor of the Malayan Union
In office 1 April 1946 – 30 January 1948
Preceded by	none, post created
Succeeded by	none, post abolished
Personal details
Born	1895 Kingston, Surrey, England
Died	4 July 1948 Ruislip, England
Spouse(s)	Guendolen Mary Wyeth
Religion	Christian

Sir Gerard Edward James Gent KCMG DSO OBE MC was the first appointed Governor of the Malayan Union in 1946.

Life

Sir Edward was born in 1895 was the son of John Gent (1844–1927) and Harriet Frankland Randall. His original name was Gerard Edward James Gent, but he changed it to Edward James Gent, the reasons for which were unknown. Gent was educated at The King's School, Canterbury, and Trinity College, Oxford.

Gent married Guendolen Mary Wyeth in 1923, and they had four children, Marcus James Gent, Gerard Nicholas Gent, Ann Monica Gent and Janice Mary Gent.

Military career

Gent served with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in the First World War in Flanders and Italy. He was wounded twice and was awarded the Military Cross in 1917 and the Distinguished Service Order in 1919.

Diplomatic career

He was the first appointed Governor of the Malayan Union, Sir Edward also became the first Colonial Administrator to discuss openly to form a better government for the future of Malaya, where later the Federation of Malaya was established. He was an instrumental figure in the formation of the Malayan Union which was established on 1 April 1946 in Kuala Lumpur, and the first Governor of the Malayan Union.

When Malaysia achieved independence (Merdeka) from the United Kingdom, his widow Lady Gent, together with Lady Gurney, were invited to the ceremony as guests of honour.

Malayan Emergency

Signature of the Federation of Malaya Agreement, 1948, and the State Agreements, at King's House, Kuala Lumpur, on Wednesday 21st January, 1948.

Gent remained as the High Commissioner for Malaya when the Malayan Union was dissolved and replaced by the Federation of Malaya. But he did not remain at his post for long. He was sacked by the Colonial Office and recalled to London on June 29 1948 at the onset of the Malayan Emergency after Malcolm MacDonald, the British Commissioner-General for Southeast Asia, lobbied Whitehall. Gent disbelieved the communists were of any threat and refused to act. When the communists first launched its attacks on Malayan rubber estates, Gent on June 15 declared emergency in parts of Perak and Johor only, much to the rubber planters' disappointment whom demanded for a nationwide declaration. Gent was only forced to widen the declaration to the whole of Malaya the next day when the Straits Times wrote "Govern or Get Out" on its front page and thus galvanising public sentiment against him.

Death

Main article: Northwood mid-air collision

Gent was returning to the United Kingdom in an Avro York transport aircraft of the Royal Air Force when it collided with a Douglas DC-6 of Scandinavian Airlines System near Northwood, north London, a week after he was recalled to London.

Preceded by none	Governor of the Malayan Union 1946–1948	Succeeded by none
Preceded by Sir Shenton Whitelegge Thomas	British High Commissioner in Malaya 1948 –1948	Succeeded by Sir Henry Gurney

References

• Gent Family History