Bertram Willes Dayrell Brooke
Encyclopedia
Captain Bertram Willes Dayrell Brooke, Tuan Muda of Sarawak (b. 8 August 1876 at Kuching
- 15 September 1965, Weybridge
, Surrey
) was a member of the family of White Rajahs who ruled Sarawak
for a hundred years. He was the son of Charles, the second of these raja
hs, and brother to Vyner of Sarawak, the third and final ruler of that family. He was sometime heir presumptive
to his brother, a claim he relinquished in favour of his son. He held the title of "Tuan Muda" (literally "Little Lord") and the style of His Highness.
Brooke was educated at Winchester College
and at Trinity College, Cambridge
. He was president of the University Boat Club
and rowed in the Boat Race in 1900 and 1901. He went on to serve in the First World War and act as Special Commissioner from Sarawak
to the UK.
He married Gladys Milton Palmer (8 January 1884 - 12 June 1952) on 28 June 1904. She was the only child of Sir Walter Palmer, 1st Baronet
MP
and his wife, Jean, Lady Palmer, and as wife of the Tuan Muda took the title of "Dayang Muda" and the style of "Her Highness". In 1922 she formed a film company which produced just one film. She converted to Islam
in Paris
in 1939, taking the name Khair un-nisa binti 'Abdu'llah.
They had one son, Anthony
, sometime Rajah Muda of Sarawak, and two daughters.
Brooke is buried at Sheepstor
Churchyard, Devon
, along with the White Rajahs.
Kuching
Kuching , officially the City of Kuching, and formerly the City of Sarawak, is the capital and most populous city of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is the largest city on the island of Borneo, and the fourth largest city in Malaysia....
- 15 September 1965, Weybridge
Weybridge
Weybridge is a town in the Elmbridge district of Surrey in South East England. It is bounded to the north by the River Thames at the mouth of the River Wey, from which it gets its name...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
) was a member of the family of White Rajahs who ruled Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
for a hundred years. He was the son of Charles, the second of these raja
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
hs, and brother to Vyner of Sarawak, the third and final ruler of that family. He was sometime heir presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
to his brother, a claim he relinquished in favour of his son. He held the title of "Tuan Muda" (literally "Little Lord") and the style of His Highness.
Brooke was educated at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. He was president of the University Boat Club
Cambridge University Boat Club
The Cambridge University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Cambridge, England, located on the River Cam at Cambridge, although training primarily takes place on the River Great Ouse at Ely. The club was founded in 1828...
and rowed in the Boat Race in 1900 and 1901. He went on to serve in the First World War and act as Special Commissioner from Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
to the UK.
He married Gladys Milton Palmer (8 January 1884 - 12 June 1952) on 28 June 1904. She was the only child of Sir Walter Palmer, 1st Baronet
Sir Walter Palmer, 1st Baronet
Sir Walter Palmer, 1st Baronet was a biscuit manufacturer and a Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1900 to 1906....
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
and his wife, Jean, Lady Palmer, and as wife of the Tuan Muda took the title of "Dayang Muda" and the style of "Her Highness". In 1922 she formed a film company which produced just one film. She converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1939, taking the name Khair un-nisa binti 'Abdu'llah.
They had one son, Anthony
Anthony Walter Dayrell Brooke
Anthony Walter Dayrell Brooke, , was appointed His Highness the Rajah Muda of Sarawak on 25 August 1937, and succeeded to the title of Rajah in 1963 on the death of his uncle, Rajah Vyner of Sarawak the third and last of the ruling White Rajahs.Brooke was the son of Bertram,...
, sometime Rajah Muda of Sarawak, and two daughters.
Brooke is buried at Sheepstor
Sheepstor
Sheepstor is a village and civil parish on the western side of Dartmoor in the county of Devon, England. In 2001 its population was 53, down from 95 in 1901. For administrative purposes the parish is grouped with the parishes of Meavy and Walkhampton to form Burrator Parish Council, and for...
Churchyard, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, along with the White Rajahs.