Shenton Thomas
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Shenton Whitelegge Thomas, GCMG, GCStJ (known as Sir Shenton Thomas) was the last Governor of the Straits Settlements, 1934–1942 during which time World War II
began. He died at age 82
Shenton Thomas was born on 10 October 1879, in Southwark
, London
to the Rev Thomas William Thomas and his wife Charlotte Susanna (Susie) née Whitelegge. He was educated at St. John's School, Leatherhead
and Queens' College, Cambridge
. Before he went to Malaya as the colonial administrator, Thomas was the Governor of Nyasaland
from 1929 to 1932. He was made a Knight Commander of St Michael and St George in 1930.
Thomas was a prisoner-of-war during the Japanese occupation of Singapore
, 15 February 1942 - 15 August 1945, having decided to stay in Singapore
during the war. He was imprisoned in Cell 24 of Changi Prison
along with Ernest Tipson
. Thomas established the King George V Park in Malaya
(later renamed the National Park of Malaysia). Today, Shenton Way
, located in Singapore
's business district, is named after him. After the war, Thomas remained as the 11th British High Commissioner in Malaya (9 November 1934 - 1 April 1946), until the Malayan Union
was established and succeeded the British administration in the Straits Settlements
(except for Singapore, which was created a separate colony), Federated Malay States
and Unfederated Malay States
, where the post of Governor-General of the Malayan Union
was created.
Thomas died on 15 January 1962, at his home in London
.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
began. He died at age 82
Shenton Thomas was born on 10 October 1879, in Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to the Rev Thomas William Thomas and his wife Charlotte Susanna (Susie) née Whitelegge. He was educated at St. John's School, Leatherhead
St. John's School, Leatherhead
St. John's School, Leatherhead is a public school in Surrey, England. It has about 420 male pupils and 60 female pupils, and from 2010 it will be fully co-educational....
and Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
. Before he went to Malaya as the colonial administrator, Thomas was the Governor of Nyasaland
Colonial Heads of Malawi (Nyasaland)
List of Colonial Heads of Malawi For continuation after independence, see: List of heads of state of Malawi...
from 1929 to 1932. He was made a Knight Commander of St Michael and St George in 1930.
Thomas was a prisoner-of-war during the Japanese occupation of Singapore
Japanese Occupation of Singapore
The Japanese occupation of Singapore in World War II occurred between about 1942 and 1945 after the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942. Military forces of the Empire of Japan occupied Singapore after defeating the combined Australian, British, Indian and Malayan garrison in the Battle of Singapore...
, 15 February 1942 - 15 August 1945, having decided to stay in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
during the war. He was imprisoned in Cell 24 of Changi Prison
Changi Prison
Changi Prison is a prison located in Changi in the eastern part of Singapore.-First prison and POW camp:...
along with Ernest Tipson
Ernest Tipson
Ernest Tipson was a Brethren missionary and linguist who compiled a dictionary of Cantonese.Born into a large Brethren family in Enfield, England, Tipson began his working life, at the age of 14, as an architect's clerk and typist, but was called to missionary service in the early 1900s. His first...
. Thomas established the King George V Park in Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
(later renamed the National Park of Malaysia). Today, Shenton Way
Shenton Way
Shenton Way is a major trunk road in Singapore's central business district, most known for the commercial skyscrapers flanking both sides of the road. The Road is a one way street which starts at the junction of Cross Street, Central Boulevard and Raffles Quay and ends at Keppel Road...
, located in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
's business district, is named after him. After the war, Thomas remained as the 11th British High Commissioner in Malaya (9 November 1934 - 1 April 1946), until the Malayan Union
Malayan Union
The Malayan Union was a federation of the Malay states and the Straits Settlements of Penang and Malacca. It was the successor to British Malaya and was conceived to unify the Malay Peninsula under a single government so as to simplify administration. The Malayan Union later became the independent...
was established and succeeded the British administration in the Straits Settlements
Straits Settlements
The Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia.Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under direct British control as a crown colony on 1 April 1867...
(except for Singapore, which was created a separate colony), Federated Malay States
Federated Malay States
The Federated Malay States was a federation of four protected states in the Malay Peninsula—Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang—established by the British government in 1895, which lasted until 1946, when they, together with the Straits Settlements and the Unfederated Malay...
and Unfederated Malay States
Unfederated Malay States
The term Unfederated Malay States was the collective name given to five British protected states in the Malay peninsula in the first half of the twentieth century. These states were Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, and Terengganu...
, where the post of Governor-General of the Malayan Union
Edward Gent
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 and Harriet Frankland Randall. His real name is Gerard Edward James Gent, but he changed it to Edward James Gent, the reasons...
was created.
Thomas died on 15 January 1962, at his home in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Family
He married Lucy Marguerite (Daisy) Montgomery on 11 April 1912 at St Jude's Church, Kensington, London, with issue:- Mary Bridget Thomas (1914 - 1998), born in NairobiNairobiNairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, KenyaKenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, who married 1st Lt-Col Jack Leslie Harry Lotinga and married 2nd in 1965 Nicholas Eliot, 9th Earl of St GermansNicholas Eliot, 9th Earl of St GermansNicholas Richard Michael Eliot, 9th Earl of St Germans was born 26 January 1914 in Marylebone, London and died on 11 March 1988 in Tangier, Morocco. This parents were Montague Charles Eliot, 8th Earl of St Germans and Helen Agnes née Post....
.