Shenton Thomas

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Sir Thomas Shenton Whitelegge Thomas Template:Postnominals (10 October 1879 – 15 January 1962) was a British colonial administrator, best remembered as the Governor of the Straits Settlements at the time of the Japanese invasion during the Second World War.

Born in England, Thomas spent the majority of his early career in the Colonial Service in Africa, rising to become Governor of Nyasaland and of the Gold Coast. He was appointed to the Straits Settlements in 1934, serving as Governor until 1942, when he became a Japanese prisoner-of-war after the fall of Singapore. He served again as Governor of the Straits Settlements after the war, from 1945 until 1946, when the territory was broken up.[1]

Early life

Thomas Shenton Whitelegge Thomas was born on 10 October 1879, in Southwark, London to The Rev Thomas William Thomas and his wife Charlotte Susanna (Template:Née Whitelegge) Thomas.[2][3][4]

He was educated at St. John's School, Leatherhead[5] and Queens' College, Cambridge.[6] Thomas taught at Aysgarth School in Yorkshire prior to entering the Colonial Service.

Africa

In 1909, Thomas was appointed as Assistant District Commissioner, East Africa Protectorate (Nairobi, Kenya).[7][8] In 1919, he was appointed Assistant Chief Secretary, Uganda and in 1920 as Chairman of the Uganda Development Commission.[7][8]

In 1921, he was appointed Principal Assistant Secretary, Nigeria and in 1923, was appointed Deputy Chief Secretary, Nigeria.[7][8] In 1927, he was appointed Colonial Secretary, Gold Coast Colony (Ghana) before he was appointed Governor of Nyasaland in 1929. In 1932 he was appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Gold Coast Colony (Ghana).[7][8]

Malaya

In 1934, he was appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Straits Settlements and High Commissioner of the Federated Malay States.[7][8]

Singapore

Thomas was a prisoner-of-war (POW) 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 missionary Ernest Tipson.[1]

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 as a distinct crown colony), Federated Malay States and Unfederated Malay States, where the post of Governor-General of the Malayan Union was created. Shenton Way, a road in Singapore, was named after him.[9]

Personal life

His brother was Hugh Whitelegge Thomas (1887-1960), a colonial commissioner and Cambridge cricketer.[10] He married Lucy Marguerite (Daisy) Montgomery (1884-1978) daughter of James Montgomery[11] on 11 April 1912 at St Jude's Church, Kensington, London.[4]

Thomas died on 15 January 1962, at his home in London. He was 82.[1]

Legacy

Thomas is widely associated in his role as governor with the loss of Singapore and his civilian administration's apparent failures to properly assess the growing Japanese threat and make appropriate defences.[12] Singapore's capture by the Japanese, in conjunction with other events at the time such as the sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse, severely undermined British prestige and contributed to the eventual end of colonialism in the region.

During the 1950s, Shenton Way, a road in Singapore's central business district, was named after him as recognition of his decision to remain and become a prisoner of war (POW) at Changi Prison when the Japanese occupied Singapore.[9]

Gallery

Honours

See also

  • Elizabeth Choy – Singaporean educator and resistance worker during World War II

Notes

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References

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  1. ↑ a b c 'Sir Shenton Thomas', obituary, The Times, 17 January 1962, p. 14
  2. ↑ 1881 UK Census: Aged 1 of St John Villas, Park Lane, Heigham, Norfolk - RG11/1951 f.9 p.11 - Thomas Shenton Whitelegge Thomas born Southwark
  3. ↑ 1901 UK Census: Aged 21 of The Vicarage, St Barnabas Road, Cambridge - RG13/1530 f.32 p.14 - Thomas Shenton W. Thomas born London
  4. ↑ a b GRO Register of Marriages: JUN 1912 1a 348 KENSINGTON - Thomas S. W. Thomas = Lucy M. Montgomery
  5. ↑ 1891 UK Census: Pupil, aged 10, of St John's School, Leatherhead Surrey - RG12/549 f.98 p.8 - Thomas Shenton Thomas born St Bride's London
  6. ↑ Template:Acad
  7. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ 'Mr H.W.Thomas', obituary, Sutton & Epsom Advertiser, 11 February 1960, p. 7
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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External links

Government offices
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check Governor of Nyasaland
1929–1932 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check Governor of the Gold Coast
1932–1934 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Governor of Straits Settlements &
British High Commissioner in Malaya
1934–1942 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded byas Governor of the Malayan Union
Template:S-aft/check Succeeded byas Governor of Singapore

Template:Portalbar Template:Governors of Singapore

Template:Authority control

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