Captain Peter Gautrey (17 September 1918 – 7 February 2014), sometimes referred to as Dato Utama Peter Gauntrey,[1] was a diplomat and formerly the British High Commissioner to Brunei, Swaziland and Guyana.
Peter Gautrey | |
|---|---|
 Gautrey inspecting the Brunei honour guard for the Queen's Birthday in 1972 | |
| 4th British High Commissioner to Guyana | |
| In office March 1975 – 1978 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | William Bates |
| Succeeded by | Philip Mallet |
| 6th British High Commissioner to Brunei | |
| In office 12 January 1972 – 14 January 1975 | |
| Preceded by | Arthur Adair |
| Succeeded by | James Davidson |
| British High Commissioner to Swaziland | |
| In office 2 September 1968 – January 1972 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Eric Tocq |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 September 1918 Portsmouth, Hampshire, England |
| Died | 7 February 2014 (aged 95) |
| Occupation | Military officer and diplomat |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1946 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Royal Horse Artillery |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Early life
editGautrey was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire and educated at Abbotsholme School from 1931 to 1935.[2] On 18 March 1936, he began work as a clerical officer in the Home Office and later Executive officer on 1 July 1942. Amid the outbreak of the Second World War, he enlisted into the XII Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) on 20 October 1939. He was commissioned on 10 May 1941 and later promoted to the rank of Captain in 1945. He served in India and Burma from April 1942 to October 1945. On 30 April 1946, he was released from service.[3][4]
On 1 September 1947, he became a Higher Executive Officer, Assistant Principal at the Commonwealth Relations Office on 19 January 1948, Private Secretary to Permanent Under-Secretary of State from 26 September to 31 December 1948, became a Principal on 1 January 1949, First Secretary at United Kingdom Embassy in Dublin from October 1950 to April 1953, Delhi from September 1955 to September 1957, member of United Kingdom Delegation to UNESCO in 1956, and Assistant secretary on 1 May 1961.[3] That same year, he began work in the West Africa Department of the Commonwealth Office, and as the Counsellor within the British High Commission in India until March 1963.[1] He would then be promoted to Deputy High Commissioner of that same place until 1965. He became an Inspector from 1965 to 1968.[5][4]
Diplomatic career
editGautrey's diplomatic career began after being appointed as the High Commissioner to Swaziland from 2 September 1968 to 1971.[6][7] On 12 January 1972,[8] he was appointed as the high commissioner in Brunei in which he will hold until 1975.[9] Him together with his wife arrived at Berakas Airport at 16:40 on 17 January, and were welcomed by Isa Ibrahim.[10] On 14 January 1974, he returned to Brunei after going on a vacation, with Deputy High Commissioner J.W. Moffatt taking over.[11] On 16 January 1975, a celebration was held at Istana Darul Hana in conjunction to the completion of his three years service to Brunei. He departed Brunei afterwards on that same day. His successor, James Alfred Davidson arrived at Berakas Airport two days later.[12] Lastly, he would be the high commissioner in Guyana from March 1975 to 1978.[12][13]
Death
editGautrey passed away on 7 February 2014.[7]
Honours
editPeter Gauntrey was given the title of Yang Terutama (His Excellency) Dato Laila Utama by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.[1] He would go on to earn the following awards;[14]
National
edit
Order of St Michael and St George Companion (CMG; 1972)
Order of the British Empire Member (CVO; 1961)
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Foreign
edit
Brunei:
Family Order of Laila Utama (DK; 1972) – Dato Laila Utama
References
edit- ^ a b c "Dato Utama Peter Gautrey" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 15 January 1975. p. 8.
- ^ Relations, Great Britain Office of Commonwealth (1964). The Commonwealth Relations Office Year Book. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 302.
- ^ a b Relations, Great Britain Office of Commonwealth (1964). The Commonwealth Relations Office Year Book. H.M. Stationery Office. pp. 502–503.
- ^ a b Relations, Great Britain Office of Commonwealth (1952). The Commonwealth Relations Office List. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 246.
- ^ "British Diplomats Directory: Part 1 of 4 by FCDO Historians – Issuu". issuu.com. p. 191. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- ^ Office, Great Britain Diplomatic Service Administration (1971). The Diplomatic Service List. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 150.
- ^ a b Sidhu, Jatswan S. (22 December 2009). Historical Dictionary of Brunei Darussalam. Scarecrow Press. p. 257. ISBN 978-0-8108-7078-9.
- ^ Office, Great Britain Diplomatic Service Administration (1975). The Diplomatic Service List. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 152. ISBN 978-0-11-591636-6.
- ^ "P'jaya Tinggi British Di-Brunei Yang Baru Tiba" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 19 January 1972. p. 1.
- ^ "P'Jaya Tinggi British Di-Brunei Yang Baru Tiba" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 19 January 1972. p. 1.
- ^ "Pulang Sa-telah Berchuti" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 16 January 1974. p. 1.
- ^ a b "Penghargaan D.Y.M.M.Terhadap Perkhidmatan Dato Gautrey" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 22 January 1975. pp. 1, 8.
- ^ "GAUTREY, Peter". Who's Who 2009. A & C Black. 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
- ^ Horton, A. V. M. (1 January 2014). "Negara Brunei Darussalam: obituary 2014". Borneo Research Bulletin. 45: 29–46.