John Orman Gilbert

{{Short description|British resident minister}} {{similar names|John Gilbert (disambiguation){{!}}John Gilbert}} {{use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Honourable Major | name = John Gilbert | native_name =  | native_name_lang =  | honorific_suffix = CMG | image = John Orman Gilbert in 1958.jpg | image_upright = | alt = | caption = John Gilbert in 1958 | order = | office1 = 18th British Resident to Brunei | term_start1 = June 1953 | term_end1 = July 1958 | monarch1 = Elizabeth II | predecessor1 = John Coleraine Hanbury | successor1 = Dennis White | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1907|10|21}} | birth_place = London, England | death_date = 1995 (aged 88–89) | death_place = | occupation = Diplomat | children = Jacqueline Clare Gilbert, Christopher John Gilbert | allegiance = {{Flag|United Kingdom}} | branch = {{army|United Kingdom}} | service_years = 1942–1946 | rank = Major | battles = World War II }}

Major '''John Orman Gilbert''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|CMG||size=100%}} (21 October 1907 – 1995), sometimes referred to as '''Tuan J.O. Gilbert''',<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=15 March 1958 |title=Resident Gilbert Akan Bersara |pages=6 |work=Pelita Brunei |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/1958/15%20MAC%201958E.pdf}}</ref> was a resident minister and formerly the British Resident to Brunei.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Yunos |first=Rozan |date=2009-01-01 |title=THE BRITISH RESIDENTS OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM |url=https://www.academia.edu/35599264 |journal=The Brunei Times}}</ref>

== Biography == Gilbert born in London, England on 21 October 1907,<ref name=":0" /> and was educated at Felsted and Pembroke College. In 1928, he began serving in Sarawak and then became a district officer in 1938, and would later signed up for military service from 1942 until 1946, during the World War II.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Office |first=Great Britain Colonial |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DvHjORKRVMoC&dq=Sir+John+Orman+Gilbert&pg=PA500 |title=The Colonial Office List, Comprising Historical and Statistical Information Respecting the Colonial Empire, List of Officers Serving in the Colonies, Etc |date=1950 |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office |language=en}}</ref> Although some records listed him as serving a year earlier in June 1953.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 March 1957 |title=Ruangan So'al Jawab |pages=6 |work=Pelita Brunei |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/1957/15%20mac%201957.pdf}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Since 1954, he held the position of British Resident to Brunei.<ref name="Henige1970">{{cite book |last=Henige |first=David P. |url=https://archive.org/details/colonialgovernor0000heni |title=Colonial Governors |year=1970 |page=[https://archive.org/details/colonialgovernor0000heni/page/103 103] |isbn=9780299054403 |url-access=registration}}</ref> On 20 October 1955, he passed the No.S66 Chinese Marriages Enactment, The Chinese Marriages (Fees) Regulations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 October 1955 |title=No. S 66-Cl-IINESE MARRIAGES ENACTMENT, 1955 |pages=286 |work=Attorney General's Chambers |url=https://www.agc.gov.bn/AGC%20Images/LAWS/Gazette_PDF/1955/S066.pdf}}</ref> From 18 December 1955 until 11 January 1956, Eric Raymond Bevington served as acting British Resident while Gilbert was on leave.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Negara Brunei Darussalam: obituaries 2004. - Free Online Library |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Negara+Brunei+Darussalam:+obituaries+2004.-a0134382050 |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=www.thefreelibrary.com}}</ref> Once again in June 1956, Dennis White became the acting Resident to Brunei during Gilbert's vacation back to the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 June 1956 |title=British Resident Brunei Yang Baru |pages=2 |work=Pelita Brunei |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/1956/16%20jun%201956.pdf}}</ref>

In January 1957, Gilbert had to be flown to Seria twice in order assist the Brunei Police Force in diffusing the ongoing strike carried out by British Malayan Petroleum (BSP) Chinese workers imported from Hong Kong. The strike began after a fight occurred between the local Malays and the Chinese imports, which claimed the life of one Chinese worker.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 January 1957 |title=Perkelahian Melayu-China Di-Seia Orang Ramai Di-Ingatkan: Tenant Dan Menjalankan Kewajipan Masing2 |pages=5 |work=Pelita Brunei |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/1957/16%20JANUARI%201957E.pdf}}</ref> During a discussion together with the Brunei Legislative Council, he affirmed that Gadong was exclusively for the Kampong Ayer residents, whom like to relocate to a new area. Additionally, similar projects would also be carried out if the relocation was successful.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 July 1957 |title=Rancangan Besar2an Di-Persetujui |pages=2 |work=Pelita Brunei |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/1957/1%20julai%201957-%20(1).pdf}}</ref> He attended the opening ceremony of the country's first Automatic Telephone Office on 5 October 1957.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 October 1957 |title=Pembuka'an Resmi Pejabat Telephone Automatic Di-Bandar Brunei |pages=4 |work=Pelita Brunei |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/1957/15%20OKTOBER%201957E.pdf}}</ref>

On 15 February 1958, he gifted three books to the public, which were; Skin and Bones, Storm and Echo and The Foolish Gentlewomen, which was well received.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 February 1958 |title=Terima Kaseh Mem Gilbert |pages=6 |work=Pelita Brunei |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/1958/15%20FEBRUARI%201958E.pdf}}</ref> Later on 6 April, John Gilbert and Jaya Rajid located the body of the murderer Peter Govilon. He had committed suicide in his bedroom after a killing spree that claimed the life of 6 victims at Kampong Padang Baru.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 April 1958 |title=Kejadian Yang Hebat Menyebabkan Enam Hadi Dan Satu Chedera |pages=4 |work=Pelita Brunei |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/1958/15%20april%201958.pdf}}</ref> Gilbert would be succeeded by Dennis White later that year, and thus he gave a farewell speech to the people of Brunei in hopes of returning to the country in the future. The speech was made at a farewell banquet for him and his family, sponsored by the Government of Brunei, which took place on 9 July, at the Brunei Sport Club in Brunei Town.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=15 July 1958 |title=Tuan Gilbert Berharap Akan Kembali Membaharui Persahabatan |pages=1 |work=Pelita Brunei |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/1958/15%20julai%201958.pdf}}</ref>

Gilbert died in South Africa in 1995.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pqnqPdVNFrgC&q=John+Orman+Gilbert |title=Who was who: 1897-2000 |date=2002 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |isbn=978-0-7136-6125-5 |pages=313 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sidhu |first=Jatswan S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bry0sOwstIMC&dq=John+Orman+Gilbert+1995&pg=PA256 |title=Historical Dictionary of Brunei Darussalam |date=2009-12-22 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-7078-9 |pages=256 |language=en}}</ref>

== Honours == Gilbert was bestowed the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) by Queen Elizabeth II during the 1958 New Year Honours on 12 July.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 July 1958 |title=Istiadat Penyampaikan Pingat |pages=2 |work=Pelita Brunei |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/1958/15%20julai%201958.pdf}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> In 1963, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III awarded him the Omar Ali Saifuddin Medal (POAS).<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=1 October 1956 |title=Pingat Omar Ali Saifuddin |pages=5 |work=Pelita Brunei |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/1956/1%20oktober%201956%20(3).pdf}}</ref> British Residents in Brunei including John Gilbert were given the honorary title of '''Yang Berhormat''' (The Honourable).<ref name=":3" />

=== National ===

* 50x50px Order of St Michael and St George Companion (CMG) – (12 July 1958)<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mK4KawdOUDMC&q=John+Orman+Gilbert |title=Who's who |date=1968 |publisher=A. & C. Black |pages=1150 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Foreign ===

* {{Flag|Brunei}}: ** 50x50px Omar Ali Saifuddin Medal (POAS) – (1953)<ref name=":2" />

== References == {{Reflist|40em}}

{{s-start}} {{s-dip}} {{s-bef | before = John Coleraine Hanbury }} {{s-ttl | title = British Resident to Brunei | years = June 1959 – July 1963 }} {{s-aft | after = Dennis White }} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilbert, John}} Category:1907 births Category:1995 deaths Category:Alumni of Pembroke College, Oxford Category:Administrators in British Brunei Category:Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Category:People educated at Felsted School

John Orman Gilbert

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