Claude Fenner

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Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Sir
Claude Harry Fenner
PMN KBE CMG QPM CPM
1st Inspector-General of Police (Malaysia)
In office
18 September 1958 – 28 February 1966
MonarchAbdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan
Hisamuddin of Selangor
Putra of Perlis
Ismail Nasiruddin of Terengganu
Prime MinisterTunku Abdul Rahman
Preceded byHimself as Commissioner of Police, Director of Police Affairs (1958 - 1963)
Succeeded byMohamed Salleh Ismael
Personal details
Born(1916-01-16)16 January 1916
Fulham, London, England
Died15 May 1978(1978-05-15) (aged 62)
Kenny Hill, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Spouse(s)
Puan Sri Lady Joan Margaret Fenner of Queensland
​
​
(m. 1941; died 1978)​
Children1
Alma materHighgate School

Tan Sri Sir Claude Harry Fenner KBE CMG (16 January 1916 − 15 May 1978) was the first Inspector-General of Police of Malaysia, serving from 18 September 1958 to 28 February 1966.[1]

Background[]

Fenner was born on 16 January 1916 in Fulham, United Kingdom and died on 15 May 1978 at Kenny Hill, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He was the son of Harry Fenner and Daisy Elizabeth Arnold. He was educated at Highgate School.[1]

Police and Military career[]

He joined the Federated Malay States as a Police Cadet in 1936. After the Japanese invasion of Malaya he moved to Singapore leaving two days before it fell to the Japanese in 1942. He eventually made his way from Indonesia to Australia. That year he joined the Nigerian Police Force.[1]

He joined the British Army and was based in India. There he volunteered to fight the Japanese in Malaya as a member of Force 136.[1] Through 1943 he unsuccessfully attempted to land by submarine in Japanese Malaya under Operation Gustavus I. On his final attempt in November 1943 he met Chin Peng who advised him not to come at that time.[2][3] He was parachuted into Malaya on a RAF 356 Squadron Liberator Snake[4] on 23 August 1945, which then crashed in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan.[5][6] By war's end he was a Lieutenant Colonel in charge of a guerrilla unit.

He continued to serve as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the British Military Administration during the disbandment of the Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army in 1945.

Rejoining the Colonial Police Force, he was awarded the Colonial Police Medal in 1950 and the Queen's Police Medal in 1957. He became Johor Police Chief in 1955. With the granting of independence, he became Commissioner of Police, Director of Police Affairs, and in 1963 Inspector-General of Police, a position he retained during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation.[1] He was seconded to the Prime Minister's Office as deputy secretary for security and intelligence in 1958. In 1966 he was succeeded as Inspector-General of Police by Mohamed Salleh Ismael.[1]

Retirement[]

Fenner remained resident in Malaysia for the remainder of his life. He was special representative of the rubber growers association after his retirement from the Police. He was awarded honours by Malaysia in 1961, CMG in 1963, and KBE on 1965. He married Joan Margaret Fenner in 1941 and they had one daughter.[1]

Honours[]

Malaya[]

  •  Malaya :
    • MY Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara (Defender of the Realm)- PMN.svg Honorary Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (P.M.N.(K)) - Tan Sri (1961)[7]
  •  Malaysia
    • Malaysian Commemorative Medal ribbon.gif Reception of Malaysian Commemorative Medal (Gold) (P.P.M.) (1965)

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Obituary, The Times, London, 19 June 1978
  2. ^ Operations Gustavus completed, Operations Most Secret: SOE: The Malayan Theatre, Ian Trenowden, Mark Trenowden, BookBaby, 2012, ISBN 1624880991, 9781624880995
  3. ^ Dialogues with Chin Peng: New Light on the Malayan Communist Party, C C Chin, Karl Hack, NUS Press, 2004, pages 85-86, ISBN 9971692872, 9789971692872
  4. ^ Note; the word 'Snake' was painted on the sides of RAF aircraft in the UK destined to be sent to the Far East and ultimately intended for Tiger Force. It is possible here that this was mistaken for an individual aircraft name applied by the crew. The 'snake' designation was intended to ensure aircraft sent to the region for Tiger Force would not be appropriated by other RAF units along the way.
  5. ^ Forgotten air war in Malaya, Goh K Loon, retrieved 23 March 2018
  6. ^ https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/KL654.html
  7. ^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran Bintang Dan Pingat Tahun 1961" (PDF).
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