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Name: MONTGOMERY, Harold Robert CMG
Nee: elder brother of Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, bro of Brian Frederick Montgomery
Birth Date: 8 May 1884 Kennington, London
Death Date: 17 May 1958 Kiambu
First Date: 1907
Last Date: 1958
Profession: Chief Native Commissioner, Kenya 1936-38
Area: Kiambu, 1922 Kakamega, Kisumu, 1915 Kitui
Married: 1. In Kenya 10 Nov 1926 Ursula Johnson b. 1892 San Fransisco, d. 6 Oct 1937 Hampstead (prev. m. to Neville Montgomery) 2. In Nairobi 15 Oct 1941 Mrs Evaline Elizabeth Montague Galton-Fenzi née Sandy b. 13 May 1894 Sydney, Australia, d. 2 Aug 1976 Nairobi (widow of Lionel S. D. C. Galton-Fenzi of Kiambu)
Children: Henry Gardner (11 Apr 1931- 2002)
Book Reference: Golf, Who's Who, Debrett, KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Mombasa, Hut, Colonial, Bur, EA & Rhodesia, Red 22, Kiambu Scrapbook, Dominion, Burke, Barnes, Leader14, Red Book 1912, Red 19
School: King's School Canterbury
General Information:
Before he joined the Administration, hit golf balls around the Naivasha boma with Mr Bagge, who was PC, Naivasha. Started the Officials v Settlers Golf Match in 1938 with C.N. Day.
Debrett - served in S. African Constabulary 1902-7; appointed Assist. Dist. Commr., EA Protectorate 1908, Dist. Commr. thereof 1914, Acting Senior Commr, Kenya 1926, Senior Commr. 1929, First Provincial Commr. 1932, and Ch. Native Commr. 1934; was an unofficial MLC 1938-44
KAD 1922 - District and Resident Commissioner and Resident Magistrate, Kakamega.
Mombasa - President, Mombasa Sports Club in 1930
EA & Rhodesia - 22/5/58 - Obituary - Mr Harold Robert Montgomery, CMG, an elder brother of Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery, died at Kiambu, Kenya, on Saturday, aged 74. The eldest son of a former bishop of Tasmania, he was educated at King's School, Canterbury. From 1902-1907 he served in the South African Constabulary, and then went to the East Africa Protectorate (now Kenya) as an assistant district commissioner. In 1914 he became a district commissioner, and a provincial commissioner in 1928.
When he retired in 1937 he had been Chief Native Commissioner for three years; many Kenyans with close knowledge of his work at the time considered "Monty" one of the best CNC's the country had ever had. He had good judgement and great courage, and he supported his subordinates through thick and thin. During the last war he was Deputy Director of Manpower in Kenya. He sat in the Legislative Council for many years, latterly as a nominated member representing African interests. He had been chairman of the Transport Licensing Board and of the Forestry Boundary Commission.
He married, first, Ursula Johnson, who died in 1937 and by whom he had one son (who is now working on films and television in Hollywood). In 1941 he married Betty Galton-Fenzi.
Kiambu Scrapbook - came to live in Kiambu on his retirement as Chief Native Commissioner.
Dominion - 1930 - Nominated Official member of Legco
Dominion - Senior Provincial Commissioner, 2nd Class - 1930
Barnes - St. Paul's Church, Kiambu Cemetery - Harold Robert Montgomery, 8th May 1884 - 17th May 1958
Red Book 1912 - H.R. Montgomery - Kisumu - Kisumu Province - Asst. DC at Kericho
Nairobi Club - President 1954
Obituary - East African Standard - 19 May 1958, p.5 (includes photo)
Gazette - 12/11/1919 - Register of Voters - Lake Area - Harold Robert Montgomery - Government Official - Kisumu
Gazette - Voters List 1936 - Nairobi South - Harold Robert Montgomery, The Secretariat, Nbi and Ursula Montgomery, c/o The Secretariat, Nbi
Gazette 22 July 1958 probate required by Evaline Bessie Montague Montgomery
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