The Honourable Dato Setia
Eric Ernest Falk Pretty
DSNB CMG
Dato Pretty during his return to Brunei in 1966.
8th British Resident to Brunei
In office
1948–1951
MonarchsGeorge V
George VI
Preceded byL. H. N. Davis
Succeeded byJohn Barcroft
In office
1927–1928
Preceded byLucien Allen Arthur
Succeeded byPatrick McKerron
In office
March 1923 – 1926
Preceded byOswald Eric Venables
Succeeded byOswald Eric Venables
Personal details
Born1891
England
DiedJune 1967 (aged 75–76)
OccupationDiplomat
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch/service British Army
Years of service1918–1920
RankAdjutant
UnitJohore Volunteer Rifles

Eric Ernest Falk Pretty CMG (1891–1967) or commonly referred to as Dato Pretty, was a civil servant and resident minister who formerly held the position of British Resident to Brunei.[1]

Biography

Pretty is born in 1891, and was educated at Harrow School and Magdalen College in 1909.[2][3] He would go on to be a cadet in the Straits Settlements with Colonial Office in November 1914. Later in January 1916, he passes his final exams in Malay language. In September 1917, he became a collector of land revenue in Johore Bahru. After World War I, he became a 2nd Lieutenant and assistant Adjutant with the Johore Volunteer Rifles in May 1918.[4] Later in June 1920, he was the assistant adviser in Endau, Johore, following promotions to officer in November 1921 and assistant secretary "B" in February 1922. Two months later, he was reassigned as a private secretary to the Office of the Attorney General.[5]

From March 1923 to 1926 and 1927 to 1928, Pretty became the British Resident to Brunei,[6] only to be promoted to officer class III and reassigned as the district officer of Krian in June 1928. In December 1930, he was the commissioner of lands and mines in Trengganu, secretary to the high commissioner from July 1931 to 1937.[5] Then he became the undersecretary to Government of the Federated Malay States from 1940 to 1942. Resident commissioner in Johore in 1948.[7] From 1948 to 1951, he was appointed for the third time as the resident minister to Brunei.[6]

In 1957, he became an agent for the Brunei Government in the United Kingdom.[7] On 8 March 1966, he arrived at Berakas Airport during a month-half vacation back to the country of Brunei alongside his wife. As the time of the visit, he was 75 years old and still working with the government of Brunei. He expressed high hopes and praise to Bruneian students studying in the United Kingdom, whom he claims to be of good-natured and passionate. Additionally, he described the government in the 1920s as poor and efforts had to be carried out in small increments. He stayed in the Istana Edinburgh and had organised visits to places in the country. He had an interview with Pelita Brunei as follows:[8]

The people of this state already have good houses and the number of government servants us mostly made up of locals. In 1924, I and some local people worked on the construction of a road from Brunei (Brunei-Muara) to Tutong. But this time I cant't help but feel amazed when I pass by that road that been repaired to such an extent.

— Eric Ernest Falk Pretty, Pelita Brunei, 16 March 1966

He died in June 1967.[9] After his death, his position as representative was succeeded by Sir Dennis White, based at the 101 Grand Building, Trafalgar Square.[10]

Personal life

Pretty was married and had a daughter named Cynthia Valerie Mary Pretty (24 July 1941 – 13 November 2020).[11][12][13] His father was Herbert Pretty.[14]

Honours

Pretty was bestowed the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) by Queen Elizabeth II during the 1951 New Year Honours on 1 January. Additionally in 1962, he was awarded Order of Setia Negara Brunei (DSNB) by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, meanwhile his wife was awarded the Omar Ali Saifuddin Medal First Class (POAS).[15] British Residents in Brunei including Pretty were given the honorary title of Yang Berhormat (The Honourable).

Jalan Pretty in 2018

Namesakes

National

Foreign

References

  1. ↑ Sidhu, Jatswan S. (2009-12-22). Historical Dictionary of Brunei Darussalam. Scarecrow Press. p. 255. ISBN 978-0-8108-7078-9.
  2. ↑ Office, Great Britain Colonial (1949). The Colonial Office List. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 525.
  3. ↑ "Eligible for conscription but no declared war service in Magdalen Record 1922 — Magdalen War Memorial". slowdusk.magd.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  4. ↑ Office, Great Britain Colonial (1920). The Colonial Office List for ... Harrison. p. 721.
  5. 1 2 Colonial Office List ...: Comprising Historical and Statistical Information Respecting the Colonial Dependencies of Great Britain. Waterlow & Sons Limited. 1932. pp. 752–753.
  6. 1 2 Branch, Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland Malaysian (1994). Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. p. 87.
  7. 1 2 Museum, Sarawak (1995). The Sarawak Museum Journal. Sarawak Museum. p. 105.
  8. ↑ "Dato Pretty Melawat Brunei" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 1966-03-16. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  9. ↑ "Eric Ernest Falk Pretty - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  10. ↑ "Dato White Ganti Tempat Dato Pretty Sa-bagai Wakil Kerajaan Di-London" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 1967-07-26. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  11. ↑ Rhodes, Michael (2020-11-14). "Peerage News: Cynthia, Baroness Garvagh 1941-2020". Peerage News. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  12. ↑ Cokayne, George Edward (1998). The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom: Addenda and Corrigenda. St. Catherine Press, Limited. ISBN 978-0-7509-0154-3.
  13. ↑ Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage. Debrett's Peerage Limited. 2011. p. 619. ISBN 978-1-870520-73-7.
  14. ↑ Salmon, Edward (1924). Debrett's British Empire Book. Dean & Son. p. 284.
  15. 1 2 "Sir Dennis White Ka-England" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 1962-11-21. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  16. ↑ Publications, Europa (2003). The Europa World Year Book 2003. Taylor & Francis. p. 874. ISBN 978-1-85743-227-5.
  17. ↑ Page, Kogan (2003). Asia and Pacific Review 2003/04: The Economic and Business Report. Kogan Page Publishers. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-7494-4063-3.
  18. ↑ Cokayne, George Edward (1998). The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom: Addenda and Corrigenda. St. Catherine Press, Limited. p. 336. ISBN 978-0-7509-0154-3.
  19. ↑ Brunei Government Gazette (PDF). Brunei History Centre. 1951-02-01. pp. 10, 14.
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