In January 1934, Douglas James Jardine arrived in North Borneo to begin his tenure as Governor.
Saturday, 23rd FebruaryHis Excellency and Mrs. Jardine entertained at dinner-party at Government Cottage in honour of the President. The guests included:
- The Honourable Mr. C. D. Martyn and Mrs. Martyn
- The Honourable Mr. Goh Kim Swee
- Mr. E. Bateson
- Mr. and Mrs. J. Beatty
- Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Fenton
- Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Baker
- Mr. P. W. Bidmead
- The Rev. S. M. Collier
The snippet mentions a dinner party "in honour of the President."
- The President: This refers to Major-General Sir Neill Malcolm, who served as the President of the British North Borneo Chartered Company from 1926 to 1946.
- Context: Sir Neill Malcolm made a high-profile tour of the territory in early 1935. Governor Douglas James Jardine and his wife (Mrs. Jardine) hosted this event at Government Cottage (likely a secondary residence or a hill station retreat, as the main palace was the Istana in Sandakan).
This dinner was part of the 1935 Presidential Tour. Major-General Sir Neill Malcolm, the President of the Chartered Company, was visiting to assess the colony’s recovery after the Great Depression.
| Guest Name | Profile / Role in 1935 |
| The Hon. Mr. C. D. Martyn | Cecil Desmond Martyn; a senior official and member of the Legislative Council. He served as Resident of various districts including the West Coast. |
| The Hon. Mr. Goh Kim Swee | A highly influential Chinese leader and member of the Legislative Council. He was a prominent merchant and philanthropist in Sandakan. |
| Mr. E. Bateson | Edward Bateson; served as a senior officer in the Treasury or Judicial departments during this period. |
| Mr. & Mrs. J. Beatty | John Beatty; likely the Commissioner of Lands or a high-ranking judicial official. |
| The Rev. S. M. Collier | Rev. S.M. Collier was the Chaplain for the Anglican Church in North Borneo (Sandakan) during the mid-1930s. |
| Mr. P. W. Bidmead | A government officer often associated with the Public Works Department or Post & Telegraphs. |
| Mr. & Mrs. E. R. Baker | E.R. Baker was an official within the Chartered Company’s administrative service, often stationed in Sandakan or Jesselton. |
This specific dinner on Saturday, 23rd February 1935, marked a high point in Douglas James Jardine's governorship. He was using the President's visit to showcase his new policies of "Indirect Rule"—showing that British officials, local Chinese leaders (Goh Kim Swee), and religious leaders (Rev. Collier) were working in harmony.
Social Function: In the colonial hierarchy of Sandakan, the Cottage was a venue for high-level social gatherings, such as the dinner party hosted by Governor Jardine for Sir Neill Malcolm in February 1935.
Sir Douglas James Jardine (1888–1946) was a respected British colonial administrator best known for his tenure as Governor and Commander‑in‑Chief of North Borneo from 1934 to 1937. Throughout his service, he was remembered for his disciplined leadership style, his drive to modernize local governance, and his genuine concern for the wellbeing of indigenous communities.
Career Highlights
Jardine’s career took him across several major territories of the British Empire, where he built a reputation as a firm yet reform‑minded administrator.
| Period | Position | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1910–1916 | Assistant Secretary | Cyprus |
| 1916–1921 | Secretary to the Administration | British Somaliland |
| 1921–1927 | Senior Assistant Secretary | Nigeria |
| 1927–1934 | Chief Secretary (Acting Governor) | Tanganyika (Tanzania) |
| 1934–1937 | Governor of North Borneo | Sandakan (Capital) |
| 1937–1941 | Governor | Sierra Leone |
| 1941–1943 | Governor | Leeward Islands |
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