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DOWN MEMORY LANE

Passing by Prithviraj Road one is reminded of three places – York Cemetery where rests Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Claridges Hotel and the house once inhabited by Sir Henry Gidney. In fact Gidney was known as the doyen of Prithviraj Road but how many now are aware of it, or of the Gidney Club in Connaught Place named after him?

Lt.-Col Sir Henry Gidney headed the community for 20 years before his death in May 1942. Born at Igatpuri, in the Western Ghatsin 1873, Gidney, a brilliant student was educated at Bangalore, Kolkata and Allahabad before qualifying for the Indian Medical Service. He then joined the Army and saw active service in China during the Boxer Rebellion, being mentioned in despatches for his bravery in 1901.

Three years later Gidney married a girl called Grace Wignall from Agra which used to have many Anglo-Indians at one time. Grace was the daughter of a Yorkshireman who had settled down in the city of the Taj, after falling in love with the cantonment there. However the marriage was not successful and after some years Grace went away to England from where she never returned. But Gidney supported her right up to 1937, the year in which she died childless.

After his wife walked out on him, Gidney was posted as a civil surgeon in Kohima where he joined an expedition against the head-hunters. Some time later he helped his group to thwart a Naga raid. Gidney’s bravery on the occasion, however, went unrewarded though other members of his team were honoured by the Government. This angered him so much that he asked for a posting to some other station.

During World War I Gidney was posted at Peshawar and saw active service in the NWFP where again he distinguished himself. He was wounded during the attack on Shabkadar Fort, sought retirement from the IMS and set up practice in Mumbai. Gidney was knighted in 1931 and when the Central Legislative Assembly was formed he was nominated to it by the Viceroy. Sir Henry Gidney, who headed the All-India Arts and Crafts Society, was a man of taste, a lover of art, wine and all the good things of life. He had a large number of women friends whom he regaled at the many parties he attended and where he danced the tango and waltzed with grace. His house in Prithviraj Road, New Delhi was famous as much for its art collection as it was for its Persian carpets and chandeliers. Gidney died in 1942 of heat-stroke on his return to Delhi from his native lgatpuri. Besides his other achievements, he was also a shikari of note who had hunted big game all over the country.

Frank Anthony, the man who succeeded him as chief of the Anglo-Indian Association, was also a keen shikari and one who followed up the good work done by Sir Henry. Both of them are buried in the Prithviraj Road Cemetery, whose gate is the haunt of flower sellers.

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