William Carbonell

William Leycester Rouse Carbonell CMG (14 August 1912 – 30 September 1993) was a senior British colonial police officer who served as Commissioner of Police in the Federation of Malaya from 1954 to 1958.

Early life and education William Leycester Rouse Carbonell, born on 14 August 1912 in Battersea, London, was the fourth of five children of John Carbonell, who worked in the motor trade, and his wife Barbara Honor. He was educated at Shrewsbury School and St Catharine's College, Cambridge, where he received his BA degree in anthropology in 1931.

Career In 1934, after being offered a position in the Malaya police, and studying Malay at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, he went to Kuala Lumpur as a police probationer, and trained in the police academy. He then served as a police officer in Selangor, Perak, Pahang and Johore, rising to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Federated Malay States in 1937. In 1942, he was imprisoned for over three years by the Japanese army as a POW in Changi Jail, and later at Sime Road Camp, Singapore.

While serving as Commissioner of Police he was credited with modernising and strengthening the force, and was recognised as having made a significant contribution during the Malayan Emergency to the eventual defeat of the insurgents. He oversaw the celebrations of the independence of the Federation of Malaya on 31 August 1957, describing them as "Not a bad start for a new nation". Shortly before retiring in 1958, he was awarded the Paglima Mangku Negara.

On his return to England, Carbonell worked as a business consultant. He retired in the 1960s, and died in Frimley, Surrey on 30 September 1993.

Honours Carbonell was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1956 New Year's Honours.