Humphrey Gibbs - Under Siege

Under Siege

Several high-ranking officers of the Rhodesian Military did go to Gibbs earlier in the day and made a statement of loyalty to him, asking Gibbs to issue a warrant so that they could arrest Smith and Dupont, but Gibbs knew that bulk of the Officer Corps, as well as the rank and file of the Rhodesian military were solidly behind Smith's government and that such a move would lead to a coup d'état. Gibbs announced that despite the UDI, he had no intention of resigning his office or leaving Rhodesia, and that therefore, he would remain in Government House as the sole legal representative of Queen Elizabeth II (thus making Dupont's appointment by Smith as the Officer Administering the Government baseless in international law).

According to Gibbs' biographer (Alan J. Megahey), this action led to four years of harassment and petty afflictions by the Rhodesian Government, resulting in making Gibbs and his wife virtually prisoners in Government House. Megahey further stated that the Smith regime attempted to compel Gibbs to leave several times and isolated him from the people. However, with the assistance of a small staff, led by Sir John Pestell, he managed to remain defiant. In June 1969, Gibbs resigned after Smith's government ran and passed a referendum that year making Rhodesia a republic.

Gibbs resigned since as white voters had solidly supported the move towards Rhodesia becoming a republic, he felt that there was no further point in continuing to represent the Queen at that point. He left Government House and shortly afterwards travelled to take formal leave of the Queen in Britain.

He returned to Southern Rhodesia and lived the rest of his life on his farm (1970–1983) and latterly in Salisbury/Harare (1983–1990). He was appointed to the Privy Council and was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) by Queen Elizabeth II.

He died in Harare on 5 November 1990.