Andrew Skeen (Rhodesia)
Andrew Skeen | |
---|---|
High Commissioner of Southern Rhodesia to the United Kingdom | |
In office 22 July 1965 – 12 November 1965 | |
Preceded by | Evan Campbell |
Succeeded by | Sydney Brice (as chargé) |
Member of the Southern Rhodesian Legislative Assembly for Arundel | |
In office 14 January 1966 – 10 April 1970 | |
Preceded by | Clifford Dupont |
Succeeded by | Parliament dissolved |
Member of the House of Assembly of Rhodesia for Arundel | |
In office 10 April 1970 – 30 July 1974 | |
Preceded by | New seat |
Succeeded by | Archibald Wilson |
Personal details | |
Born | 3 October 1906 British India |
Died | 11 May 1984 Bothas Hill South Africa | (aged 77–78)
Resting place | Hillcrest South Africa |
Political party | Rhodesian Front |
Relations | Andrew Skeen (father) Chris Mann (poet) son in law |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Branch/service | British Army |
Years of service | 1926–1947 |
Rank | Brigadier |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Brigadier Andrew Skeen ICD OBE (c. 1906 – 11 May 1984) was a British Army officer, and Rhodesian politician who served as the last High Commissioner from Rhodesia to the United Kingdom.
Early life and career
[edit]Born in India, Skeen was the son of General Sir Andrew Skeen. He was commissioned into the British Army in 1926,[1] rising to the rank of Brigadier. He retired from the British Army in 1947 and moved to the self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia and settled in Vumba in Umtali district.[2] Skeen opposed the creation of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1953, as he saw it as not in the best interests of the white community in Southern Rhodesia, and by 1962, Skeen had joined the Rhodesian Front party of Ian Smith.[3]
High Commissioner
[edit]Skeen served as the High Commissioner for Rhodesia in London from 22 July to 12 November 1965.[4] His total tenure lasted 115 days.
On 11 November 1965, when Rhodesia announced its Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI), Skeen was summoned by the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, Arthur Bottomley, for a meeting at 1.15pm where Bottomley ordered Skeen to denounce the UDI or face being declared persona non grata with the removal of all privileges and expulsion from 13 November.[5] Skeen refused and departed London voluntarily the following day on 12 November 1965, although Rhodesia House (the High Commission) continued to function as a representative office with no official diplomatic status. Skeen's functions were assumed by chargé d'affaires Sydney Brice, who was officially regarded as "The Southern Rhodesian Representative" by the British Foreign Office.
Later life
[edit]On his return from London, Skeen was elected unopposed to the Southern Rhodesian Legislative Assembly (the House of Assembly from 1970) seat of Arundel in the 14 January 1966 by-election caused by the resignation of Clifford Dupont who had been appointed Officer Administering the Government after the UDI.[6] He was re-elected for a second term at the 1970 general election but stood down at the 1974 general election and was succeeded by another former serviceman, Air Marshal Archibald Wilson.
Honours
[edit]Ribbon | Description | Notes |
Independence Commemorative Decoration (ICD) | ||
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE; Military Division) | NY 1945[7] | |
1939–1945 Star | [8] | |
Africa Star | [8] | |
Burma Star | [8] | |
Defence Medal | [8] | |
War Medal 1939–1945 | [8] |
References
[edit]- ^ London Gazette 5 February 1926 page 1887
- ^ "People". Office of Rhodesian Affairs, Washington DC. Rhodesian News Review. July 1965. p. 3.
- ^ White, Luise (2015). Unpopular Sovereignty: Rhodesian Independence and African Decolonization. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press. p. 30. ISBN 978-0-226-23505-9.
- ^ "UK: BRIGADIER ANDREW SKEEN - NEW RHODESIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER IN LONDON - ARRIVES TO TAKE UP POST". Reuters. 22 July 1965. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ Wood, J.R.T. (2012). 'A matter of weeks rather than months': The Impasse between Harold Wilson and Ian Smith - Sanctions, Aborted Settlements and War 1965-69. USA: Trafford Publishing. p. 5.
- ^ Wood, J.R.T. (2012), p.25
- ^ "No. 37407". The London Gazette. 28 December 1945. p. 21.
- ^ a b c d e Sampson, Edwin (11 November 1965). "Brigadier Andrew Skeen High Commissioner Of Rhodesia At Field Of Remembrance St Margaret's Westminster 1965". Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- 1900s births
- 1984 deaths
- British Army brigadiers
- British Army personnel of World War II
- British anti-communists
- British white supremacists
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- White Rhodesian people
- High commissioners of Rhodesia to the United Kingdom
- Members of the Legislative Assembly of Southern Rhodesia
- Members of the Parliament of Rhodesia
- Rhodesian expatriates in the United Kingdom
- Rhodesian Front politicians
- Rhodesian politicians