Andrew Skeen (Rhodesia)

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.

Andrew Skeen
High Commissioner of Southern Rhodesia to the United Kingdom
In office
22 July 1965  12 November 1965
Preceded byEvan Campbell
Succeeded bySydney Brice (as chargé)
Member of the Southern Rhodesian Legislative Assembly for Arundel
In office
14 January 1966  10 April 1970
Preceded byClifford Dupont
Succeeded byParliament dissolved
Member of the House of Assembly of Rhodesia for Arundel
In office
10 April 1970  30 July 1974
Preceded byNew seat
Succeeded byArchibald Wilson
Personal details
Born3 October 1906
British India
Died11 May 1984(1984-05-11) (aged 77–78)
Bothas Hill South Africa
Resting placeHillcrest South Africa
Political partyRhodesian Front
RelationsAndrew Skeen (father) Chris Mann (poet) son in law
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch/serviceBritish Army
Years of service1926–1947
RankBrigadier
Battles/warsWorld War II

Early life and career

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

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, who 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

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

RibbonDescriptionNotes
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

  1. London Gazette 5 February 1926 page 1887
  2. "People". Office of Rhodesian Affairs, Washington DC. Rhodesian News Review. July 1965. p. 3.
  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.
  4. "UK: BRIGADIER ANDREW SKEEN - NEW RHODESIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER IN LONDON - ARRIVES TO TAKE UP POST". Reuters. 22 July 1965. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  5. 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.
  6. Wood, J.R.T. (2012), p.25
  7. "No. 37407". The London Gazette. 28 December 1945. p. 21.
  8. 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.
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