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.

Brigadier Andrew Skeen ICD OBE
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(1984-05-11) (aged 77–78) Bothas Hill South Africa
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

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 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

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

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

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.

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Evan Campbell	High Commissioner of Southern Rhodesia to the United Kingdom 1965	Succeeded by Sydney Brice as chargé d'affaires
Southern Rhodesian Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Clifford Dupont	Member of Parliament for Arundel 1966 – 1970	Parliament dissolved
House of Assembly of Rhodesia
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Arundel 1970 – 1974	Succeeded by Archibald Wilson