Andrew Skeen (Rhodesia)

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	c. 1906 British India
Died	11 May 1984(1984-05-11) (aged 77–78)
Political party	Rhodesian Front
Military service
Allegiance	United Kingdom  British Raj
Branch/service	British Indian Army British Army
Years of service	??–1947
Rank	Brigadier
Battles/wars	World War II

Brigadier Andrew Skeen ICD OBE (c. 1906 – 11 May 1984) was a British Indian Army officer, and Rhodesian politician who served as the last High Commissioner from Rhodesia to the United Kingdom.

Early life and career[]

Born in India, Skeen was the son of General Sir Andrew Skeen. He followed his father into the British Indian Army, rising to the rank of Brigadier. With the disbanding of the British Indian Army in 1947, Skeen left India in 1948 for the self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia and settled in Vumba in Umtali district.^[1] 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.^[2]

High Commissioner[]

Skeen served as the High Commissioner for Rhodesia in London from 22 July to 12 November 1965.^[3] 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.^[4] 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 , 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.^[5] 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[6]
	1939–1945 Star	[7]
	Africa Star	[7]
	Burma Star	[7]
	Defence Medal	[7]
	War Medal 1939–1945	[7]

References[]