Skip to content ↓

View entry

Back to search results

Name: WAVELL, Arthur John Byng MC (Major)

image of individualimage of individual

Nee: bro of Raymond George Wavell-Paxton, cousin of Field Marshal Archibald P. Wavell

Birth Date: 27 May 1882 South Kensington, London

Death Date: 9 Jan 1916 Mwele, killed in action

First Date: 1906

Profession: Sisal farmer; commander of Arab Rifles

Area: Nyali

Book Reference: Carson, CWGC, Gazette, John Rawlins, Nicholls, Old Africa, Drumkey, Gillett

War Service: 6th Mounted Infantry in Boer War; Arab Rifles in World War 1

School: Twyford School; Winchester College; Sandhurst

General Information:

The date of death is disputed - either 9 or 16 January 1916
CWGC - Arthur John Byne Wavell MC, Major, Welsh Regiment, attd., Arab Rifles who died on Wednesday, 9th January 1916. Mwele Ndogo Military Grave,
Grave reads - 'In proud and loving memory of Major Arthur John Byng Wavell MC, the Welsh Regiment, Commanding 'The Arab Rifles', and Lieut. John Lachlan Mackintosh, 'The Arab Rifles'. Killed in action and buried where they fell, 9th January 1916'
Kenya Gazette - 4/11/1914 - Appt. - Mombasa Arab Company - To be Commandant - Lieutenant A.J.B. Wavell, The Welsh Regiment
Gazette - 11/8/1915 - Appt. - Arab Company - To be Captain - Lieut. Arthur John Byng Wavell
John Rawlins - Killed by the bullets 'sold' by his own troops for favours of the local 'bebes' (ladies of ill repute - malaiyas)
Nicholls - WW1 - Another force raised privately was the Arab Rifles, led by Major Arthur Wavell, cousin of the later field marshal. He had converted to Islam, undertaken a pilgrimage to Mecca and settled down at Malindi, north of Mombasa, on a sisal plantation. When war broke out he raised a company of local Arabs and established a post at Mwele, 30 miles south of Mombasa and near the German border. He wore Arab dress and shared the life of his men. …… The Germans then determined to march up the coast to take Mombasa, but were held 25 miles from the town by Wavell and his men. Wavell was later killed in an ambush, and after his death the Arab Rifles melted away.
Old Africa 34 - A.J.B. Wavell, born 1882; Commission 1900 Welsh Regiment; 1904-5 employed under Colonial Office in travelling and reporting on South Africa; Resigned 1906; After a visit to East Africa bought land at Mombasa and grew sisal hemp; commissioned in Special Reserve 1913-14; raised force of local Arabs for defence of Mombasa; was severely wounded (arm shattered) in engagement on August 25th 1914. Killed in action at Mwele January 16th 1916 and buried by the Germans who put a cross over his grave.
He bought large stretches of land at the Coast near what is now known as Nyali. 
A Wavell Memorial Pillar was unveiled in Mombasa beside the entrance to Fort Jesus by Sir Edward Northey. It was funded by subscription of the grateful residents of Mombasa island (Guerillas of Tsavo, p. 272).
There is also a stone commemorative tablet in the north aisle of Winchester Cathedral, which reads: 'To the Memory of Major Arthur John Byng Wavell FRGS The Welch Regiment Killed in Action on January 9th 1916 near Mwele British East Africa while in command of the ‘Arab Rifles’ a Force raised by him in August 1914 to protect Mombasa. He served with distinction in the South African War and was a well-known Author and Explorer. Eldest son of Colonel A.H. Wavell The Welch Regiment. Born in 1882. Educated at Winchester and Sandhurst. He was promoted Major for Distinguished Service in the Field December 17th 1915, and was awarded the Military Cross in January 1916'.

Back to search results