Back to search results
Name: SWAYNE, Eric John Eagles KCMG, CB, CBE (Brig.-General), Sir



Nee: bro of Harold John Carless Swayne
Birth Date: 14.5.1863 Hesse, Darmstadt, Germany
Death Date: 9.9.1929 Bristol
Nationality: British
First Date: 1898
Last Date: 1900
Profession: 1898 - 2 i/c to Lt.-Col Evatt of troops in Uganda; known later for his operations against the Mad Mullah of Somaliland and perhaps the first military officer to make the journey from the coast to Uganda on a bicycle
Married: In South Kensington, London 8 Oct 1908 Mrs Yda Laura Peach (widow) née Holdich b. 29 Apr 1875 Ootacamund, India, d. 22 Oct 1967 Tonbridge (prev. m. Edmund Henry Peach 1865-1902)
Children: none in Who's Who
Book Reference: Moyse, Cranworth, Debrett, North, Chandler
War Service: Royal Welsh Regt./ Indian Staff Corps
School: abroad and at RMC
General Information:
Served first in Jubaland and then in Uganda. In 1906 he was Commissioner and Commander-in-Chief, and also Consul-General for British Somaliland. Subsequently he was appointed Governor of British Honduras, a position he held for some 8 years. In 1899 he took command of the troops in Unyoro and from 1900-01 was in charge of the operations in Somaliland. For his services he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and made a CB.
Moyse - British Somaliland - 1903-04 - Swayne returned to the country with the local rank of brigadier-general in full civil and military control. ......... Campaign against the Mad Mullah - 1900
Debrett - entered Welsh Regt. 1883, and BSC 1884, became Capt. 1894, Major and Brevet Lieut.-Col. 1901, Brevet Col. 1905 (retired 1907), and Hon. Brig.-Gen. 1920; served with Burma Expedition 1885-7 (medal with clasp), in Jubaland and Uganda 1898, in command at Kampala, and on special duty (medal with clasp), in Unyoro 1899, in command of troops, and in civil charge of State, and in command of operations in Somaliland 1900 and 1901 (despatches, medal with clasp, Brevet Lieut.-Col., twice thanked by Govt.) and 1903-4 (despatches, CB), for 5 years on Intelligence Staff, India; received McGregor medal for Explorations in Hukong Valley and Somaliland 1891-2 (thanked by Bombay Govt.); was Commr. Com.-in-Ch. and Consul-Gen. for Somaliland Protectorate and Judge of its High Court 1902-6, and Gov. and Com.-in-Ch. of British Honduras 1906-13; is a FRGS and a Grand Officer of Order of Crown of Italy; went on Special Duty to Abyssinia to elaborate Frontier Tribal Arrangements, to Canada 1908, and to Mexico 1909; organized Defence Mil., Somaliland 1905-6 (British Delegate to Lyons in connection with agreement between Italy and Somaliland); was an Assist. Inspector of Recruiting 1914-17, a Staff-Lieut. on Somme 1917, and a Labour Comdt. 3rd Corps 1917-18, and 5th Army 1918-19 (despatches)
North - 2 i/c Indian Contingent in Uganda 2/8/1898; Lake Elmenteita Jan 1899, on way to Kampala by bicycle; dep. Kampala with ex Kabaka Mwanga for coast 11/5/1899; Major; OC Troops in Unyoro; dep. Mombasa 9/4/1900 for Aden & Somaliland; OC troops Somaliland Field Force 1900/1; end of appt. 28/2/1902
Back to search results