Chapter 79/ ‘Tall’ Stories 15

Chapter 79

‘Tall’ Stories 15

Terence Soden, Hampshire, UK reads to Kristina Soden (l.) and Carla Soden (r.) in Dublin June 2000

June 2000 in Dublin

[ Picture above: – TERENCE SODEN, 1912  –  2006, son of  GWC Soden, 1873 – 1929, and direct descendant of Clotworthy Soden , 1736 – 1814, of Londonderry reading to Kristina and Carla Soden on his visit to our home for the Soden Reunion in Sligo in June 2000 with his wife, Jean.]


George Wensley Clotworthy Soden, 1873 – 1929

English Members : Major Watherston, Captain des Voeux, R.E. , Captain Soden, R.M. Fus.

French members: M. Delafosse ,le Capitaine Bouvet ,le Lieu

[Father of GWC Soden at Dunlaoire Harbour with a friend]

Ashanti Settlement with France 1904

Profile of Major George Wensley Clotworthy Soden

Special Reserve of Officers and Provincial Commissioner of Ashanti

1873 Born in Dublin,Ireland.

1894/5 Joined 3rd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers as Second Lieutenant

1895/4 Promoted Lieutenant

1895/9 Obtained the Hythe Extra Certificate Musketry

1897/8 Promoted to Captain

1898/4 Obtained the P.S.Certificate

Attached to the following Regiments;

2nd North Staffordshire Regiment

1894-99 1st. Yorkshire Light Infantry

Welsh Regiment

Durham Light Infantry

King’s Liverpool Regiment

1899/5 Musketry Instructor to the 3rd Battalion Munster Fusiliers

1899/7 Inspector in the Gold Coast Constabulary

1900/9 Appointed the Travelling Commissioner of the Gold Coast Colony

1900/10-12 Commissioner of British Gaman

During the Ashanti Campaign of 1900 he was O(fficer) C(ommanding) British Gaman Detachment and held the only independent command of troops in Ashanti from that of Major-General Sir James Wilcox K.G.M.G. who commanded the Ashanti Field Force.

Granted the Ashanti Medal

Ashanti Settlement with France 1904

1901/11-1903/5 Appointed one of the British Commissioners on the British/French Boundary Commission

1904/1-9 Commissioner of Ester Akin & Ewahu

1904/9-1905/4 Commissioner of Southern Ashanti

1905/11-1906/4 Delimited the boundary between the Gold Coast Colony and Ashanti

1906/4 Appointed Provincial Commissioner of Ashanti

1909/12 Temporarily retired.

Major G.W.C.Soden was seconded from the 3rd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers for Colonial Employment in July 1899 for a period of 5 years,and was again seconded in July,1904 for a further period of five years. He was transferred to the Special Reserve of Officers in September 1908 and was promoted to the rank of Major in March,1909.

He died 1929/10/4 and is buried in Deansgrange Cemetery,Dublin, plot F92.

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