Claude George Henry Sitwell (1858-1900) followed his father into the British Army, initially as a militia subaltern. He served in the Afghan War of 1879-1880, and in Egypt during 1882. Sitwell was a Captain in the Manchester Regiment attached to the Egyptian Army when he accepted employment in the civil administration of Uganda in 1895. Sitwell was recruited because his recent experience in Egypt and knowledge of Arabic made him well-qualified to lead the Sudanese troops which formed Uganda's military forces. He was Superintendent of the Nandi station during 1895, and then served as Collector at Toro from 1897 to 1899. Sitwell journeyed to South Africa with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in 1899 to fight in the Second Boer War. Sadly, he was killed in action at Hart's Hill on 24 Feb. 1900.
Claude Sitwell and Uganda 1895-1899
This material is held atRoyal Commonwealth Society Library
- Reference
- GB 115 RCS/RCMS 172
- Dates of Creation
- 1895-1899
- Name of Creator
- Language of Material
- English .
- Physical Description
- 2 archive box(es) 2 boxes paper/photograph
Scope and Content
Access Information
Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Acquisition Information
The copy of Sitwell's diary was received as a bequest under the will of H.B. Thomas in 1971. The photographs and letters were presented by Keith Steward in 2013.
Note
Includes index.
Other Finding Aids
MSS 45 V
Donald H. Simpson, ed., 'The manuscript catalogue of the library of the Royal Commonwealth Society' (London, 1975), p. 105.
A catalogue of the collection can be found on ArchiveSearch.
Location of Originals
Lieutenant Colonel Sitwell's original diary, in an octavo volume, was deposited in the Secretarial Library, Entebbe, by Lieutenant Commander O.R. Sitwell, Royal Navy.
Bibliography
The diary has been microfilmed, and is listed on Reel 7 of: 'Africa through western eyes, parts 1 & 2: original manuscripts from the Royal Commonwealth Society Library at Cambridge University Library - a listing and guide to the microfilm collection' (2000), Adam Matthew Publications Ltd.
Additional Information
This item level description was created by MJC.