Brigadier generalWilliam Frederick Savery EdwardsCBCMGDSO (1872–1941), commonly referred to as Brigadier-General W. F. S. Edwards, was a decorated British military officer who was appointed by the British Colonial Administration as the first Inspector General of the Uganda Protectorate Police, which later became the
Uganda Police, and the simultaneous overall commander of the then British East Africa Police.[1][2]
He was the first military member of the colonial British military appointed by the British Crown to lead the Uganda Police Force and the entire law enforcement machinery in British East Africa.[1][2]
When the Uganda Protectorate Police officially became the Uganda police, he was the first duly appointed Inspector General of the same.[1][2]
Career
Edwards was a professional military officer by training. Upon his arrival in
Uganda, in 1906, he took on more than just the Inspector General position of the British East Africa Police and of the Uganda Police;[3] he also eventually took on the military command of British and local African soldiers serving the British Empire—who, that at the time, were poised to confront the German military front in East Africa.[4][5] Per the words contained in the official (Kenya) Gazette, his appointment orders extended to the Uganda Protectorate "Prisons" system.[6]
Considered an "indefatigable worker, a stickler for efficiency [and] a stern disciplinarian," Edwards was a leader who represented and protected the strategic interests of the then British Empire in colonial East Africa.[1]
Military leadership over civilian police forces in colonial territory was typical under British rule. Following General Edwards' leadership, other British military officers came to the helm of Uganda's police leadership until 1950.[7]
Edwards commanded Port Amelia Force (PAMFORCE) that opposed German incursions into Portuguese East Africa (current
Mozambique).[8] He also commanded the East Africa Expeditionary Forces (during the
East African campaign (World War I),[9][10] and a contingency Force code-named Edforce.[11]
Military
Chronology of events/operations
January 1897 - Commissioned 2nd lieutenant in 4th Battalion, Devon Regiment.[10]
1914 to 1918, in the
East African campaign (World War I) against German forces.[9] General Edwards commanded a contingency of forces in East Africa named "Edforce."[11]
1915 - simultaneous conflict against Turkana incursions.[12][13]
1916 - Kagera River conflict against German frontline forces.[10]
1917 - promoted to
lieutenant colonel, commander of communication lines; 1917 to 1918 - British commander of East Africa Expeditionary Forces.[10]
overcame incursions of the Turkana resistance in East Africa and Uganda Protectorate, 1915.[12] Earned DSO and the troops under him earned the General Service Medal (1915) East Africa, bestowed by His Majesty The King (
George V, aka George Frederick Ernest Albert)[16]
raided German (Schutztruppe) posts and demolished frontline cover areas of the enemy across the Kagera River.[12]
commanded forces under austere conditions as the Commander of Communication Lines, under the top Commander in Chief General
Jan Smuts[17][5]
overcame German forces, in conjunction with Belgian, and Portuguese forces, in East Africa in 1918, leading to the historical surrender of
Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck (Commander of the German military forces) on 25 November 1918, at Abercorn, North Rhodesia. In display of true officership, General Edwards ceremoniously returned General
Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck's sword that the latter had given him as a sign of truce, "marking his respect for a noble opponent."[18] General
Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck is reported to have only surrendered after hostilities ended in Europe.[19]
Police
First Inspector General (and military officer/commander) of the Uganda Protectorate Police.[3][2]
First Inspector General (and military officer/commander) of the Uganda Police Force.[3][2]
First overall Commander of the British East Africa Police.[3][2]
Achievements
Re-organized and trained the police force from a military operational force perspective to that of a civilian operational force perspective.[20]
Established a training depot in Nairobi in 1911, equipped with a fingerprint section.[20]
Established "a clear system of administration, records, files and statistics."[21]