He joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and was commissioned a second lieutenant on 23 December 1893, then promoted to lieutenant on 1 June 1897.[5] After the outbreak of war in South Africa in October 1899, Byrne was with the 1st battalion of his regiment as it arrived in Durban for war service later the same year. The regiment soon saw heavy fighting, and Byrne was wounded at the Siege of Ladysmith, following which he returned home on the hospital ship Maine in March 1900.[6] Promoted to captain on 11 April 1900, he was stationed at the regimental depot. He returned to South Africa, and continued to serve during the remainder of the war, but was invalided home in March 1902.[7]
He later served as Assistant Adjutant-General at the War Office and was made Deputy Adjutant-General, Irish Command, on 27 April 1916, during the Easter Rising as Brigadier-General. He was appointed Inspector General of the Royal Irish Constabulary on 1 August 1916. Byrne held the position of Inspector-General until 6 January 1920.[1]
Following his police service he was called to the Bar, Lincoln's Inn, London, in 1921. Later that year he entered the Colonial Service and in 1922 was appointed Governor of the Seychelles.[1] Thereafter he was made Governor of Sierra Leone from 24 September 1927 to 1929, and again from 1930 to 23 May 1931. He was briefly indisposed from late 1929 until early 1930, during which time Mark Aitchison Young filled in for him as acting governor. As governor of Sierra Leone, Byrne made a habit of appointing European-educated Africans to as many posts as possible, particularly in the city of Freetown. The football club of East End Lions F.C. was established in Sierra Leone while he was governor.
In 1931 he was made Governor of Kenya. His time in Kenya coincided with the worldwide depression, and his government undertook various austerity measures. Despite this, he took steps to support European settler agriculture and increased funding for African peasant production. He also oversaw upgrades to hospital and prison facilities in Nairobi and Mombasa. His lack of sympathy towards the European settlers, and implementation of an income tax long opposed by many settlers, meant he was an unpopular figure in sections of the settler community.[4][8]
Byrne retired in 1936, and died on 13 November 1942 in Surrey, England.[9]
Personal life
Byrne married in 1908, Marjorie, daughter of Allan F. Joseph, of Cairo. She died 19 November 1960.[10]
References
^ abc"Brig.-Gen. Sir Joseph Byrne". The Times. London, England. 14 November 1942. p. 6 – via The Times Digital Archive 1785-2008.
joseph, byrne, british, army, officer, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, joseph, byrne, british, army,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Joseph Byrne British Army officer news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message Brigadier General Sir Joseph Aloysius Byrne GCMG KBE CB 2 October 1874 13 November 1942 1 was the Royal Irish Constabulary s Inspector General from 1916 until 1920 He later served in Sierra Leone Seychelles and Kenya 2 3 Biography EditByrne was born on 2 October 1874 the son of Dr J Byrne Deputy Lieutenant for County Londonderry He was educated at St George s College Weybridge 4 He joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and was commissioned a second lieutenant on 23 December 1893 then promoted to lieutenant on 1 June 1897 5 After the outbreak of war in South Africa in October 1899 Byrne was with the 1st battalion of his regiment as it arrived in Durban for war service later the same year The regiment soon saw heavy fighting and Byrne was wounded at the Siege of Ladysmith following which he returned home on the hospital ship Maine in March 1900 6 Promoted to captain on 11 April 1900 he was stationed at the regimental depot He returned to South Africa and continued to serve during the remainder of the war but was invalided home in March 1902 7 He later served as Assistant Adjutant General at the War Office and was made Deputy Adjutant General Irish Command on 27 April 1916 during the Easter Rising as Brigadier General He was appointed Inspector General of the Royal Irish Constabulary on 1 August 1916 Byrne held the position of Inspector General until 6 January 1920 1 Following his police service he was called to the Bar Lincoln s Inn London in 1921 Later that year he entered the Colonial Service and in 1922 was appointed Governor of the Seychelles 1 Thereafter he was made Governor of Sierra Leone from 24 September 1927 to 1929 and again from 1930 to 23 May 1931 He was briefly indisposed from late 1929 until early 1930 during which time Mark Aitchison Young filled in for him as acting governor As governor of Sierra Leone Byrne made a habit of appointing European educated Africans to as many posts as possible particularly in the city of Freetown The football club of East End Lions F C was established in Sierra Leone while he was governor In 1931 he was made Governor of Kenya His time in Kenya coincided with the worldwide depression and his government undertook various austerity measures Despite this he took steps to support European settler agriculture and increased funding for African peasant production He also oversaw upgrades to hospital and prison facilities in Nairobi and Mombasa His lack of sympathy towards the European settlers and implementation of an income tax long opposed by many settlers meant he was an unpopular figure in sections of the settler community 4 8 Byrne retired in 1936 and died on 13 November 1942 in Surrey England 9 Personal life EditByrne married in 1908 Marjorie daughter of Allan F Joseph of Cairo She died 19 November 1960 10 References Edit a b c Brig Gen Sir Joseph Byrne The Times London England 14 November 1942 p 6 via The Times Digital Archive 1785 2008 Sierra Leone www worldstatesmen org Governor Byrne www sna gov sc The Seychelles National Archive a b Robert M Maxon Thomas P Ofcansky Historical Dictionary of Kenya Rowman amp Littlefield 9 Sep 2014 p 41 Hart s Army list 1901 The War The Hospital ship Maine The Times No 36093 London 19 March 1900 p 9 The War Return of Troops The Times No 36718 London 18 March 1902 p 11 The Discovery Service discovery nationalarchives gov uk The National Archives The Times Wednesday 2 December 1942 pg 1 Issue 49408 col E The Times Thursday 24 November 1960 pg 17 Issue 54937 col E Government officesPreceded byEustace Fiennes Governor of the Seychelles1922 1927 Succeeded bySir Malcolm StevensonPreceded byHenry Monck Mason Moore Governor of Kenya1931 1936 Succeeded byArmigel Wade Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joseph Byrne British Army officer amp oldid 1093624396, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
