Richard Southey

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Colonel Richard Southey CB CMG (1844-1909) was a South African colonial military commander. His father, Sir Richard Southey, was a high-ranking Cape civil servant.

He joined the British Army in the 1860s, and served in the Far East before returning to South Africa. After serving in the 9th Frontier War (1877-1878), he transferred to the new Defence Department, and commanded the Cape Mounted Yeomanry. He served in the Basutoland Gun War in Basutoland (1880-1881).

From 1882 to 1892, Lt Col Southey was the staff officer responsible for the volunteer units in Cape Town, and from 1884 to 1890 he also commanded the city's senior regiment, the Duke of Edinburgh's Own Volunteer Rifles. From 1892 to 1902, he was Commandant of Volunteers, in charge of the volunteer forces throughout the colony. He introduced many reforms to raise standards of efficiency and training.

Col Southey's final appointment was as Colonial Military Secretary (1903-1904).

[edit] Reference

• Dictionary of South African Biography