Oswald Boyd Forbes Explained

Colonel Oswald Boyd Forbes (10 August 1887 – 26 March 1960) was a tea-broker, military officer and politician in Colonial Ceylon.[1]

Early life and education

Oswald Boyd Forbes was born 10 August 1887 at Bishop's House, Colpetty, the third son of James Forbes (1851 - 1939) and Caroline née Delmege.[2] His older brother, Charles Morton, was a Royal Navy officer, achieving the rank of Admiral of the Fleet in 1940. Oswald received his education at Haileybury College between 1901 and 1906.[3]

Career

In 1909 he joined his father's firm, Forbes and Walker Ltd (a merchant brokerage house), after business training in an accountants' office and in the Hong Kong Bank in London.[2] Forbes was a member of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and served as its president in 1948.[4] In 1923 he was made a partner in Forbes and Walker remaining with the company until his retirement as senior partner in 1946.[2] [5]

Forbes served as the inaugural Secretary of the Ceylon Cricket Association following its formation in 1922,[6] [7] later serving as the Association's president in 1928.[8]

In 1957 he was appointed as a member of the Parliament of Ceylon,[9] replacing Reginald Percy Gaddum.[10]

Military service

He was a member of the Ceylon Defence Force and served as the commanding officer of the Ceylon Garrison Artillery.[11] [12] In 1937 Forbes attended the Coronation of King George VI, as one of the official representatives of the Ceylon Defence Force, for which he received the Coronation Medal.[13]

Family

Forbes married Gladys Irene née Copland Mackie on 19 November 1919[14] at the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Edinburgh.[15]

Honours

He was appointed Commander of the British Empire in 1941.[16] [17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hon. Forbes, Oswald Boyd (Colonel), M.P.. Directory of Past Members. Parliament of Sri Lanka. 26 July 2018.
  2. Book: History of Forbes & Walker, Ltd (1881-1954). Dury, N. D.. 1995. Whittall Company Ltd. Colombo. 2.
  3. Web site: Pupils at Haileybury College prior to 1912. Haileybury College. 1 July 2019.
  4. Web site: Ceylon Chamber of Commerce - Annual 2015/16. Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. 161.
  5. Book: All About Tea. 2. Ukers, William H.. The Tea and Coffee Journal Company. 1935. New York. 161.
  6. Book: Cricket: A Political History of the Global Game, 1945-2017: 1945 to 2012. Wagg, Stephen. 2017. Routledge. 140. 9781317557296.
  7. News: Ceylon Cricket Association is formed. The Sunday Times. 15 July 2007. 4 July 2019.
  8. Book: The Janashakthi Book of Sri Lanka Cricket, 1832-1996. Perera, S. S.. Muthiah, S.. Janashakthi Insurance. 1999 . 305–306.
  9. Parliamentary Debates. 27. 1–15. xxxvi. Parliament of Ceylon. 1957.
  10. Book: Members of the Legislatures of Ceylon, 1931-1972. National State Assembly Library. 1972. 51.
  11. The Tea Quarterly. 33-35. 1962. Tea Research Institute of Ceylon. 46.
  12. News: Japan's Easter Sunday raid. The Sunday leader. Romesh. Tissainayagam. 7 April 2002. 4 July 2019.
  13. The Crown Colonist. 7. 133. Crown Colonist. 1937.
  14. News: Marriages. The Straits Times. Singapore. 10 November 1919. 1 July 2019. National Library Board, Singapore.
  15. News: Family Notices . . 22,908 . Victoria, Australia . 3 January 1920 . 1 July 2019 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  16. Book: Ferguson's Ceylon Directory. 108. Ferguson, Alastair MacKenzie. Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited. 1966. 93.
  17. Book: Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, and Companionage. Kelly's Directories. Debrett, John. 1973. 2641.

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