GWYNNE, NADOLIG XIMENES (1832 - 1920), soldier and author

Nadolig Ximenes Gwynne was born on 25 December 1832 at Glanbrân in the parish of Llanfair-ar-y-bryn, Carmarthenshire, the fifth of seven children of Lt-Col Sackville Henry Frederick Gwynne (1778-1836), the heir of Sackville Gwynne of Glanbrân, and his second wife, Sarah Antoinette (née Ximenes, or Simes, 1792-1888). His date of birth and his mother's maiden name account for his distinctive full name. He had ten half-brothers and sisters from his father's first marriage.

He was educated at Llandovery College (1848-52) and then joined the Royal Glamorgan Light Infantry. He was appointed an Ensign in the 41st Foot (Welsh Regt) in 1855 and subsequently served in the 20th Regt (Lancashire Fusiliers) before being transferred in 1883 to the 85th Regt (Kings Shropshire Light Infantry) with the rank of Lt-Col. He retired in 1900 with the rank of Major-General. During his military service he fought in the Second Afghan War and the Egyptian campaign against Mohamed Ahmed (the 'Mahdi').

In 1869 he published a book-length epic poem, Moses: An Essay on the Deliverance and Journeyings of Israel (London: Chapman & Hall). In 1874 he was married at Kempsey, Worcestershire, to Mary Shee Jackson (born Cardiff, 1849; died Bournemouth, 1930), the daughter of George William Collins Jackson and Catherine Price Lewis. They had no children.

Nadolig Ximenes Gwynne died in Bournemouth on 9 May 1920, aged 87.

Author

• John Rowlands

Sources

• Ancestry.com
• Llandovery College Archives
• National Archives, War Office 76, Records of Officers' Services

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q76198610

Published date: 2024-04-04

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/