Vincent Reynolds Woodland
Encyclopedia
Vincent Reynolds Woodland (1879 - 11 December 1933) was a British
colonial administrator who was governor of Mongalla Province of the southern Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
from 1920 to 1924.
VR Woodland was born in 1879 and educated at Marlborough College
and Trinity Hall, Cambridge
.
He joined the Sudan Political Service in 1904.
Woodland was Governor of Mongalla Province from 1920 to 1924, when he retired from the service.
He was appointed after the former governor Chauncey Hugh Stigand
had killed in October 1919 while trying to suppress a revolt by tribesmen of the Aliyab Dinka.
The Aliab Dinka rising was put down harshly in 1920.
Woodland wrote that "The Government has done nothing for the Aliab. It has not protected them from aggression, has given them no economic benefits ... it has forced them to do a certain amount of labour, to pay taxes and to endure a not negligible amount of extortion by police". However, although he removed the Egyptian ma'mur at Minkammon who had triggered the Aliab revolt through his abuses, Woodland did not appoint a replacement. The Aliab Dinka were left with no administration at all.
In 1920 the Nuer attacked both the Dinka and the Burun people on the border with Ethiopia. Woodland said of Mongala in 1920 that it was "in such a muck-up state he doesn't know where to start".
The British were ambivalent about their policy for administration of the South Sudan.
Woodland called for a decision. Either South Sudan should be separated from the north and administered as a territory in the same way as Uganda, or the British should encourage development by the Arabs within the structure of the North Sudan.
Woodland had to restrain his commissioners from taking an expansionary approach in eastern Mongalla. Talking of the Toposa people of the east, who were threatening the Didinga of Mongalla, he said "All recent reports of 'the Toposa' attitude towards the government indicate that they must be broken before they will submit to control. Nothing is to be gained by visiting them unless the government intends to occupy and administer their country".
While Woodland was handicapped by lack of resources, an excellently equipped team of surveyors, engineers and hydrologists undertook a thorough study of the question of a Sudd
canal while he was governor. A canal through the vast swampland of the Sudd would open the south of Sudan to navigation, drain the swamps to create agricultural land and by reducing loss through evaporation would increase water available further downstream in north Sudan and Egypt.
In 1922 Woodland was appointed to the 3rd Class of the Order of the Nile
by the King of Egypt.
Woodland left office on 6 October 1924.
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
colonial administrator who was governor of Mongalla Province of the southern Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan referred to the manner by which Sudan was administered between 1899 and 1956, when it was a condominium of Egypt and the United Kingdom.-Union with Egypt:...
from 1920 to 1924.
VR Woodland was born in 1879 and educated at Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
and Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :...
.
He joined the Sudan Political Service in 1904.
Woodland was Governor of Mongalla Province from 1920 to 1924, when he retired from the service.
He was appointed after the former governor Chauncey Hugh Stigand
Chauncey Hugh Stigand
Chauncey Hugh Stigand was a British army officer, colonial administrator and big game hunter. He was killed in action while attempting to suppress a rebellion of Aliab Dinka....
had killed in October 1919 while trying to suppress a revolt by tribesmen of the Aliyab Dinka.
The Aliab Dinka rising was put down harshly in 1920.
Woodland wrote that "The Government has done nothing for the Aliab. It has not protected them from aggression, has given them no economic benefits ... it has forced them to do a certain amount of labour, to pay taxes and to endure a not negligible amount of extortion by police". However, although he removed the Egyptian ma'mur at Minkammon who had triggered the Aliab revolt through his abuses, Woodland did not appoint a replacement. The Aliab Dinka were left with no administration at all.
In 1920 the Nuer attacked both the Dinka and the Burun people on the border with Ethiopia. Woodland said of Mongala in 1920 that it was "in such a muck-up state he doesn't know where to start".
The British were ambivalent about their policy for administration of the South Sudan.
Woodland called for a decision. Either South Sudan should be separated from the north and administered as a territory in the same way as Uganda, or the British should encourage development by the Arabs within the structure of the North Sudan.
Woodland had to restrain his commissioners from taking an expansionary approach in eastern Mongalla. Talking of the Toposa people of the east, who were threatening the Didinga of Mongalla, he said "All recent reports of 'the Toposa' attitude towards the government indicate that they must be broken before they will submit to control. Nothing is to be gained by visiting them unless the government intends to occupy and administer their country".
While Woodland was handicapped by lack of resources, an excellently equipped team of surveyors, engineers and hydrologists undertook a thorough study of the question of a Sudd
Sudd
The Sudd , also known as the Bahr al Jabal, As Sudd or Al Sudd, is a vast swamp in South Sudan, formed by the White Nile. The word “sudd” is derived from the Arabic word “sadd”, meaning “block.” The term has come to refer to any large solid floating vegetation island or mat...
canal while he was governor. A canal through the vast swampland of the Sudd would open the south of Sudan to navigation, drain the swamps to create agricultural land and by reducing loss through evaporation would increase water available further downstream in north Sudan and Egypt.
In 1922 Woodland was appointed to the 3rd Class of the Order of the Nile
Order of the Nile
The Order of the Nile is Egypt's highest state honor. The award was instituted in 1915 by Sultan Hussein Kamel to be awarded by Egypt for exceptional services to the nation...
by the King of Egypt.
Woodland left office on 6 October 1924.