Robert Townshend Anwyl-Passingham

Robert Townshend Passingham was born in London on 16 October 1867, the son of Major Robert Townshend Anwyl-Passingham, DL, JP, of Bryn-e-groes, Merioneth.^[8] His younger brother, Augustus (1880–1955), was a soldier. Two of his sisters married Italian noblemen.^[9]

He was educated at Bedford Modern School and Sandhurst,^[10] and changed his surname to Anwyl-Passingham by deed poll on 8 October 1888.^[11]

Anwyl-Passingham was commissioned as a lieutenant in the South Wales Borderers on 30 January 1886 and served with the Burmese Expedition between 1886 and 1889 (medal with clasps).^[12] He joined the Madras Staff Corps of the Indian Army on 4 March 1888 and was appointed wing officer; he served again in Burma between 1889 and 1892 with the 12th Mounted Infantry (Burma Battalion).^[4][13] In January 1892, he was made station commander (3rd Class) at Hakha and attained the rank of captain in January 1897.^[4][14]

In 1898, Anwyl-Passingham became commandant of the Mogaung Battalion, Burma Military Police, and in 1900 officiated as Deputy Inspector-General of Military Police in Burma.^[15][16] He spent the remainder of his career with the 72nd Punjabis as a major and Double Company Commander.^[1][17] He retired in 1907.^[18]

During World War I, Anwyl-Passingham was assistant director of recruiting in Wrexham and later assistant director of national service for North Wales; for his wartime service he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1918 Birthday Honours.^[2][19] A prominent figure in Merionethshire, he served as JP, DL, and in 1925, as High Sheriff of the county.^[3][4][7]

On 7 January 1906, Anwyl-Passignham married Charlotte Angie Bigoe.^[20] He died in North Wales on 10 June 1926, aged 58.^[21]