Roy Gerard Corcor Brock
Encyclopedia
Major Roy Gerard Corcor Brock (b. 1884) was a British
army officer and a colonial administrator in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
who was appointed governor of Bahr el Ghazal
Province.
On 22 October 1902 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Royal West Kent Regiment.
On 18 January 1912 Lieutenant Brock was seconded for service with the Egyptian army.
With the outbreak of World War I
, in July 1915 Brock was appointed a Staff Captain of Royal West Kent Regiment.
He was appointed Major on 22 October 1917.
Brock was appointed Deputy governor of Mongalla Province.
He estimated that he had added 50,000 Toposa and related people to the eastern half of this province in the 1920s, a somewhat inflated figure.
Talking of the difficulty of running with Mongalla province with the extremely limited resources assigned by Khartoum, Brock said: 'Until we can properly administrate [sic], would it not be better not to attempt to do so at all?"
Brock became Governor of the Bahr-el-Ghazal Province in 1928.
In 1930, Captain Harry F. Kidd reported from the west of the province that tribal organization had broken down. He recommended removing Muslims such as the Gellaba, Fellata and Hausa
from the district so that tribal organizations could be brought back. Brock accepted this assessment. He promoted the policy in Khartoum, arguing that it would reduce the risk of a rising in the north of Sudan spreading to the south, and that the tribal chiefs' courts would reduce costs.
Brock directed implementation of a drastic Southern Policy.
His administration abolished the town of Kafia Kingi
in Darfur
and created what became called the Brock Line, a no man's land along the southern border of Darfur and Kordofan. Natives of these northern provinces were forbidden to enter Bahr al-Ghazal, other than Baggara pastoralists.
He also decreed that the people of Bahr al-Ghazal should be moved from remote locations to a 265 miles (426.5 km) road from the provincial capital in Wau, South Sudan to Said Bandas on the western border, near to today's Boro Medina.
The people would be grouped roughly by ethnicity. The government would undertake road works and improvement in health in an effort to kick-start modernization.
On 22 May 1922 Brock was awarded the Order of the Nile, Fourth Class.
On 10 June 1932 he was promoted to the Third Class of the Order of the Nile.
Brock retired at the end of October 1934 after serving as governor of Bahr al-Ghazal for six years.
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...
army officer and a colonial administrator in the 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:...
who was appointed governor of Bahr el Ghazal
Bahr el Ghazal
The Bahr el Ghazal is a region of western South Sudan. Its name comes from the river Bahr el Ghazal.- Geography :The region consists of the states of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Lakes, and Warrap. It borders Central African Republic to the west...
Province.
Early career
Brock was born on 22 February, 1884. He was educated at Rugby College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.On 22 October 1902 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Royal West Kent Regiment.
On 18 January 1912 Lieutenant Brock was seconded for service with the Egyptian army.
With the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, in July 1915 Brock was appointed a Staff Captain of Royal West Kent Regiment.
He was appointed Major on 22 October 1917.
Sudan administrator
Brock was seconded from the Egyptian army to the Political Service in 1918 and served as a District Commissioner in the Bahr-el-Ghazal and Mongalla Provinces.Brock was appointed Deputy governor of Mongalla Province.
He estimated that he had added 50,000 Toposa and related people to the eastern half of this province in the 1920s, a somewhat inflated figure.
Talking of the difficulty of running with Mongalla province with the extremely limited resources assigned by Khartoum, Brock said: 'Until we can properly administrate [sic], would it not be better not to attempt to do so at all?"
Brock became Governor of the Bahr-el-Ghazal Province in 1928.
In 1930, Captain Harry F. Kidd reported from the west of the province that tribal organization had broken down. He recommended removing Muslims such as the Gellaba, Fellata and Hausa
Hausa people
The Hausa are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. They are a Sahelian people chiefly located in northern Nigeria and southeastern Niger, but having significant numbers living in regions of Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Chad and Sudan...
from the district so that tribal organizations could be brought back. Brock accepted this assessment. He promoted the policy in Khartoum, arguing that it would reduce the risk of a rising in the north of Sudan spreading to the south, and that the tribal chiefs' courts would reduce costs.
Brock directed implementation of a drastic Southern Policy.
His administration abolished the town of Kafia Kingi
Kafia Kingi
Kafia Kingi is a community in South Darfur state, Sudan.The Kafia Kingi enclave is a mineral-rich area on the border between Sudan and South Sudan. It was due to be returned to Raga County of Western Bahr al-Ghazal state, South Sudan, under the terms of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement....
in Darfur
Darfur
Darfur is a region in western Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. The region is divided into three federal states: West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur...
and created what became called the Brock Line, a no man's land along the southern border of Darfur and Kordofan. Natives of these northern provinces were forbidden to enter Bahr al-Ghazal, other than Baggara pastoralists.
He also decreed that the people of Bahr al-Ghazal should be moved from remote locations to a 265 miles (426.5 km) road from the provincial capital in Wau, South Sudan to Said Bandas on the western border, near to today's Boro Medina.
The people would be grouped roughly by ethnicity. The government would undertake road works and improvement in health in an effort to kick-start modernization.
On 22 May 1922 Brock was awarded the Order of the Nile, Fourth Class.
On 10 June 1932 he was promoted to the Third Class of the Order of the Nile.
Brock retired at the end of October 1934 after serving as governor of Bahr al-Ghazal for six years.