COMMISSIONERS CHARLES AND NELLIE SOWTON

Commissioner Charles Sowton a Londoner by birth but got Converted in the Salvation Army at West Brighton. For fifteen months he was s a soldier of the West Brighton Corps, and then entered the International Training Home on September 1, 1883 and received his first appointment as Lieutenant at Bath in April 1884. He has thus given over twenty-three years of service as an officer.

After several field appointments in England, the Commissioner spent three years as Field Officer in Scotland, when he was promoted to the Staff. After a short experience as a Divisional Officer in England, was appointed to take charge of the newly opened country of Norway. In Norway, the Colonel was united marriage to Captain Nellie Skimmir whom he had learned to know in Scotland, and who came out of Glasgow I Corps. They had been married before either of them had been able to learn the language, and after nearly three weeks of married life the unexpected breakdown of an officer made it necessary for Mrs. Sowton to take charge of both Women’s Training Garrison and one of the Cristiania Corps, which in spite of the language difficulty; she led successfully for several months until other officers were available.

From Norway, with the rank of Colonel the Sowton’s had charge of Denmark and were then appointed to be Chief Secretaries of Sweden. Their next orders were to the United States, where the rapidly developing Scandinavian work made it necessary to appoint an officer to take charge of the same, and for which position Colonel Sowton with his knowledge of all three Scandinavian countries was especially suitable. The first three years were spent in New York, although the colonel , of course, traveled to all parts of the States where there were Scandinavian settlements. The remaining four years in America were spent in Chicago where in addition to retaining oversight of the Scandinavian work, was also Provincial Officer for that Province.

Then  about three years ago, the Colonel was again appointed to have charge of the Army work in Denmark, where he and Mrs. Sowton received a most hearty reception. On September 1, 1907 Colonel Sowton became the Chief Secretary for Canada.

In 1909, Colonel Sowton was appointed Chief Secretary for the India and Ceylon Territory. From there they returned back to Canada as Territorial leaders for the Canada West Territory with the rank of Commissioner.