NEW BRITISH FIELD-MARSHALS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5142, 15 September 1877, Page 5 (Supplement)

NEW BRITISH FIELD-MARSHALS.

General Sir William Rowan, G.C.8., is a native of Ireland, being a son of the late Mr. R. Rowan, of Garryhouse, county Antrim, by his marriage with a daughter of Mr. Hill Wilson, of Purdysburn, county Down, and brother of the late Major-General Sir Charles Rowan, K.C.B. He was born in 1789, and entered the army in 1803 ; he served with the 52nd Foot in Sicily in 1806-7 ; in the expedition to Sweden in 1808 ; in the Peninsula, under Sir John Moore, in 1808-9 ; and subsequently at Walcheren, including the bombardment and surrender of Flushing. He again saw active service in the Spanish Peninsula and in the south of France, under the Duke of Wellington, from 1811 to the end of the war, including the Battle of Vittoria, the Passage of the Bidassoa, and the Battles of Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, and Toulouse, He tood part also in the campaigns of 1815, and was present at Waterloo. He received the brevet rank of major for his gallantry at the Battle of Orthes, and that of lieut.-colonel for his general services in the field. He attained field rank in 1846, and from 1849 down to 1853 he held the chief command of the forces in Canada. He was nominated a Knight Commander of the Bath in 1856, and promoted to the dignity of a Knight Grand Cross in 1865. He holds the coloneley of the 52nd Foot. Sir William married, in 1811, Martha, daughter of the late Mr. John Sponge, of Mill-hall, Maidstone, Kent, but was left a widower about three years ago. General Sir Charles Yorke, G.C.8., is a son of the late Colonel Yorke, some time Lieutenant of the Tower of London, by his marriage with Juliana, daughter of Mr. John Dodd, of Swallowffeld, Berkshire. He was born in the year 1790, and entered the army in 1807. He served with distinction in the Peninsula and at Waterloo, and in the Caffre war of 1852-3. He has been successfully Assistant Quarter-Master-General at Cork and in the Northern district, and Military Secretary to the Com-mander-iu-Ohief at the Horse Guards. ,He was colonel of the 33rd Foot from 1855 to 1863, and has held the colonelcy of the Rifle Brigade since the latter date. He was nominated a Knight Commander of the Bath in 1856, and promoted to the dignity of a Knight Grand Cross in 1860. He had held the Constahleship of the Tower of London (to which is attached the office of Lord-Lieutenant and Gustos Rotulorum of the Tower Hamlets), since 1875, when he succeeded the late Sir William M. Gomm.

Hugh Henry, Lord Straithnairn, G.C.8., is the eldest sou of the late Bight Hon. Sir George H. Bose, G.C.H., and some time M.P. for Christchurch, by his marriage with Prances, daughter of the late Mi*. Thomas Buncombe, of Helmsley-park, Yorkshire. He was born iu the year 1803, and was educated at Berlin, where his father was for several years resident as British Minister. He entered the army iu 1820, and was placed on half-pay- as lieu-tenant-colonel in 1839. He, however, again saw active service, taking part in the Syrian campaign of 1810-1, and was for a time Consul-General in Syria. He acted as principal commissioner at the headquarters of the French army in the Crimean war, and having aided iu the suppression _ of the mutiny while in command of the Field Force in Central India, was apointed Com-mander-iu-Chief of our Indian army in 1860, as well as a member of the Governor-General’s Council at Calcutta. He held the command of the Forces in Ireland from 1865 to 1870. He was colonel of the 92nd Foot for three years previous to 1869, when he was appointed to the -colonelcy of the Boyal Horse Cuords. He was nominated a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1855, and promoted to the' dignity of a Knight Cross in 1858. He was raised to the peerage as Lord Straithnairn, in reward chieliy for Ins Indian services, in 1866. Ho is also a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of India, a member of her Majesty’s Privy Council, and also a Commissioner of Lieutenancy for Loudon.