LIVES OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
The E.J. Boys Archive

Captain John INGLIS — 11th Hussars

Birth & early life

Born at Slateford, Edinburgh, on the 22nd of January 1830, the son of John Inglis, Esq., Advocate, and a J.P. for Co. Midlothian, and his second wife, Maria, daughter of Dr. Alexander Monro, of Craiglockhart.

On the death of his father in March of 1847 he became Lord of the Baronies, being the 10th of Langbyre, 6th of Auchendinny and the 4th of Redhall.

His grand-father, Vice-Admiral John Inglis R.N. had commanded H.M.S. "Belliquex" at the battle of Camperdown in 1797.

Service

Cornet in the 11th Hussars: 19th of October 1849.

1851 Census

Pockthorpe Cavalry Barracks, Norwich.

John Inglis, Officer, unmarried, 20, Cornet, Edinburgh.

Lieutenant: 30th of May 1851.

Lieutenant John Inglis, in Hart's New Army List, 1854.

(Click on image to enlarge)

Captain: 20th of September 1854.

He returned to England "on sick leave" on the 29th of January 1855, but went back to the Crimea in November of 1855:

"Horse Guards,

16th May 1855.

Sir, — Referring to my letter of the 10th inst, I have the General Commanding -in-Chief's command to desire that all officers entitled to receive the Crimean medal and now with their Depots to be ordered to attend in London for the purpose of being present on the parade on Friday the 18th of May 1855 at 10 o'clock precisely,

Be pleased to acknowledge its receipt.

I am, &c. &c.,

G.A. Weatherall. AAG.

[To:] Officer Commanding the Cavalry Depots."

Resigned, by the sale of his commission, on the 8th of August 1856.

He married, on the 21st of May 1857, Celia Abigail Freeman, daughter of John Freeman, Esq., of Gaines, Hertfordshire.

Marriage registered

John Inglis married Cecilia Abigale [sic] Freeman, June Quarter 1857, St George's Hanover Square.

Lieutenant in the Midlothian Yeomanry Cavalry: 29th of June 1858.

1861 Census

Red Hall House, Edinburgh.

John Inglis, 30, Landed Proprietor.

Cecilia Abigail Inglis, 22.

Four servants also shown.

Captain, Midlothian Yeomanry: 17th of March 1865.

Out of the Midlothian Yeomanry on the 6th of October 1872:

"The regiment having failed to enrol sufficient men to be borne on the revised establishment of the Yeomanry Cavalry, all Officers', N.C.O.s' and Men's services are hereby dispensed with."

In a letter written home [date?], the Chaplain of HMS "Queen" said:

"I had a call today from Captain Inglis of the 11th Hussars, whom we knew in Dublin. He now has his Troop, and makes a famous soldier, worth three Russians, since he is six foot four and big in proportion."

Campaign service

Captain Inglis served the Eastern campaign of 1854 and up to the 29th of January 1855, including the battle of the Alma and the Siege of Sebastopol. (Medal and Clasps and the Turkish Medal.)

Medals

Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma and Sebastopol and the Turkish Medal.

He was presented with his Crimean medal by Queen Victoria at a ceremony on the Horse Guards Parade on the 18th of May 1855.

His name appears in the Nominal Return of those present now in the PRO, and also on a similar roll which appeared in the United Services Magazine for June of 1855 but not on that which appeared in the "Illustrated London News" of the 26th of May 1855.

Commemorations

Life after service

J.P. for Midlothian.

After he left the Army he got into considerable financial difficulties, most of his troubles seemingly to have arisen from his very liberal mode of living, profuse hospitality to his friends, and racing debts.

Family letters exist from his solicitor, father-in-law, his brother (then a doctor in Edinburgh), and his sisters. There was a question of his going bankrupt, with all the shame it would bring on the family, and references to money-lenders: "these horrid, horrid, little Jews, with their usurious ways bearing such rascally interest."

When the crisis came to a head, his debts came to £15,000. Following a refusal by his brothers and sisters to allow money which had been left to them under their father's estate to be used to clear his debts, his share was sold for £9,000, which "was not as much as the £14, 000 expected, as the 'minerals' [coal, presumably] having failed to a great extent."

Inglis had now some £1,500 a year, with interest, but his deficiencies and other expenses left him with only £600 a year. Redhall, his remaining home, was let, the servants given notice, and the carriages sold.

His affairs now being the talk of Edinburgh, he and his wife now left town, and lived thereafter in England or abroad. No children were born into the family.

His father-in-law, John Freeman, wrote to him:

"My heart bleeds for the misery which poor Missy is suffering from these matters but like a good wife, making every excuse for you. She is sanguine about the future, and I know you will not disappoint her...

I am sure you feel much more happy now that the bubble is burst, and Missy knows all. And I am no true prophet if my dear daughter does not make you such a poor man's wife, as I trust she has done when blessed with competence."

In 1872, while on their honeymoon, Dr. Alexander Inglis and his wife Florence visited John Inglis and his wife at their home in Hastings. In a letter to her sister, Florence wrote:

"John Inglis is wonderfully quiet and subdued in his wife's presence. She is, I fear, a regular scold, and I am glad I shall not have much to do with her."

His wife died in January 1876.

Death registered

Cecilia Abigail [sic] Inglis, aged 37, March Quarter 1876, St George's Hanover Square.

Death & burial

Died at Southampton on the 3rd of September 1889, aged 59 years.

Death registered

John Inglis aged 59, September Quarter 1889, Southampton.

Extracts from the Hampshire County Advertiser, 7th and 14th of September 1889:

"Death of a Balaclava Hero

The death occurred on Monday of Captain John Inglis, which took place at the Royal Pier Hotel, where the deceased gentleman had been staying for some time.

Captain Inglis was known as an enthusiastic angler, a great friend of Admiral Bard, and was one of the few who took part in the celebrated charge at Balaclava, and survived...

The deceased gentleman, who was formerly in the 11th Hussars, was between 60 and 70 years of age. His funeral takes place at the Southampton Cemetery (today) Saturday."

"The late Captain Inglis.

The remains of Captain Inglis were interred in the Southampton Cemetery on Tuesday, [sic] the funeral taking place from the home of Dr. Parry, of Commercial Road.

Amongst the mourners was his brother, Dr. Inglis, of Cheltenham, and a cousin who had recently arrived from New Zealand, and going to see Captain Inglis, heard of his death.

Numerous wreaths were also sent by his sisters and also from his many friends at Southampton and elsewhere. A

Amongst those at the grave-side was Mr. Spiers, the proprieter of the Royal Pier Hotel at Southampton, where the late captain had stayed for several months, and servants from the hotel also attended."

Joh Inglis was buried in Grave No. F36134 in Southampton (Old) Cemetery on the 7th of September 1889.

1983: The headstone which was erected is now very much weathered and the only part of the original inscription that is now decipherable is "Captain John Inglis of .... and Redhall..."

No other person is buried in the same grave.

Further information

Letters also exist in the family regarding a sister, Maria, who, if not exactly mad, spent many of her later years in mental homes of one degree or another (often on her doctor brother's recommendation).

But an account by her, written in a bold hand-writing in a small black note-book from 1895 to 1898, shows that for a person said to be feeble-minded, she showed a strong perception of what was happening to her — and around her. She died in 1900, aged 71.

[PB: Where is this source? Is it accessible?]

References & acknowledgements

Additional Census information for 1851 and 1861, and registrations of marriage and death kindly provided by Chris Poole.