For A Month

MAJOR-GENERAL EDWARD McLAUGHLIN (1838-1912), my great-grandfather, sat for this portrait during his retirement.

After leaving Cheltenham College, he continued his education at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, entering the Army at the age of 17 years 2 months. He was commissioned in the Garrison Artillery in 1855.

That year the Crimean War virtually ended in November when the besieged Turkish fortress of Kars surrendered to the Russians. None the less Edward was sent to the Crimea in February 1856. Immediately after the Treaty of Paris was signed on March 30 he returned to England. That started his reputation for having the knack of setting off to war only to arrive when the battles were over.

Edward was promoted to captain in 1862 and a decade later became a major. He attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel in 1881, advancing four years afterwards to full colonel.

In 1873 he had gone to the Royal Artillery College, Woolwich, to study physics, chemistry, matters mathematical and all else needed to prepare a model modern Major-General, the rank with which he retired in 1886.

    

 Edward was mainly stationed at the garrison town of Portsmouth. The harbour was ringed by forts, such as Fort Brockhurst (above), which were manned by the Royal Artillery. He would have attended the Garrison Church (below) where his son George was baptized in 1859 and confirmed 12 years later.

However, Edward was at the Exeter Cavalry Barracks with Annie and their five-year-old Vivian in 1871 when his brother the Rev. Randolph McLaughlin visited them.

He was a Justice of the Peace for Herefordshire, and, for the last ten years of his life, Vice-Chairman of The Royal School for Daughters of Military Officers, at Lansdown, Bath.

               

© 2006 G. Harry McLaughlin.
Reproduction or transmission, in whole or in part, for other than personal use is prohibited without advance permission from Dr. G. H. McLaughlin.