Christie, Augusta Margaret

1847 - 1919  (~ 71 years)

• Name	Christie, Augusta Margaret
  Born	18 Oct 1847	Mussoorie, West Bengal, India
  Gender	Female
  Buried	6 Aug 1919	Lordswood, Hampshire, England
  Person ID	I07433	My Genealogy
  Last Modified	14 Mar 2015

  
  

  Family	Chamberlain, Crawford Trotter,   b. 9 Mar 1821, St. Marylebone, London, England ,   d. 13 Dec 1902, Southampton, Hampshire, England  (Age 81 years)
  Married	1896	Tonbridge, Kent, England
  Last Modified	21 Oct 2012
  Family ID	F02208	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Crawford Trotter Chamberlain was born in London on the 9th of March, 1821. He was the fourth son of Sir Henry Chamberlain, Bart., Counsel-General and Charge´ d’ Affaires in Brazil and his second wife Anne Eugenia, née Morgan. ....Nominated a cadet for the Bengal Army by Russell Ellice, Esq., on the recommendation of J. H. Buckle in 1837, Crawford was commissioned an Ensign on the 12th of December, 1837... Originally posted to the 28th Native Infantry at Barrackpore, in early December of that year he was transferred as a ‘special case’ to the 16th Native Infantry in which regiment his older brother, Neville Chamberlain (later General Sir Neville Chamberlain) was already serving, the transfer having been arranged by an old family friend, the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Henry Fane, with whose family Crawford spent his leaves. .. Having been present at the capture of fortress of Ghuznee on the 23rd of July, 1838, the 16th N.I. was left to garrison the fortress of Ghuznee. Chamberlain received the medal for Ghuznee and shared in the prize money for the capture of the heavily defended fortress. Promoted to Lieutenant on the 26th of March, 1840, Chamberlain accompanied the 16th N.I. to Candahar in August 1841... Following the mutiny of some native members of the Janbaz Cavalry, Chamberlain was rode in pursuit, and catching up with them, charged their ranks... Chamberlain received the Cabul 1842 medal with Candahar reverse for his part in the war. In 1843, Lieutenant Chamberlain was sent to Scinde with two squadrons of irregular cavalry as an independent command known as Chamberlain’s Horse. In 1845, he succumbed to the effects of India and was sent on sick furlough to the Cape, where he married his first wife, Elizabeth, the daughter of J. de Witt. Returning to duty in India in 1846, Chamberlain was next appointed second-in-command of the 9th Irregular Cavalry....He served at the battle of Chillianwalla on the 13th of January, 1849...... Chamberlain was engaged in a particularly spectacular cavalry skirmish, in which his patrol killed sixteen of the enemy, though he himself was wounded. Gough was sufficiently impressed by the results of this encounter to make him the subject of a special despatch: ‘Lieutenant Chamberlain slew two of the enemy with his own hand, receiving a slight wound himself, and his energy and gallantry were, as usual, most conspicuous, and merit the best commendation of his Excellency. Lieutenant Chamberlain speaks in high terms of the conduct of the party he commanded on this occasion, and especially of the gallantry evinced by Ally Buksh, sowar of the first troop; and the Commander-in-Chief is persuaded that other parties sent on the important duty of protecting the carriage cattle of the army, will emulate the activity, conduct, and courage which has now so deservedly elicited his Lordship’s applause.’ At the battle of Goojerat on the 21st of February, Chamberlain, not yet recovered from his wound, had to be lifted into his saddle ‘where he remained throughout the day’. After the battle his Brigadier, Sir John Hearsey, commented in his despatch: ‘Lieutenant Crawford Chamberlain, second in command 9th Irregular Horse, although still suffering from his wound, was present with the regiment the whole day, thus showing his usual energy.’ Lieutenant Chamberlain was present at the final surrender of the Sikh Army at Rawul Pindee. For his services in the Punjab campaign, Chamberlain was mentioned in despatches, received the Punjab medal with two clasps, was promoted Captain in his regiment and made Brevet Major. He was also rewarded with the command of the 1st Irregular Horse, formerly known as Skinner’s Horse, which had already made its mark on the military history of India. Major Chamberlain next commanded a column, including a squadron of his own regiment, the 1st Irregular Horse, in the force under Colonel Sydney J. Cotton in the Momund expedition of 1854...In the 1854 expedition, Major Chamberlain led his forces in the capture of the fortified Momund villages of Dabb, Sadin and Shah Mansur Khel ... The members of this expedition received the India General Service medal with the Northwest Frontier clasp. In May of 1857 Major Chamberlain was in command of the 1st Irregular Cavalry stationed at Multan ... In early June, the men of the 1st Irregular Cavalry evidenced their loyalty to Major Chamberlain by volunteering to shoot men condemned for mutiny at Jullundur. Lord Roberts’ memoirs relate the story of an incident that happened during this “anxious time” which is illustrative of Major Chamberlain’s mutual loyalty with the men of his regiment: To Chamberlain’s own personality and extraordinary influence over the men of the 1st Irregular Cavalry must be attributed to his success. His relations with them were of a patriarchal nature, and perfect mutual confidence existed. ....Following the disarming of the native regiments at Multan, Sir John Lawrence wrote to Chamberlain: “I have to thank you very heartily for the admirable manner in which you disarmed the 62nd N.I.; it was, I assure you, most delightful news hearing that it had been done. It was a most ticklish thing, considering that it had to be done entirely by native troops. I shall not fail to bring it to the special notice of Government. It would have proved a great calamity had our communications with Bombay been intercepted. I beg you will thank yours and the 2nd Punjab corps for their conduct.” Chamberlain’s name was duly brought to the notice of the Government in the Punjab Mutiny Report, which stated: “Too much credit cannot well be given to Major Chamberlain for his coolness, resolution, and good management on the trying occasion ... As the result of failure would have been calamitous, so the result of success was more favourable. Indeed the disarming at Mooltan was a turning-point in the Punjab crisis, second only in importance to the disarming at Lahore and Peshawur.” Although Chamberlain was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, Field Marshal Lord Roberts commented: It was a most critical time, and enough credit has never been given to Chamberlain. Considering the honours which were bestowed on others who took more or less conspicuous parts in the Mutiny, he was very insufficiently rewarded for this timely act of heroism. Had he not shown such undaunted courage and coolness, or had there been the smallest hesitation, Multan would certainly have gone. Chamberlain managed an extremely difficult business in a most masterly manner… ...“His (Chamberlain’s) personal influence insured his own regiment continuing loyal throughout the Mutiny, and it has now the honour of being the 1st Regiment of Bengal Cavalry, and the distinction of wearing a different uniform from every other regiment in the service, being allowed to retain the bright yellow which the troopers wore when they were first raised by Colonel James Skinner, and in which they performed such loyal service.” Chamberlain was promoted Colonel in April of 1862, and in 1864 was appointed honorary A.D.C. to the Governor-General. In 1866 he was made a Companion of the Star of India, and was included in the first list of twelve officers granted a good service pension. That same year he was transferred to the command of the two silladar regiments of the Central India Horse involved in suppressing dacoity and banditry on the Grand Trunk Road. In 1867 he was given command of the Gwalior district with the rank of Brigadier-General. In 1869, he was officiating Political Agent at Gwalior for which he received the thanks of the Government for his services and from October of that year until February of the next year he was acting Political Agent at the court of Scindia. CHAMBERLAIN, Augusta Margaret, Lady. Eldest dau. of Major-Gen. John Christie, C.B., who d. 1869, by Charlotte Augusta, only dau. (by his 1st wife) of the late Colin Lindsay, Esq., Bengal C.S., a Judge at Delhi; m. 1896, as his 2nd wife. Gen. Sir Crawford Trotter Chamberlain, G.C.I.E., C.S.I. (6th son of Sir Henry Chamberlain, 1st Bart.), who was er. G.C.I.E. 1897, and d. 1902.- Lordswond. Southampton.